Lou and Roger Go to Cairo -- 2019

Hassan was all grins when he brought my reworked sandals to the breakfast table.  The shoemaker did a marvelous job, and it felt great to wear them.  I saw a good Islamic district walk in my immediate future, and all for a £55 ($3.50) alteration.  This got a fellow breakfast diner and me chatting, and an invite to the one man show he’d be presenting in the evening.  Dawar theatre is just a hop across the street in an historic building.  It hosts lots of arts workshops, such as Emily’s writing class and across town, it runs a kitchen run by refugee women, preparing local farm produce.  Anyhow, Hector was from Colombia and we had a pleasant chat and I thought it would be fun to be at a local event so I happily agreed to go. Being mindful that my new foot ware, while comfortable, is open to the elements, I toke them for a test drive.  Groppi’s back entrance demonstrated the dangers of gravel but, treading softly, the rewards of good coffee.  Then it was off to........the tentmakers...

Ever so slightly down this morning what with the hindrance of this arthritis business, keeping me from uninhibited hiking.  So far, small periodic walks seem to be the answer.   Small walks however are for doing chores.  Longer continuous walks are for touristing.  At least the chores are helping rack up the daily miles so, hitting the ATM and the little bodega-like kiosk for water started the day.  A late morning break at the Roma was used to work on the PLD website which was pleasantly distracting.  Pushed myself to go out at noon for tea and the air and sun in the tea alley was stimulating and so began a walk.  There’s an historic 1911 downtown building that I’ve wanted to see so I set off.  Along the way, I discovered 3 previously unknown to me movie theaters and goodness knows how many tea and shisha joints.  And no matter how far I walk and wander, when it’s time to head on back to the Roma, it’s always just 2 blocks away.  Amazing.  After a pleasant foot up read on my balcony,

I will now offer the royal wave and you may bow in my presence as my coronation is complete, having been officially crowned.  Any celebration feast however, will have to wait for 3 hours per doctors orders.  The crown is installed and I’ve got to say, these doctors could not have been more attentive or thorough and I am feeling pleased and fortunate over the decision to have this work done by Dr Ayala Saad.  Now, if only my foot would stop acting up.  “Is there a podiatrist in the house”?  The situation with my left foot is almost ridiculous.  It’s as if the joint bone of my big toe has swollen.  It’s not like any foot issue I’ve ever had.  Sitting still in a concert can be as difficult as walking unless the shoe is removed.  End result, I take shorter, more frequent walks to keep my miles up.  In between, reading, texting, and last night, an attempt at a movie.  The walk to the theatre to check on showtimes found me back at the cafe for coffee and a quick look at reviews, which were

During the past week of Roma breakfasts, a little girl, her older brother, and their parents would gather in the dining room.  The little girl would scout out the room, sometimes playing hide and seek but none of them were ever disruptive.  Today, the mother came in alone, announcing with a smile that she’d been abandoned by her family, and so we chatted.  Turns out they’re from Tasmania and as her husband teaches high school, they’d been traveling since July.  She’s involved with experimental theatre and is giving a workshop at a nearby theatre.  Getting information on the web should be easier than it is so along with having a very pleasant conversation, it was instructive to learn about this theatre that is, as so many good things are around the Roma, 2 blocks away. Setting off early for the bookbinders made it only slightly easier to navigate the markets which I’m beginning to believe run 24/7.  Off of the main drag, the alleys leading to the bookbinder become an oasis in spite

A long walk through what turned out to be a district of auto parts and car repair was still compelling due to bits of wonderful downtown architecture.  And like so many of these walks, almost by chance, you’re back on familiar turf.  The day before I’d made an honest effort to find the iconic Lenhart & Landrock bookstore.  Today, I discovered it wholly by accident, thanks to a one square foot hand written sign nestled in the branches of a tree.  I’d walked past it how many times.  Granted, the address was different than what the website said and it was located on the first floor with no street level signage but other than that, why was it so hard to find?  Books weigh down ones luggage so unless they’re really compelling, my focus goes toward paper and to that end, some fun finds were bought.  Oh, and a very useful street map; great for orientation and fun discovering.  Who knew there was a botanical garden? Wanting to replenish my cash, I was shocked that the ATM kept saying