The Countryside

The whole of Egypt is dirty. There are NO rubbish collections anywhere. It hasn't rained since early December and that was only 7 minutes, so the trees are caked with dust and pollution hangs in great clouds in the sky, surrounding pyramids and covering cars. As we drove south to see the 'other' pyramids, there were goats eating rubbish by the roads, filthy, sluggish streams, thousands of palm trees being farmed (every part has a use), some large, attractive houses - some with balconies and pillars. Every house we saw in the farming areas we drove through, was unfinished. Our guide Rami said the reason is because houses are taxed once they are finished and painted. There was verdant growth - great fields of small green crops, carts full of carrots, beetroots etc for sale, cauliflowers and cabbages. Many fields had rough shelters of wood and straw, built to protect animals and humans from the harsh summer sun. Men were fishing in mucky rivers, the banks encrusted with rubbish. Chickens picked around them and mangy looking dogs ran around. We saw white herons - quite a contrast to the mess. We passed through a village where meat was hanging on a hook in the sun outside the shop.