Today was our day to visit Saqqara and Dashur. I had called Mohamed, our taxi driver for pur taxi tour appointment last night and our agreed upon time was 10:00 am. He called this morning to tell me he was running fifteen minutes late. While waiting at the garage, we got an earful from his brother in law about the magnetic qualities of the pyramid at Dashur. He was trying to tell us that you go into the pyramid, it smells like ammonia (ugh, like the worst collection of cat pee ever) and then you go to the top chamber and go into a yoga pose and meditate for 15-30 minutes. He said you would feel tired but three days later, would have amazing energy. Hmmm. We couldn't get past the nasty cat pee smell. We couldn't wait to get out of there. Somehow, I don't remember it smelling that bad before but then it was at least ten years that I was there. We saw the Bent Pyramid from a distance and got back into our taxi. Katie was suffering from acute ammonia poisoning and then we went to Saqqara.
The best part of Saqqara is the limited number of people who go there. It was much cheaper than Giza which you can see in the distance. First we paid to get in, 15 LE for students and teachers. Katie must have batted her eyelashes and swung her blonde hair because she didnt have a student card but got the student price. Chris had to pay 30 LE. When we got in the area, I saw that admission to the New tombs was extra and the guard let us pay 50 LE for all three. A guy took us dowm to the tomb area which was discovered in 1954 but only open to the public for the past 5 years. He gave us a nice little introduction then called for the guard to open the tombs. Of course, I had to see them. The usual "no cameras, no photos" but still it was worth a look.
Our guard came clad in a dark blue gallabiya with grizzled face and sprouting facial hairs. He immediately launched into who the men were - two twin brothers who were high priests at Abu Sir and also the pharaoh's manicurists. You see, no ordinary person could touch the pharaoh because he was considered to be a god so it was a good side job for priests apparently. Here's where the fun began. Our guard said, it's OK for photos. Yessiree, I took lots. The boys are there holding hands, with baskets of food before them, there are men butchering cows, milking cows, calves being born all in super graphic detail. It was exciting because I had never seen them before and because I got to photograph the forbidden images. Plus, I tipped our guard 20 LE for the privilege. Then we went to another tomb with more scenes. The last tomb was not as colorfully painted but there were scenes of grape picking, graphe smashing and wine making. Now there's an article for a wine magazine or blog! Another 20 LE tip and our guard was quite happy. I took a picture of Chris with him and then Chris took a picture of me with him. Oh yeah, part of the tip was a pen which he asked me for. No problem, happy to oblige. I think he said he had six children, he may have been charged up by my proximity to make number seven - was that a compliment?
We walked to the Pyramid of Unas just up the causeway of Dynasty 5 which had covered over the tombs we had just visited. I had been in Unas House of Eternity before but this time it was closed. Too bad as there were the first pyramid texts on the inner walls of the tomb. they were bringing in camera equipment and it was closed to the public. We also asked about getting into the Pyramid of Djoser but that too was closed as it often is. There was a flurry of activity setting in new limestone blocks apparently to shore up the very first stone pyramid albeit in stepped mastaba form. some of the stones seemed to be in mid avalanche down the six steps. I told Katie and Chris about the heb sed festival of revealing the strength of the pharaoh. we made our way down to Mohamed and the taxi - tore into our turkey and cheddar sandwiches and decided to skip the Mastaba tomb of Mereruka. It was enough for the day which was very very smoggy with the rice straw burning and heat of the day. It was overcast but not in a good way.
Last stop, Nomad store on the Corniche Nil - larger than the small store in the Cairo Marriott - so Katie could buy a small pillow case with a camel on it. We got home, I opened a Stella Egyptian beer and went to bed promising the three kids that I would order pizza for dinner. Mohamed is taking them to the airport at 10:00 pm tonight so they have plenty of time for their flight back to Prague where the rest of their journey continues. The end for now. Pizza was great - I also got a small apple pie and a small lemon meringue.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Sunday, Nafeza and Khan Khalili
Waking up LATE, we join up with Shayma (Chris, Katie, Dominique and Ginger)and take the metro to Fostat to visit the workshop of el Nafeza. Since we had Chris with us, we couldn't take the women's carriage in the metro and had to be crammed together in the everyone but God carriage, stinky men, brave women, and more stinky men. We did meet a Bulgarian group who were part of an experimental theater troupe who were performing that night and they invited us to come see their performance. We waited until the first metro had left as it was jam packed with the same mix of people. Ugh. So with the second car, we got on and stood the entire time. That's what happens at the Sadat station as it is the main place to change for other metros.
