AS THE SUMMER draws to a close, Al-Qanater Al-Khaireya grows busier by the day with holiday-makers. Built around the first modern irrigation barrages in Egyptian history, the idyllic city of “the Benevolent Barrages” — just outside Cairo — became a popular summer destination in the 20th century, and has since remained the poor man's outing and the working class's relief. photo: Sherif Sonbol