The Logistics of Settling In 179concrete match the surrounding desert environment. The
basic colour of the city is a slightly greyer shade of tan than
the desert proper, which tends to be a light golden tan with
a very slight reddish hue. In winter, the sky may be bright
blue, especially in the mornings. However, even in winter, the
afternoon sky fades to a lighter shade of blue. Up and down
the Nile, morning winter skies are clouded with smoke from
open cooking and heating fires. The smoke settles along the
river due to the high population density at the river’s edge.
During summer months, the sky tends to be a greyish light
blue that fades into white. The pale sky against the desert
tan increases the stark contrast between green and desert.
It also adds to the monochrome effect in cities. Egyptians
seem to delight in adding colour at every opportunity.
Brightly coloured household decorations, rugs and even
clothing sparkle against the sandy coloured world. The style
of furniture most popular in middle and upper class homes is
rather baroque with intricately carved heavy pieces of wood.
Couches and chairs are frequently covered in decorative
brocade fabrics.
Dirt
What commonly passes for dirt in Egypt is really very finely
powdered sand. It is everywhere! Sand blows in the air, seeps
There is a sharp contrast between the rich vegetation of the fl ood plain and
the stark environment of the desert.