El Nafeza is in the same complex of studios and workshops as Darb 17 18 which we also visited. Enas was there, the wife of Mohamed el Nagy who is in charge of the workshop that mainly trains deaf/mute young men and women. Everyone was working that day on colored vats of paper pulp making magenta, royal blue, turquoise and green paper. We observed the entire process from the cleaning of the straw bales to the boiling of the straw which seemed to be releasing some rather toxic fumes. Upon arrival, Enas took us around and explained the process. She had working with her in the workshop, a French women who is helping to get them more business. She said that just now, Diwan's book shop was making an order to have in their bookstore which is across the street from where I live across 26 July Street. The finished materials have changed somewhat beyond the packets of paper, lampshades, and scrapbooks, to more embossed paper which they were fashioning into magazine holders and other items.
Immediately on going outside to where the paper was being macerated and then dumped into tanks where screens accepted the slurry of rice paper pulp, we met little Akhmed the small son of one of the deaf mute workers. His father is also deaf as is Akhmed. He would scream with delight when I would show him a photo I had taken of him. He wanted me to take photos of everything! So I will post some of Akhmed posing next to ultramarine blue sheets of paper adhering to the stone walls; Akhmed lifting up a chair, Akhmed posing, etc. Just recently, the shop obtained a paper press which they use to make smoother versions of the rougher rice paper.
I purchased six larger sheets and a pack of 20 sheets around the size of my portraits. I thought I would use it in the same way for painting portraits in my series. With the day's photos and from Saturday's as well, I have several more choices for my Faces in Egypt. Chris and Katie each bought some items and somehow I have been roped into taking Chris's scrapbook and a few papyrus paintings home with my stuff. Hmmm.
It is actually Monday now but I wanted to keep the day's activities in order. After Nafeza, we went back downtown via metro and this time, I told Chris to go in the men's car and how many stops (four) and we women went into the all girl car. It was pretty crowded in ours but no stinkiness. Chris was treated to a lot of armpit odors. He's a good sport. From there, both Shayma and Dominique were too tired to acompany us to the Tentmaker's area or Khan Khalili. We took a taxi to the Bab Zuweila right at the entrance to the clothing district. For the life of me, I couldn't find the place where they made tents. We needed Shayma with us but she was under the weather. After a truck backing up nearby ran over a woman's foot - Chris said he heard an audible crunch - and the woman was screaming in pain. We decided, actually, I decided to hightail it out of there with the kids in tow.
We decided next to get to the Khan Khalili and Naguib Mafouz cafe so off we went. The day then turned around for the better. After a great "light" lunch around 4:00 pm or so, we were well fueled for some last minute shopping. Katie needed scarabs in different colors for the boys she babysat and Chris wanted some papyrus as well as some small stuffed camels at the bargain price of 45 LE for three of them. Katie got her small scarabs in turquoise, ultramarine blue, lime green and light blue for 2 LE each. We found a nice guy in his shop who took us directly to the Bedouin shop. I couldn't have found it on my own and there was Ahmed who I had met last year. We browsed around the shop and went upstairs too where he has stacks of old Bedouin costumes, face veils and other assorted Bedouin items. I bought an Eye charm with dangling chains and beads on it, a set of silver and amber earrings, a Siwa ring for a perfect price. I think Ahmed has a crush on me but not in an icky way. I got several of his business cards so that I would never lose his shop again. I intend to take Carla there when she comes to visit December 31.
El Nafeza is in the same complex of studios and workshops as Darb 17 18 which we also visited. Enas was there, the wife of Mohamed el Nagy who is in charge of the workshop that mainly trains deaf/mute young men and women. Everyone was working that day on colored vats of paper pulp making magenta, royal blue, turquoise and green paper. We observed the entire process from the cleaning of the straw bales to the boiling of the straw which seemed to be releasing some rather toxic fumes. Upon arrival, Enas took us around and explained the process. She had working with her in the workshop, a French women who is helping to get them more business. She said that just now, Diwan's book shop was making an order to have in their bookstore which is across the street from where I live across 26 July Street. The finished materials have changed somewhat beyond the packets of paper, lampshades, and scrapbooks, to more embossed paper which they were fashioning into magazine holders and other items.
