(All photos used with permission.)

CAIRO

At the overlook - an amazing view of the pyramids on the Giza Plateau. Great place to take "trick" photos like this one: "See... the pyramids are only *this* tall!"

Lynne C. (Lena, Miss.)

CAIRO

At the pyramids overlook.

Glenda W. (Madison, Miss.)

CAIRO

Policemen riding camels patrol the tourist area around the pyramids and Great Sphinx complex.

CAIRO

Blowing handmade glass perfume bottles at a Cairo perfumery. The hollow glass rod is heated to red hot and then gentle puffs of air create the bulbs of the jars. Gently rolling the hot glass while pulling back on the edge creates the lip; the glass is painted when cool.

CAIRO

Also for sale are organically distilled essential oils and perfume oils, including custom blended perfumes

CAIRO

Large cloth sacks of saffron, bay leaf, and red pepper spices for sale in a small shop in the Khan el-Khalili market in Cairo

CAIRO

Brass lamps for sale at the Khan el-Khalili "souq," the old-fashioned tourist market in Cairo

CAIRO

Selection of carved stone scarab beetle souvenirs at the Khan el-Khalili market in Cairo

CAIRO

The green skin of the papyrus plant is peeled off and the white flesh inside is cut into thin strips. These strips are pounded and soaked in water, which toughens the fibers. The soaked strips are woven in and out (like a basket) and placed between two layers of felt in a press which melds the papyrus together. In 6 days, remove the sheet from the press and voila!... papyrus!

CAIRO/MEMPHIS

A young woman works on a carpet at a carpet school in Memphis, just north of Cairo; workers attend school in the morning then work in the afternoons.

CAIRO/MEMPHIS

Example of a woven carpet (wool on cotton) at a carpet school. Themes such as the gods and goddesses (shown here) are very popular, as are motifs including birds, fish, and trees.

A single handmade carpet can contain hundreds of thousands of knots and take two to three craftsmen a year to complete.

CAIRO

Head TOET tour guide Adel Taha and Glenda W. (Madison, Miss.) enjoying the lobby of the Mena House Oberoi hotel.

CAIRO

The large central chandelier in Mena House Oberoi, a luxury hotel located at the foot of the pyramid complex and once a hunting lodge of King Farouk.

CAIRO

The goddess Sekhmet - goddess of war and protector of the pharaohs.

Carol P. (Clinton, Miss.)

CAIRO

Minaret on a mosque in downtown Cairo

CAIRO

Modern mosaic of St. Joseph and the Virgin Mary riding a donkey; outside the Hanging Church in Old Cairo

CAIRO

Relief of St. George slaying the dragon; on the wall of the Orthodox Coptic Church in Old Cairo

CAIRO

At the Cairo train station - on the tourist train from Cairo to Luxor

Merry P. (Madison, Miss.)

CAIRO

In the lobby of the Pyramids Park Hotel, Cairo

CAIRO

Eating Koshary, the street food of Egypt.

Koshary is a delicious mixture of chickpeas, lentils, rice, vermicelli, and noodles topped with fried onions, tomato sauce and garlic.

Ruth S. (Sunnyside, Wash.)

CAIRO

Brass statue for sale at a jewelry shop, Cairo