Streets of Time – Destinations Pending

There have been several urban renewal projects in Egypt over the past 10 years – though not yet enough. Alexandria was renewed first - in coordination with USAID water projects that made the City safer to live in. The corniche was improved and the old town centre was cleaned up. In Qena, north of Luxor, another urban renewal program improved streets and utilities with impressive results including public pride and satisfaction.

In Luxor there is more of a challenge. Layers of architectural riches are in the way and many people cling to the far edge of poverty and their small homes of rough brick – in the path of change – maybe all they have in life. As the city tackles changes, inconvenience and distress a new Luxor is rising out of the broken bricks. The new Luxor works better, moves faster, is more convenient, and even safer. It protects and showcases the temples and shows tourism – the foundation of the economy - a better time. The average citizen, in an average day, is also starting to feel the benefit. East of the railway tracks new neighbourhoods are built on a planned grid of newly paved roads. Beside the train station a new bus station moves people quickly from train to village. Beside the bus station is a new market – conveniently located for people to buy food on their way home. New bridges eliminate the former gridlock. None of these measures are a solution to the ongoing population explosion – but solving THAT problem will require more of the vision, planning, and commitment shaping the City now.

This old apartment building (below), featured in an earlier post, is for removal as it encroaches upon the Avenue of the Sphinxes.

To be or not to be. This old building below holds the Famous Oasis Cafe (David Munro, Proprietor), and a popular dentist's office, planned for demolition in a couple more years - and so still has some chance of being reconsidered for survival.

The building (below) featured in the demolition video of a couple days ago is continuing its journey to street level.

This urban dairy relic of past decades supplies local milk vendors who sell milk from metal cans strapped to the side of motorcycles. The Governor's compensation plans should provide the operators of this business with a new start in a better location.

Far away on the West Bank of the Nile a new "dewatering" project is wrapping a protective barrier around the remains of ancient temples on the edge of the desert. Soon, the lowered water levels will permit new excavations and the next step to create the "World's Largest Open Air Museum".