Cairo Vibes: Drum Beats, Heat, and History
cairo is wild. like, really wild. i landed here with my sticks and a half-broken cymbal bag, ready to jam with whoever would let me. the city smells like diesel, spice, and ancient secrets. i just checked and it's 16°C there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. i was expecting hotter, but hey, march is weird.
my first gig was in a rooftop bar near downtown. the drummer before me said, "watch out for the cats, they own the stage." he wasn't wrong. one grey tabby walked across my snare mid-song. the crowd loved it. someone told me that cairo audiences are the loudest in the world. i believe it.
between sets, i wandered through streets where every wall has a story. graffiti mixes with centuries-old stone. i overheard a guy at a juice stand say, "if you want real falafel, skip the tourist spots." so i did. ended up in a tiny shop with no sign, paid like 10 egp, and my life changed.
weather here is dry, 41% humidity, which is a blessing if you're hauling a kick drum through alleys. but the sun? brutal. locals carry umbrellas like it's fashion. i copied them. looked ridiculous, but hey, sunburn is not punk rock.
if you get bored, giza and luxor are just a short drive away. but honestly, cairo has enough chaos for a month. i heard that the pyramids at night are something else, but i haven't dared the camel touts yet.
food-wise, koshari is king. i ate it three times in one day. no regrets. also, someone warned me about the tap water. "stick to bottled," they said. i listened. my stomach thanked me.
the music scene here? alive. jamming with local percussionists taught me more than any clinic ever did. one guy had a darbuka that looked older than my grandma. he played like it was breathing.
anyway, cairo doesn't let you stay clean. your shoes get dusty, your shirt smells like shisha, and your ears ring from honking taxis. but that's the point. it's not a place you visit; it's a place that visits you.
for more on cairo's music scene, check out cairo jazz club or zak legacy. and if you're hungry, el tabei el domyati is the falafel spot everyone whispers about.
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