our founder in cairo, egypt: rough notes, photos, and street style at the pyramids
clémence polès' february recs
Hi, if you are new here, my name is Clémence, I’m the founder and photographer of passerby. Every month I’ve been sharing some favorite finds in our monthly recs series, but after getting enough “post too long for email” alerts, I thought maybe it was time to separate this out and share a little more. In this new send, I’ll include a mix of my open tabs and what I’m listening to, watching, and enjoying — things I hope you’ll enjoy as well. I hope this update is welcomed and if you have any thoughts or ideas about what you’d like to see here, I’m all ears. Looking forward to experimenting a bit more in 2025.
rough notes for a potential guide to cairo
This is not intended to be a definitive city guide to Cairo, nor an authoritative account of its cultural landscape. I was there for just five days, mostly for a wedding, so my perspective is limited — formed by brief encounters rather than sustained immersion. Cairo felt like a city of layered histories and striking contrasts, where beauty and chaos intertwine in a fascinating way. What follows is not a curated set of recommendations but rather a collection of rough notes — impressions of what resonated with me, what I loved, and what I would do again — alongside photographic and video captures.
We ordered Mulukhiyah, a thick soup/stew made from the leaves of mulukhiyah at Abou El Sid straight off the airport. Egyptian Stella is not like regular Stella, and it’s the best beer I’ve ever had.
We also ordered Koshary (rice, lentils, pasta fried onions, and tomato sauce) — it’s a must-have at Abou Tarek. Our cab driver also said that Karam El Sham is amazing for street food.
Walking and strolling in Cairo takes on a new dimension. It’s crowded and loud, with barely any sidewalk to walk on, and the amount of stimuli is insane. There are little corners filled with beauty, and even the pavement has its intricacies. But it’s hard to stop and fully take it all in.
If you do happen to stop, a lot of self-help and business books for sale on sidewalks — Why Men Marry Bitches among the most popular ones.