Immediately on going outside to where the paper was being macerated and then dumped into tanks where screens accepted the slurry of rice paper pulp, we met little Akhmed the small son of one of the deaf mute workers. His father is also deaf as is Akhmed. He would scream with delight when I would show him a photo I had taken of him. He wanted me to take photos of everything! So I will post some of Akhmed posing next to ultramarine blue sheets of paper adhering to the stone walls; Akhmed lifting up a chair, Akhmed posing, etc. Just recently, the shop obtained a paper press which they use to make smoother versions of the rougher rice paper.
I purchased six larger sheets and a pack of 20 sheets around the size of my portraits. I thought I would use it in the same way for painting portraits in my series. With the day's photos and from Saturday's as well, I have several more choices for my Faces in Egypt. Chris and Katie each bought some items and somehow I have been roped into taking Chris's scrapbook and a few papyrus paintings home with my stuff. Hmmm.
It is actually Monday now but I wanted to keep the day's activities in order. After Nafeza, we went back downtown via metro and this time, I told Chris to go in the men's car and how many stops (four) and we women went into the all girl car. It was pretty crowded in ours but no stinkiness. Chris was treated to a lot of armpit odors. He's a good sport. From there, both Shayma and Dominique were too tired to acompany us to the Tentmaker's area or Khan Khalili. We took a taxi to the Bab Zuweila right at the entrance to the clothing district. For the life of me, I couldn't find the place where they made tents. We needed Shayma with us but she was under the weather. After a truck backing up nearby ran over a woman's foot - Chris said he heard an audible crunch - and the woman was screaming in pain. We decided, actually, I decided to hightail it out of there with the kids in tow.
We decided next to get to the Khan Khalili and Naguib Mafouz cafe so off we went. The day then turned around for the better. After a great "light" lunch around 4:00 pm or so, we were well fueled for some last minute shopping. Katie needed scarabs in different colors for the boys she babysat and Chris wanted some papyrus as well as some small stuffed camels at the bargain price of 45 LE for three of them. Katie got her small scarabs in turquoise, ultramarine blue, lime green and light blue for 2 LE each. We found a nice guy in his shop who took us directly to the Bedouin shop. I couldn't have found it on my own and there was Ahmed who I had met last year. We browsed around the shop and went upstairs too where he has stacks of old Bedouin costumes, face veils and other assorted Bedouin items. I bought an Eye charm with dangling chains and beads on it, a set of silver and amber earrings, a Siwa ring for a perfect price. I think Ahmed has a crush on me but not in an icky way. I got several of his business cards so that I would never lose his shop again. I intend to take Carla there when she comes to visit December 31.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Saturday, October 17
Today we woke up late! We did make our way out of the apartment to see the Ibn Tulun Mosque, the oldest mosque in Cairo. It was an incredible space. I gave the foot cover man 5 LE and off we shuffled off. The place was huge.Not really used extensively as a mosque but WOW, what a place. We got to climb the minaret, the only one of its kind with the spiraling form. And that was an experience. While there, we met a young girl Salema and her father visiting Egypt from Saudi Arabia. He was a mechanical engineer. We talked about the problem with the black cloud of Cairo and pollution and the possible solutions. Salema was so cute, in her last year of high school. She wants to pursue a degree in art but her father is into medicine or engineering. Her sister is a pharmacist and her mother's side of the family have some artists. I took her email address down so I can help advise her and her father thanked me. I seem to be adopting more and more children these days. Spreading goodwill around the world.
Again,the photos from today were really good. We were hungry but I wanted to take the kids into the Khan Tulun - a shop where there are good prices, lots of handicrafts and less insane than the Khan Khalili. Chris and Katie managed to buy some presents and even Dominique got some things, postcards mainly. Earlier today, I bought a fold old laminated map of the Western desert from the mini Diwan's bookshop at the Marriott Hotel. The kids needed more money and I figured I would take out a little more.
