The Birqash Camel Market

Yesterday was a holiday here in Cairo so my dad and little brother didn't have work or school. We decided to head out of the city to the Birqash camel market. I suspect this was my dad's way of getting us out of Cairo and away from the planned demonstrations/protests. More on that later.

We arrived a little late and most of the camels had already been bought/sold, but it was still fun to walk around looking at the camels.

They hobble the camels so they can't walk around.

Guys with rifles who escorted us around. Because we all know how dangerous camels can be... especially when one of their legs is tied up.

Camel hides.

Just outside the market, there was a mass camel grave (and beyond that, a soccer field?) I guess they don't make the sick camels walk too far before shooting them.

And next to the grave, a dump of burning garbage. If only you could capture smell through a picture... even from within the car, the smell was pretty powerful.