The Egyptian desert continues to be historical and alive the same time. The ancient Egyptians had highways for trade and commerce, postal routes and rest stops. Pharaohs and nobles made their tombs in the valleys. Christians and Muslims used the desert to be alone or in small communities to practice their faith. Travellers and caravans left their mark with pot shard laden roads and graffiti. Many of these places have been forgotten and left alone. Modern day Egypt lives closer to the Nile and as the population expands the old roads of the desert slowly disappear. In the desert the sun still makes the same shadows the Egyptians saw in the past.