Oriental Carpet School

Shaimaa, our guide, took us to the Oriental Carpet School where young Egyptian men without much education are taught a trade.

This young artisan can stitch 60 knots an hour.

Smoking slows down his co-worker.  Note the lit cigarette sticking out of the loom at the right.

Their skills impressed me enough to buy this cotton rug.  Time to redecorate my bedroom. Shaimaa is seated in the center.  I hope she got a cut of the purchase price.

We got our first glimpse of the fertile Nile valley out a back window.