We have vowed to get up early tomorrow at least by 9 am so we can go to Nafeza papermaking shop in the Fostat area, from there to the Tentmakers Bazaar and then finally to Khan Khalili. Also tomorrow night is the boat ride down the Nile. So many things to see, too little time. Monday is the day to go to Saqqara for the Stepped Pyramid and tombs of Nobles as well as maybe Dashur for the Red pyramid. I have to call Mohamed the taxi driver to remind him. More bargaining for the drive. But so worth it. Signing off for now as I want to get to Diwan's. I had Katie go with Dominique and Chris and I will follow.
Again,the photos from today were really good. We were hungry but I wanted to take the kids into the Khan Tulun - a shop where there are good prices, lots of handicrafts and less insane than the Khan Khalili. Chris and Katie managed to buy some presents and even Dominique got some things, postcards mainly. Earlier today, I bought a fold old laminated map of the Western desert from the mini Diwan's bookshop at the Marriott Hotel. The kids needed more money and I figured I would take out a little more.
We have vowed to get up early tomorrow at least by 9 am so we can go to Nafeza papermaking shop in the Fostat area, from there to the Tentmakers Bazaar and then finally to Khan Khalili. Also tomorrow night is the boat ride down the Nile. So many things to see, too little time. Monday is the day to go to Saqqara for the Stepped Pyramid and tombs of Nobles as well as maybe Dashur for the Red pyramid. I have to call Mohamed the taxi driver to remind him. More bargaining for the drive. But so worth it. Signing off for now as I want to get to Diwan's. I had Katie go with Dominique and Chris and I will follow.
Yesterday, Pyramids
Waking up pretty late yesterday, 12:30 pm to be exact with Chris' knocking on my bedroom door saying Ginger, get up, we got ourselves together for a trip to the pyramids. My original plan was to go to the Metro and ride to Giza then a short taxi to the 7th ancient wonder of the world. However, with our time constraints, I switched to plan B. This was to find the taxi driver in the underpass who I had ridden with before somewhere. He spoke good English and I learned his name was Mohamed. I had lost his card before but got another one. Bargaining began with the starting price of 200 LE but oh no, I said 100 LE and he said 150 LE, it's a long way and finally, we agreed on 100 LE with waiting for us in addition to taking us to a restaurant called Andrea.
As we were nearly there, I asked how much a camel ride would be and so straight away, we were wisked to the stable area - THE place to get the horses and camels that one rides around the pyramids and sphinx. We had to give 100 LE each for the camels - yes, I know, I had said never again for a camel ride. But I was assured that these particular camels were safe, their owners were good and didn't maltreat their animals. Apprehensive, I agreed since the 100 LE would cover a 45 minute tour around the pyramids. Of course, we had to pay to get into the pyramid area - 30 LE with my ITIC and 60 for Chris and Katie who didn't have one. Katie forgot hers at home, silly girl! The discounts you can get with an ISIC is very good here in Egypt, Turkey and other places, not so much in Europe.
Anyway, we had some intermediary guy who made me promise to visit his "papyrus and perfume" shop. Yadda yadda yadda. Our camels were brought to us in the stable parking lot by Omar, our guide and little Akmed who is in training to learn English. I got to ride Ali Baba, Chris had Mr. Lover, Katie on California. All were boy camels I learned after inquiring. Omar said the girl camels are not allowed for tourists because they cry all the time, no not the tourists but the camels. The tourists cry the next day with inner thigh pain! I was a little apprehensive naturally because of my experience two years ago. Ali Baba was such a nice camel - all white and well behaved. As soon as we got into the pyramid enclosure, Omar got on my camel with me, in front and little Akhmed leapt on the camel in front of Chris. Katie went solo. Those 45 minutes turned into nearly two hours while we slowly made our way around the smaller pyramid of a queen and then were shown a small opening which Zahi Hawass had discovered last year.
There are many many tombs which have been excavated by Hawass, all new since I was here in 2007. Along the way, Omar paid a bit of money to the guards to allow us to climb a little way on the pyramid of Menkaure for photo ops. And the pictures are great. We didn't have time to go into any of the pyramids and that was OK. We also ran out of time to actually get close to the Sphinx and that was OK too. The poor Sphinx is deteriorating before my eyes from the inside with rising groundwater seaping inside and pollution eating away at the limesone surfaces. The face of the Sphinx is definitely less sharp than I noticed only two years ago. I will be posting some great pics soon so stay tuned.
