As a stray dog’s refuge from the scalding sun, an improvised clothes stand or a corroding, fossilized memento from the 1940’s, an abandoned old car lurks around every street corner in Cairo. With a population of 18 million people, the current traffic laws and violations thereof, it is no surprise abandoned cars have taken control of the streets. At first glance, the wrecks are infuriating obstacles for pedestrians and considerable sources of pollution. Through the baked layers of dust, a closer inspection reveals that these discarded vehicles are often a collector’s dream. Perhaps most importantly, they reflect the intricacies of Cairo’s public spaces. Before opening his restaurant in downtown Cairo’s Al-Takaeba, Ahmed frequented the ahua (coffee shop) outside his business. For almost a decade, the young restaurant owner has been staring at the same decaying car sitting amongst faded plastic chairs. The baby blue car is used for storage and has been rotting on the street for nearly a decade, explains Ahmed. The unconventional storage unit probably belongs to one of the mechanics working in the area, and so far, there have not been any attempts to remove it. “People…
