The River Nile

Did you know that 97% of Egypt’s land mass is desert? I was told it never rains there, to which I replied, “Never?!?” Well, hardly ever. The last time was 8 years ago and I doubt it was a downpour. Apparently it may rain once in a blue moon, but it’s only enough to make things muddy and unpleasant. Because it’s so dry, the Nile River is necessary to the country’s survival. The vast majority of Egypt’s 77 million people live less than a kilometer away from the its banks. And believe me, it’s not hard to fathom that when you visit. Cairo is crowded! The traffic is horrendous--cars are double-parked along streets and left in neutral so they can be moved when others need to get out!

Reportedly there are some 500 cruise ships that travel up and down the Nile. I only had time for a simple felucca ride. A felucca is a narrow, swift, lateen-rigged sailing vessel, and you cannot go anywhere near the Corniche without being offered umpteen offers for a ride! (It gets a little annoying.)

Photos: The Nile at sunset, me on a felucca, and Captain Noor with his assistant.