I made my way over to my old stomping grounds in Maadi today to have breakfast with some friends. And in case you didn’t know, Lucille’s on Road 9 has the best frickin’ breakfast in Cairo, period. I recommend the cheese omlett and the short pancake stack. (ehem, all diet, of course).
As far as I remember, Maadi used to be this pristine ocean of cleanliness and greenery. Well, I guess nothing stays the same forever in Egypt: Road 9 was completely flooded by a burst water pipe, and with pure Egyptian finesse for the right time, they’d decided now was when they should start shaving the trees.
And when did Maadi get so fricking dirty? With piles of rubbish everywhere? And when did all the streets become a series of potholes, sand pyramids, and concrete blocks?
On the plus side, the kiosk near Cairo American College (CAC), which allegedly sells hash to a select number of people), seems to have closed.
A nice little store has also materialized selling plants with the weirdest looking trunks ever. I think they’re called Bonsai trees? Anyway, they’re cute. Although they do somehow remind me of how women in Asia used to have their feet binded so they wouldn’t grow.
Such a shame Maadi used to be so clean, quiet and refined. Bonsai trees are actually pruned and nipped so they won’t grow, it’s a nice hobby for people with too much time on their hands or with stress problems.
Ooh, you live in Egypt?
Guess they’re not Bonsai trees then…the trunks of these ones are somehow made into symmetrical shapes which makes them look kind of unreal.
it’s cos now that maadi is in the governorate of helwan the governorate refuses to pay the garbage collectors. also, lots of auc students just moved there.
ahh, that makes sense. Except for the AUC part: are you saying AUC students are *gasp* garbage-throwers?
well, ppl of any kind make mess and having a large area of just student renters brings the maintenance down usually. see: zamalek.
its devastating how the nice clean neighborhoods of cairo are going down..
i left cairo just 3 yrs ago for the states…. i came back last ramadan to be horrified at the filthiness of the streets of helioplis where my apt is….such a shame
Thats sad to hear. I miss Maadi… a little.