by Tim
The people of Egypt are pressed into a very small portion of the land in large cities and arable land along the Nile. The government has attempted to spread the load on the land by building freeways and settlements in the desert but they struggle to populate them. Our riding was mostly easy and safe following the shoulders of these wide underused freeways. The beauty of these deserts and mountains eased the passage on the long straight stretches and the minimal traffic was courteous, particularly the truckers.
The antiquities of Egypt were not to be missed. My particular favorite activities were a balloon ride over Luxor, a felucca ride in Aswan, the Alexandria library, and wandering the streets and markets of Aswan.
The transition to Rwanda moved us from flat desert to terraced green mountains and a feeling of the citizens mostly rowing in the same direction:
•Crosswalks and sidewalks are better designed and more thoughtfully kept up than in Spokane.
•Reputed to be the cleanest country in Africa, it is hard to find a stray bottle or bag even on the banks of a lowland stream. Monthly holidays require no driving before noon as citizens organize neighborhood cleaning. Those in need of government assistance are given areas to keep clean in exchange for that assistance.
• Old cars and buildings are repaired and used as long as possible but torn down and salvaged when their useful life has ended.
•The people we pass on the roads, mostly walking or cycling, dress in bright clothing and appear healthy, happy, and with purpose.
Rwanda has had remarkable recovery and healing in the less than 30 years since the genocide of the 1990s.
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| Green farmland |
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| Kigali by night |
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