The Nile is one of Cairo’s constants; its timeless movement brings a sense of calm and relaxation in its wake and provides a natural contrast to the dusty concrete that makes up most of the city.

The river offers many different distractions to Cairenes. During daylight hours you can see fishermen ply their trade from little boats; feast your eyes on the lush greenery of crops growing on the islands in the middle river and notice the secret rendezvous’ of couples on the majestic bridges that span the water. On hot summer days a trip on a felucca can surprise you with a much needed drop in temperature as the wooden boats glide along on the breeze that only exists on the water.

At night the banks of the Nile come alive and are home to many different forms of entertainment; couples meet in greater secrecy under the cover of darkness, friends hang out, drink tea and discuss the way of the world or take one of the ubiquitous colourful, noisy boats to have a party on the relative privacy of the river.

This is what we encountered on a short stroll along the Corniche, from the Qasr Al-Eini to October Bridge.