Egyptian Pyramids Reopen for Tourism
February 20, 2011
Mahmoud Adal and his camel await tourists in Giza, Egypt.
The sound of hooves as horses pull jostling carts of people within the Giza pyramids' complex is the sound of money to the men who make their livings from tourism - a dominant industry in Egypt.
On this first afternoon the pyramids are open to tourists this month, Mahmoud Adal stands with his camels awaiting people who want rides or typical tourist snapshots. Adal said after more than three weeks without any work, he is glad people are back, but it is far from normal. "Today is about 10 people we saw. Normally, thousands of people. A thousand people. Like, you couldn't walk in his place," he said.
Patriotism is on full display, as the pyramids reopen.
He trails off, gesturing toward the conspicuous absence of people to bump into on this windy afternoon. There is a lone tour bus in the parking lot, and Adal says it is the first one he has seen. There are a number of Egyptians visiting the pyramids, waving national flags in celebration more than a week after the president's ouster. But camels, horses and their owners outnumber tourists.
Adal said it has been very hard to feed his family, and his animals, without the tourism dollars. As a businessman, he had to make sacrifices. "I had 15 camels, but right now, I have six camels," he said. "I have sold them, you know, because when I had 15 camels, how could I buy this food to feed them?"
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