Yes, we did make our way into the papyrus shop with the horrendously and luridly painted Pharaonic scenes. I did my typical art critic evaluation and spouted off all the places I have been on one of the maps painted on the prepared reed plant surface. We drank our cokes provided by the shop and I managed to get us out of there in time. Right before, I asked Omar to get our driver Mohamed so we could make a quick getaway. I to think my way out of a box before the lid closes if you know what I mean. Before we got off our camels and dismounted in view of the intermediary, I had pulled out 110 LE for Omar. Katie and Chris ended up giving little Akhmed around 30 LE. Omar asked me to say I only gave him 20 LE in case anyone asked but no one did. He was a nice guy, around 31 years old. We had the chance to talk about a number of things. He is kind, hates cruelty to animals and despises anyone who is judgmental in a religious way. not your usual touchy grabby sort. And he took really photos of us. So different from when Katie Nemec, Stacie Kranzley, Cathy Holskin and I had our tour from Pack2Egypt hell.
Tired, sweaty and smelling of camels, we showered and got ready to go to our party on the rooftop with artist's studios as part of the Townhouse Gallery initiative. Artists put in an application for a two to three month residency. Jennifer was turning 23, a British artist who has a studio there now. She had a slide show of her work going on. Lots of people were there, one was a belly dancer from Libya named Fatma - she was fabulous, beautiful, young and I took many pictures. The studio managers had lots of beer for sale for 10 LE and food there too. There was dancing and really good music - they even played the Bangles, Walk Like an Egyptian! We made our way home around 2:00 am but Dominique and Shayma stayed there until 5:00 am.
As we were nearly there, I asked how much a camel ride would be and so straight away, we were wisked to the stable area - THE place to get the horses and camels that one rides around the pyramids and sphinx. We had to give 100 LE each for the camels - yes, I know, I had said never again for a camel ride. But I was assured that these particular camels were safe, their owners were good and didn't maltreat their animals. Apprehensive, I agreed since the 100 LE would cover a 45 minute tour around the pyramids. Of course, we had to pay to get into the pyramid area - 30 LE with my ITIC and 60 for Chris and Katie who didn't have one. Katie forgot hers at home, silly girl! The discounts you can get with an ISIC is very good here in Egypt, Turkey and other places, not so much in Europe.
Anyway, we had some intermediary guy who made me promise to visit his "papyrus and perfume" shop. Yadda yadda yadda. Our camels were brought to us in the stable parking lot by Omar, our guide and little Akmed who is in training to learn English. I got to ride Ali Baba, Chris had Mr. Lover, Katie on California. All were boy camels I learned after inquiring. Omar said the girl camels are not allowed for tourists because they cry all the time, no not the tourists but the camels. The tourists cry the next day with inner thigh pain! I was a little apprehensive naturally because of my experience two years ago. Ali Baba was such a nice camel - all white and well behaved. As soon as we got into the pyramid enclosure, Omar got on my camel with me, in front and little Akhmed leapt on the camel in front of Chris. Katie went solo. Those 45 minutes turned into nearly two hours while we slowly made our way around the smaller pyramid of a queen and then were shown a small opening which Zahi Hawass had discovered last year.
There are many many tombs which have been excavated by Hawass, all new since I was here in 2007. Along the way, Omar paid a bit of money to the guards to allow us to climb a little way on the pyramid of Menkaure for photo ops. And the pictures are great. We didn't have time to go into any of the pyramids and that was OK. We also ran out of time to actually get close to the Sphinx and that was OK too. The poor Sphinx is deteriorating before my eyes from the inside with rising groundwater seaping inside and pollution eating away at the limesone surfaces. The face of the Sphinx is definitely less sharp than I noticed only two years ago. I will be posting some great pics soon so stay tuned.
