Pollution Nemesis

On our final fieldtrip, my Islamic Architecture class visited Islamic Cairo (appropriate, no?). Here is the mosque of al-Hakim, whose marble floors make for a glaringly sun-filled courtyard. There are pigeons living in the archways of the portico so when it's quiet the area echoes with the cooing of birds.



Here is the view of the citadel from Bab Zuweyla, the southern gate in the walls surrounding Fatimid Cairo (al-Hakim is adjacent to the northern gate, Bab al-Futuh).

On our trek across the neighborhood, the class walked behind a woman who can boast of one of the best-honed balancing skillsets I've ever seen. Sure, people often balance any number of items on their heads - baskets, boxes, sticks, babies - but completely round heads of lettuce? Very impressive.


Last night, my roommate (who was previously refered to in this blog as Number 6 has requested a promotion to Number 1), her friend and I ate at a restaurant which has taken a stance against pollution. That stance is less than friendly. In fact, if you are a pollutant, don't dare descend their stairway!
The problem with people who make you laugh taking your picture is that you end up looking like this:
This one is better:
But the final picture is, I think, my most accurate portrait.



My nose is really itchy, you see. It's all that pollution.