Luxor: Random notes
Traffic barriers: Lanes were often blocked partially by metal barriers which made for a slalom type drive over most streets and roads, city or rural. I discovered that some of them were for check points, and others were in place of signs for intersections.
No rules for driving...nor walking. The streets are filled, no lanes, just fit yourself through, and act like you don't care! I was with a Finnish family of four, and a guide, for an evening stroll through the streets and bazaar. The first thing I noticed as we crossed the street in front of the hotel was no crosswalks. None. No markings on the street pavement nor signs. A few flashing arrow lights at round-abouts, or maybe they were just intersections. No one seemed to pay attention, plus, as we took our first steps into the street, there was NO traffic! I had watched from the hotel balcony, as the streets were jammed with cars, trucks, and horse drawn carriages...and the cacophony of voices and horns. But at 6:15 PM, it was surprisingly deserted. I remembered then that the sunset call to prayers was about 15 minutes previously, and sure enough, 5 minutes later, it was jammed with traffic again. We didn't use the sidewalk, since most vendors and most people were camped out in chairs, and going about their business. My Finnish family was horrified that they were expected to follow our guide into traffic with little hesitation. It was a great experience
Driving out of Luxor, barriers were placed where any side road activity might be, slowing traffic in case a sugar cane wagon, pulled by donkeys, needed to make a turn.
What I saw:
Families can be self sufficient. Most people have access to a family plot for growing food, like tomatoes and for grazing.
Sent from my iPod
Traffic barriers: Lanes were often blocked partially by metal barriers which made for a slalom type drive over most streets and roads, city or rural. I discovered that some of them were for check points, and others were in place of signs for intersections.
 |
| Along the Nile, with mixed traffic. |
No rules for driving...nor walking. The streets are filled, no lanes, just fit yourself through, and act like you don't care! I was with a Finnish family of four, and a guide, for an evening stroll through the streets and bazaar. The first thing I noticed as we crossed the street in front of the hotel was no crosswalks. None. No markings on the street pavement nor signs. A few flashing arrow lights at round-abouts, or maybe they were just intersections. No one seemed to pay attention, plus, as we took our first steps into the street, there was NO traffic! I had watched from the hotel balcony, as the streets were jammed with cars, trucks, and horse drawn carriages...and the cacophony of voices and horns. But at 6:15 PM, it was surprisingly deserted. I remembered then that the sunset call to prayers was about 15 minutes previously, and sure enough, 5 minutes later, it was jammed with traffic again. We didn't use the sidewalk, since most vendors and most people were camped out in chairs, and going about their business. My Finnish family was horrified that they were expected to follow our guide into traffic with little hesitation. It was a great experience
Driving out of Luxor, barriers were placed where any side road activity might be, slowing traffic in case a sugar cane wagon, pulled by donkeys, needed to make a turn.
 |
| Narrow rail line to collect wagons of sugar cane crossing the main highways. |
What I saw:
- Ibis picking face of cow
- Donkeys. Carts.
- Sugar cane. It's mandatory to grow sugar cane in this area. Cotton in the north.
- One bridge over the Nile. ONE! Opened in 1998...ferries used exclusively before then.
- Wheat three crops a year.
 |
| Load of sugar cane |
Families can be self sufficient. Most people have access to a family plot for growing food, like tomatoes and for grazing.
Sent from my iPod
The Farm Report from Egypt is quite fine!!
ReplyDeleteyet another trip of a lifetime for you!