Tentmaker Street

Life got hectic on me this week. A friend in town only briefly, a sick husband, and a new jewelry making class. Aiyee. Hubby is better and off to work, so this is my chance to play catch-up.

My friend LC and I visited Tentmakers' Street on Tuesday. It's located in a very old part of Cairo known as Islamic Cairo. It's also not too far from the Khan al Khalili, the giant souq/bazaar I've told you about previously. This time I was paying attention, so I can actually get back there without a guide - hurrah.

This is the mosque that is located at one end of the street. You walk through the gateway there on the left to enter the street unless you come from the other, less picturesque, direction.

The shops are pretty small and narrow. Each of the appliques hanging on a door indicates a different shop. The street itself is narrow (and, unbelievably, not closed off to traffic) with a wooden "roof" stretching across to block out the sun somewhat.

The latest trend seems to be making miniature tents - or at least I'm now paying attention to them. The one on the lower left is made out of a material printed in the style of the old, typical tents. Back then it would have been appliqued. These are traditional colors: the reds, blues and yellows.

Isn't this one a beauty? I didn't crop the photo so you could see the rest of the shop. There were a couple of very tempting pieces in this shop - I might have to buy one the next time I'm down there.