Today we packed a picnic and went to Al-Azhar Park. It was absolutely delightful!
The park is beautifully landscaped and has truly incredible views of the city. I had no idea exactly how wonderful the park was until today. I first heard about it when I watched a documentary about an urban development/renovation project in Cairo this summer. The park is located near the Citadel (I still haven’t been there yet, by the way) on the site of what used to be a “500-year-old mound of rubble in the inner city, between the eastern edge of the 12th Century Ayyubid city and the 15th Century Mamluk ‘City of the Dead’,” to quote the park’s website.
That’s the citadel.
And here’s our lunch…
From top to bottom the sandwiches are: PB&J with Egyptian peanut butter and grape jelly; cucumber, dill, and cream cheese; cheese, red onion, and mayonnaise; more cucumber dill (they are really good!); and last but not least, cheese, red onion, mayonnaise, and spicy brown mustard. And we had homemade pita chips with homemade roasted garlic hummus. Delightful!
Mmmm.
There we are…
on the map. Cool, huh?
The park was really beautiful. I loved all the green! There were tons of plants, and most were labeled. Got to love that!
The views were stunning. There is just so much to see. It’s almost overwhelming.
Okay, take a close look at this next one…
That’s right. Goats on the rooftop. Can you imagine the delightful clippity-clopping they must have in that house? Adorable.
But wait… what’s up with that black and maroon one? Is maroon a natural goat color?
There he is on the table. And he is totally wearing a coat. Dare I say it? A goat in a coat. Ah, I said it. Hahaha. I can hardly handle the cuteness.
In this next photo, check out the green and yellow wooden structure. You may have seen them popping up in other photos too.
I am fairly certain that this is a pigeon coop.
See all the pigeons? Homeward bound.
Mom, this next photo is for you. It took us a minute to figure this one out.
Here is a close-up:
I think they are drying dyed fabric. How beautiful!
I love this next photo.
We have to go on picnics more often. The park was wonderful and I loved being able to see so much of Cairo from such a serene and beautiful place! It really makes you realize how amazing this city really is.
Gorgeous photos! Lunch looked great and the scenery looks beautiful. Goats in coats, Em? Is it cooling off in Cairo?
I know. Goats in coats is inaccurate. It really was more of a sweater vest, but can you blame me for that perfect rhyme? Rhymes a lot better than “awesome fossil,” don’t you think? mwah!
Ok, that has to be the TALLEST bottle of water I have ever seen! Your lunch does sound good and I need to make some of that hummus for Kennedy. Thank you for sharing all the photos and for taking the time to describe what we are seeing. I am so glad you are taking in all the culture around you…it’s amazing and sounds so fun!
Haha, isn’t it a huge bottle of water!? I forget how gigantic they really are because that’s what we always have on hand (delivered to our apartment by the box-full). Fortunately I didn’t have to carry the backpack (Thanks, Brandon!) ;)
The hummus was really good! I highly recommend it!
Love them all!!!! The racks of dyed fibers or cloth—beautiful! Thank you! Didn’t you want to go to the door and ask for a job or an apprenticeship or just to watch—or something?! Don’t you wonder what they use for dyes? What are the fibers? How do they spin them? Oh my imagination is going now! Thank you for the magical tour!
Isn’t it cool!? I know, I wanted to know what kind of fibers they were too. Can’t wait for you to come visit!!
best picnic ever! you are the Martha Stewart of the middle east. you are Magda Salem.