Cairo Chaos & Coconut Dreams: A Botanist's Unexpected Detour
okay, so. cairo. right? i was supposed to be in the amazon, cataloging epiphytes. grant fell through. budget cuts. you know the drill. instead, i’m here, sweating through my linen shirt, surrounded by a million buzzing things, and honestly? it’s…kind of amazing.
I just checked and it's hovering around 22.5°C, feels like 21.41, which is basically a warm hug if you’re used to rainforest humidity. The pressure’s 1014, humidity’s a breezy 23%, and the ground level pressure is 997. Numbers, right? But it means it’s dry, which is a blessing for my hair, a curse for my skin. I’m slathering on sunscreen like it’s going out of style.
I’m staying in *Garden City, which is…well, it’s a pocket of relative calm amidst the glorious madness. The architecture is gorgeous, all these old villas with overgrown gardens. I spent a good hour just staring at a bougainvillea climbing up one wall - the sheer tenacity of it! It’s battling the heat, the dust, the pigeons…and thriving. That’s what cairo is, i think. A relentless, beautiful battle for survival.
Someone told me that the best falafel in the city is at Felfela - apparently, you have to queue for ages, but it’s worth it. I haven’t made it there yet, too busy wandering and getting delightfully lost. I did stumble upon this tiny cafe near the Cairo Opera House that serves the most incredible hibiscus tea. Seriously, life-changing. I’m going back tomorrow.
I’ve been trying to identify the local flora. It’s not exactly what I expected. Lots of palms, obviously. And these incredibly resilient desert plants that just…exist. I saw a woman selling these little pots of something called Euphorbia obesa - it looks like a tiny, green potato. Apparently, they’re really popular here. I bought one, naturally. I’m calling him Kevin.
If you get bored, Alexandria and Luxor are just a short train ride away. Alexandria, I hear, has a really cool library. Luxor, well, everyone knows about the temples. I might head to Luxor next week, see if I can find some interesting desert succulents.
I overheard some drunk tourists complaining about the traffic. Honestly, the traffic is a thing. But it’s also part of the experience. It’s a chaotic ballet of cars, scooters, donkeys, and pedestrians, all somehow managing to avoid colliding. It’s mesmerizing, in a stressful sort of way. Check out some tips on navigating Cairo traffic here: TripAdvisor.
I’m trying to find a local plant nursery. Yelp says there’s a decent one near Zamalek, but the reviews are…mixed. “Overpriced,” “unhelpful staff,” “the cacti look sad.” Classic. Still, I’m hoping to find some native seeds to bring back. I’m thinking of starting a little cairo-inspired terrarium when I get home.
I also need to find a decent coffee shop. I’m a botanist, not a masochist. I need caffeine to function. I heard that El Fishawy is a historic spot, but it’s apparently touristy. Maybe I’ll try something more local. I’m checking out this place called Cairo Coffee Co.* - Yelp has pretty good reviews.
Honestly, this trip has been a complete curveball. I came here expecting to study rainforest biodiversity, and I’m ending up learning about resilience, adaptation, and the surprising beauty of urban chaos. And Kevin the Euphorbia. Don’t forget Kevin.
For more on Cairo's history, check out this local board. And if you're looking for unique souvenirs, this website has some interesting options.
I'm also thinking about taking a cooking class. I need to learn how to make proper falafel. And maybe some hibiscus tea. Because, seriously, that tea is magic.
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