Cairo street, 1908

photographic print

A photograph of a busy street in Cairo. This looks like local color, but in fact this was very much a tourist center. In the photo, we see the Hotel de Londres and a business called Pohoomull Brothers, a well-known shop owned by an Indian family that imported Indian and Asian embroidery and other goods for sale to tourists. A 1907 travel guide to Egypt reveals that these businesses were across the street from Shepheard's Hotel, considered the best hotel in Cairo, and we can see part of Shepheards' elevated terrace on the left of the photo. The photo may well have been taken during a meal on the terrace as well. From an album of photos from a 1908 voyage to the Mediterranean on the CARPATHIA.