A couple of images from Heliopolis

A couple more photos from my wanderings to get a sandwich at lunch in Heliopolis where the office is situated. The architecture of Cairo is generally large claustraphobic apartment blocks - as you would expect in a city of 19 million. They may not look much in Heliopolis but this neighbourhood is relatively up market. They are not as uninspiring as the Stalinst-designed ones in Tripoli but they are pretty no descript compared to some of the beautiful Islamic building in the old town or the Ottoman building in the centre near Tahir Square. Two local favourites though that buck this trend.

Firstly there is a strange building called the Barons Palace (Ill find out more about this and take some photos one day for the blog) which looks like a Vietnamese temple or whatsitcalled, Ankha Wat in Cambodia (I think). What is doing in Cairo is beyond me.

Secondly there is a squat building on the way to the sandwich shop that looks like a mock tudor house in the suburbs on some leafy Suburban setting in north London. The Tudor look seems a little strange in Cairo - but hey whatever takes your fancy.

Saw this car for sale buy the side of the road, fairly typical of the standard of vehicle my fellow drivers are assulting me with. Comes (in)complete with most back lights, paintwork could need touching up, the front tires are looking a little on the bald side of slick, but it does have aircon on the dash board. Yours for 5000EGP.