Yes, we did make our way into the papyrus shop with the horrendously and luridly painted Pharaonic scenes. I did my typical art critic evaluation and spouted off all the places I have been on one of the maps painted on the prepared reed plant surface. We drank our cokes provided by the shop and I managed to get us out of there in time. Right before, I asked Omar to get our driver Mohamed so we could make a quick getaway. I to think my way out of a box before the lid closes if you know what I mean. Before we got off our camels and dismounted in view of the intermediary, I had pulled out 110 LE for Omar. Katie and Chris ended up giving little Akhmed around 30 LE. Omar asked me to say I only gave him 20 LE in case anyone asked but no one did. He was a nice guy, around 31 years old. We had the chance to talk about a number of things. He is kind, hates cruelty to animals and despises anyone who is judgmental in a religious way. not your usual touchy grabby sort. And he took really photos of us. So different from when Katie Nemec, Stacie Kranzley, Cathy Holskin and I had our tour from Pack2Egypt hell.
Tired, sweaty and smelling of camels, we showered and got ready to go to our party on the rooftop with artist's studios as part of the Townhouse Gallery initiative. Artists put in an application for a two to three month residency. Jennifer was turning 23, a British artist who has a studio there now. She had a slide show of her work going on. Lots of people were there, one was a belly dancer from Libya named Fatma - she was fabulous, beautiful, young and I took many pictures. The studio managers had lots of beer for sale for 10 LE and food there too. There was dancing and really good music - they even played the Bangles, Walk Like an Egyptian! We made our way home around 2:00 am but Dominique and Shayma stayed there until 5:00 am.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Dinner at Aubergine in Zamalek
I joined Dominique and her Arab class buddies at Aubergine where I ate a couple of times last year. It is right in Zamalek and boasts a menu of primarily vegetarian dishes. Everything looked good. Carnivore that I am, I had one of two well done hamburgers. Sometimes, you just miss good old American style food. I'll be good tomorrow. Sitting next to me was a petite French nurse who works all over France and decided to learn Arabic in a five week course before traveling to Luxor. She likes the variety of work and places and as a nurse, it is a great opportunity. Brianna was there as well, a Fulbright student who I think I have mentioned before. She is an anthropology student studying migration and refugees. One of the best conversations with a man from Montreal, Canada who is Persian and loves film. We talked about Turtles Can Fly which I had shown my students and he wrote down a number of other films he thought I might like. He is a writer and will be staying in Egypt for a full year, he came in July. I told him that I was writing a book as well. There were probably a dozen different people from all nations who had come to Egypt to learn Arabic for various reasons. Christoffe, German, I believe unless he is Swiss, said that he likes to be in a place and learn the language and the customs. After his Arabic classes, he will travel to Syria and Jordan and may return to Egypt. Europeans really know how to travel. I don't know how they can leave their jobs but like the nurse, she has a built in ability to work and travel wherever she pleases. And of course, in Europe it is standard to be paid for at least six weeks per year regardless of whether you have worked at a company for one year or longer. Not the miserly two weeks that Americans give after a whole year of working. My brother Tom, was afraid to even take off a couple of days from his new job of six months to come for a long weekend to visit me in Media. No wonder Americans are full of stress and neuroses. Not enough time off to see other cultures. Of course, in Europe countries are smaller and closer together but still, Australians are far from anywhere and they travel like the French and Dutch too.
Click for Free Mammorgrams
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com
Please click daily to help provide free mammograms for needy women. When detected early, breast cancer fatalities can be alleviated. This site also has links to Free Hunger, Child Health, Literacy (which helps children and adults to free themselves of ignorance, creates better job opportunities and raises esteem), Save the Rainforest, Assist Animal Rescue.By clicking every day, you can help and it doesn't cost you anything. The mark of a true humanitarian is one who does not say I can't do anything to alleviate world hunger, sickness and untimely death. She says,it is only a moment of my time to help others every day. That act will allow you to think of other ways to put a smile on a child's face, a cup of rice into a struggling widow's stomach, a few trees saved to help our ozone layer not become depleted by the cutting down of rainforests.
