There’s really no way to describe life in Cairo. It’s an insane, tumultuous, heaving realm of chaos, and one can only begin to understand it by winding up and down its streets and in and out of the lives of the souls that walk them.
Here are some quotes that attempt to capture the craziness of living in the Egyptian capital, commentary included.
“Remove all the traffic lights, yellow lines, one-way systems and road markings, and let blissful anarchy prevail. I imagine it would produce a kind of harmony.”– Sadie Jones
(In Barney Stinson’s voice) Haaaaaaaave you met Cairo?
“Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.”- Margaret Mead
One in a million. Or one in 22 million….
“Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday.”– Don Marquis
Do you think they frame this and put it on the wall of every government office in Cairo?
“Expert: a man who makes three correct guesses consecutively.”– Laurence J. Peter
Expert: What an Egyptian becomes as soon as you ask him or her a question, especially regarding directions.
“Reality continues to ruin my life.”– Bill Watterson
-Thought everyone stuck on Sixth of October bridge with sad Bey2ollak faces. So much for any plans you had… Ever.
“By its nature, the metropolis provides what otherwise could be given only by traveling; namely, the strange.” – Jane Jacobs
Spot on.
“Why do they call it rush hour when nothing moves?” – Robin Williams
We don’t know; we just don’t know.
“Cities are never random. No matter how chaotic they might seem, everything about them grows out of a need to solve a problem. In fact, a city is nothing more than a solution to a problem, that in turn creates more problems that need more solutions, until towers rise, roads widen, bridges are built, and millions of people are caught up in a mad race to feed the problem-solving, problem-creating frenzy.” – Neal Shusterman, Downsiders
That sounds about right. The ability for Cairenes to “figure it out” and have all the layers of the city somehow function, is quite impressive.
“For those who are lost, there will always be cities that feel like home.”– Simon Van Booy
For all of its craziness, Cairo somehow still feels right…