December 2, 2024

The reason that most tourists come to Egypt is because it is the home of the Pyramids. Let’s be honest, most of us know little more about Egypt than that.

Don’t worry I am going to cover the Pyramids (quickly) You must look beyond the Pyramids to see the real Egypt, and it is not a pretty picture. No matter how much the government and tourist authorities try to blind you from that reality it would be no different than if you went to Disney’s Magic Kingdom and you saw human right violations all around you. I assure you your trip to see Mickey would not be enjoyable.

So, here they are the Pyramids.

Sorry to be so anticlimactic, but that’s it. Those are the Pyramids.

Now let’s talk about the experience of seeing the Pyramids. On the road to the Pyramids a large and polluted ditch runs between the two lanes of the road. The wind picks up significantly at the Pyramids and you can be blasted with sand. It can become difficult to see, and if you are looking forward to washing all the sand off of you it may be the end of the day before you take that much needed shower. And if by some chance you need to use the WC (water closet), make sure you bring your own travel roll of toilet paper as otherwise well you know.

Men and young boys (and the occasional girl) harangue you, trying to sell Arab headdresses, postcards, small stone pyramids and other souvenirs. They don’t respond well to the words “no, thanks,” continuing to plead their cases. Eventually you will have to give in as Chongae did if you want to have any semblance of peace.

The camels are always available for rides, but some people found they had to pay more than the previously-agreed-upon price to get down!

So, who controls the commerce at the Pyramids? It is the Bedouins of Egypt a group of Arab nomads with a long past who have lived in the dry parts of Egypt for hundreds of years. Now, they more commonly reside in the suburbs of Cairo. If you look closely at this photo, you will see money being exchanged at the end of the day between the camel manager and a Bedouin.

I completely understand the need to make a living. Egypt has no manufacturing, and tourism is the only means of income. I do not fault those who overly depend on tourists sometimes to the point of harassment. I am sure that if I were in the same situation and my family depended on that income, I would do the same.

But the government of Egypt has been described by a number of watchdogs as authoritarian and responsible for perpetuating the country’s poor human rights record. Everywhere you look you are met with extreme poverty.

There is no mass transit system in Egypt and many families still wait on the side of the road to be picked up a crowded van to be brought to their destination.

This all goes on while government officials live in the lap of luxury.

The conservative writer Thomas Sowell once argued that “it is hard to imagine a more stupid or more dangerous way of making decisions than by putting those decisions in the hands of people who pay no price for making those decisions.”

From my observations, that appears to be the government of Egypt.

Thanks for travelling with us.