I am nearly finished with all six paintings and need to take a break from portraits and perhaps record some other intimate scenes of city life here in Cairo - the colorful array of lights caused by speeding cars, the glimpse of buildings when I look up at the sky, washing hanging out a window, a Fauve landscape created by small rooftop gardens. Even if you can't be here, think of ways to colorize your world. Have your children make art everyday even if all it is, is a scribble of colors across a plain sheet of paper. Encourage it in yourself, put on some dangling earrings, a touch of color on your lips, and breathe the fresh air of your neighborhood. Talk to animals, from the birds on the trees to the squirrels running up and down and around the lawn of your apartment or house, to the meowing cats and barking dogs that you encounter. Most of you will not see donkeys on the streets or horses pulling carts like I do, or camels spitting and blinking their huge fringed eyelashes - I will provide that for you in this blog. Delight in the colors around you, the orange hues of the fall trees. Love who you are. You are fabulously talented men and women!
Well, I'm on a high from getting money at the HSBC ATM at the Marriott in preparation for my hosting Chris and Katie. I had a cappucchino and crossant at Simonds and got a merci beaucoup from the older barista when I gave my 1 LE tip. I went to the Women's Association of Cairo on 11 Yehia Ibrahim Street just a few blocks away and joined as a member for 200 LE. This now entitles me to discounts for their excursions like the one I will be on Tuesday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm for the Traditional Bedouin costume fashion show at Fustat. We meet at the Gezira parking lot at the Marriott and then take an air conditioned bus. It will be the chance to meet other women in the area - this "club" is for English speaking women. You never know who I will meet through them.
Then walked to Alfa Market for the usual shopping, bread, tomatoes, 1/2 kilos of sliced turkey and cheddar cheese (sheedar), croissants, loaf of freshly baked French bread, chocolate. So will have lots of food for my guests. Now it's time to relax a bit - think about writing something scholarly - I finished my article interview with Shayma which I had forgotten about. There is still the one on origins of beauty: women, wisdom, fear and desire in art.
Please click daily to help provide free mammograms for needy women. When detected early, breast cancer fatalities can be alleviated. This site also has links to Free Hunger, Child Health, Literacy (which helps children and adults to free themselves of ignorance, creates better job opportunities and raises esteem), Save the Rainforest, Assist Animal Rescue.By clicking every day, you can help and it doesn't cost you anything. The mark of a true humanitarian is one who does not say I can't do anything to alleviate world hunger, sickness and untimely death. She says,it is only a moment of my time to help others every day. That act will allow you to think of other ways to put a smile on a child's face, a cup of rice into a struggling widow's stomach, a few trees saved to help our ozone layer not become depleted by the cutting down of rainforests.
I am nearly finished with all six paintings and need to take a break from portraits and perhaps record some other intimate scenes of city life here in Cairo - the colorful array of lights caused by speeding cars, the glimpse of buildings when I look up at the sky, washing hanging out a window, a Fauve landscape created by small rooftop gardens. Even if you can't be here, think of ways to colorize your world. Have your children make art everyday even if all it is, is a scribble of colors across a plain sheet of paper. Encourage it in yourself, put on some dangling earrings, a touch of color on your lips, and breathe the fresh air of your neighborhood. Talk to animals, from the birds on the trees to the squirrels running up and down and around the lawn of your apartment or house, to the meowing cats and barking dogs that you encounter. Most of you will not see donkeys on the streets or horses pulling carts like I do, or camels spitting and blinking their huge fringed eyelashes - I will provide that for you in this blog. Delight in the colors around you, the orange hues of the fall trees. Love who you are. You are fabulously talented men and women!
Well, I'm on a high from getting money at the HSBC ATM at the Marriott in preparation for my hosting Chris and Katie. I had a cappucchino and crossant at Simonds and got a merci beaucoup from the older barista when I gave my 1 LE tip. I went to the Women's Association of Cairo on 11 Yehia Ibrahim Street just a few blocks away and joined as a member for 200 LE. This now entitles me to discounts for their excursions like the one I will be on Tuesday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm for the Traditional Bedouin costume fashion show at Fustat. We meet at the Gezira parking lot at the Marriott and then take an air conditioned bus. It will be the chance to meet other women in the area - this "club" is for English speaking women. You never know who I will meet through them.
Then walked to Alfa Market for the usual shopping, bread, tomatoes, 1/2 kilos of sliced turkey and cheddar cheese (sheedar), croissants, loaf of freshly baked French bread, chocolate. So will have lots of food for my guests. Now it's time to relax a bit - think about writing something scholarly - I finished my article interview with Shayma which I had forgotten about. There is still the one on origins of beauty: women, wisdom, fear and desire in art.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
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