Dust to Dust

Boy do we have dust!

I used to think that I lived in a very dusty place. My little house in the north of Michigan, heated by wood, generated a lot of dust. But that is nothing compared to the dust and blowing sand that Eyptians live with here on the edge of the desert.

This picture is taken from one of the highest points in Cairo. Twenty-two million people live here but you can't see a thing for the sand in the air. This was a particularily windy day which kicked up lots of sand air, creating the haze.

Every morning the building caretakers are out washing down the tenants cars. They do this for a fee, of course, but also the consequences of not cleaning off the cars is a car so thoroughly dust covered that you could not see out the windshield.

This dusty car hasn't been washed in a few days.

You need to dust at home regularily because the fine sand and dust accumulate at an alarming rate. We have someone clean for us weekly, mostly to keep the dust down to a manageable level. When there is a dust storm the fine particles seep under the doors and windows settling everywhere. It is easier to sweep up the sand from the floor instead of going over it with a dustmop. Sweep first, damp-mop second.

Our dining room table after the patio door has been opened for a while.

We are told that when there is a particularily bad sand storm, the halls of school collect little piles of sand in the corners. We have yet to see it that bad. Spring seems to be the time for the worst storms so we shall see.