Photos: The Industrious World of Egypt

The industriousness of the ancient Egyptians was remarkable, although much of the construction was achieved thought the despicable exploitation of slave labor.  The large scale would be impressive all by itself, but the brilliance of the design, engineering and construction techniques is even more impressive. The smooth facade of the Great Pyramid remains only near the top. 
The ancient Egyptians built and buried a massive solar boat next to the Great Pyramid to carry the Pharoah to the afterlife.  It has been preserved by the dry sand and now in a museum next to the Pyramid.  The state of preservation was so remarkable that even some of the rope survived.
It is always a treat when Dave and I can admire one of the world's great monuments, teeming with tourists, and find camera angles that make it look like we are alone with the monument.  
The intricacy of Arabic design requires careful thought, planning, and skillful artisanship, as this doorway shows, transitioning from the shape of a Roman arch above the door to an Arabic arch. Modern Egyptians are industrious as well.  This young boy is hard at work carrying a poultry cage.  The markets bustle with activity.  Cairo is a large, crowded metropolis. Most of the land in Egypt is uninhabitable desert.  The industrial output of this nation of about 60 million people is about the same as Costa Rica, with about 4 million.  We so hope that the country can achieve the domestic tranquility and stability needed for the development of a diversified and prosperous economy.