Cairo, Egypt: Where the Heat Hits You Like a Drum Solo
the first thing i noticed stepping off the plane in cairo? the air-thick, hot, and smelling faintly of diesel and spices. my weather app said it was 31.28°c, but honestly, it felt like someone cranked a hairdryer and pointed it at my face. i just checked and it's... there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. i grabbed my bag, wiped the sweat off my forehead, and thought, “okay, session drummer, time to find your groove.”
i'd been hired to play a few gigs with a local band, but my first stop was the neighborhood cafe everyone kept talking about. someone told me that if you don't try the ful medames at el feshawy, you're basically not in cairo. so i did. beans, pita, and enough garlic to scare off vampires-delicious. the barista overheard me asking about good rehearsal spaces and leaned in, whispering, “you want real drums? go to the zabbaleen district. locals will let you jam if you buy them coffee.”
“you want real drums? go to the zabbaleen district. locals will let you jam if you buy them coffee.”
the city's got this rhythm all its own-honking taxis, call to prayer echoing off buildings, the clatter of plates from street vendors. i wandered into khan el-khalili bazaar, where a vendor tried to sell me a drum for “only your first-born child.” i laughed, bargained him down to a keychain instead. if you get bored, alexandria and luxor are just a short drive away, but honestly? cairo's chaos is enough to keep you busy for weeks.
i ended up at a tiny rooftop bar in islamic cairo, watching the sun dip behind minarets. the band i was playing with later that night messaged: “rehearsal at 10, bring your own sticks.” classic. i ordered another hibiscus tea, checked the humidity (10%, so at least my clothes wouldn't stick), and thought, “yeah, i could get used to this.”
if you're planning a trip, check out TripAdvisor for local gigs, or just wander until you hear drums-you'll find your people. and maybe pack an extra shirt. trust me on that one.
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