Maadi is an Egyptian neighborhood that was formerly built to accommodate extravagant villas and ferries. Although much of the original charm of the area has withstood the test of time and Egyptian urbanization, it almost seems as if worlds collide as the locals watch the iconic area be transformed into an arguably superficial center for chic dining and shopping, as the surrounding urban complex of Cairo mushrooms into the area.

A ‘50s era villa obscured by a ‘00s era pickup truck

A symbol of Maadi’s perseverance through the ages

The fitting metaphor

An antique shop exterior, hosting all sorts of artefacts from the Egyptian romance period

Merchant’s shops on the side of the road are common the the area, and have held up quite well