[DAC] From Cairo 3

Thu Jan 24 13:03:59 EST 2008

Greetings From Cairo,

I have received so many request from you for more views of Cairo, and  
I was so grateful for your prayers and blessings for our well-being  
(and the resulting rain)that I am happy to continue sending more  
images of Egypt. Do let me know if you would like to be removed from  
my mail list, otherwise I will continue sending.

My wild hair is from the pollution.

I stand in my bedroom in Cairo looking out at the city and the  
traffic as it snakes along the Nile.

I had begun a series of photos of inside/outside images some years  
ago when I accompanied Dipa, an artist friend from India to New York  
on a visit to the museums. While Dipa and I were in Manhattan, I did  
the first of these images as a small oil painting, using Dipa as  
subject.

(I describe the inspiration in my creative interview with Shelley  
Carson, professor of psychology at Harvard University:
" is this inside/outside view, a statement about our vision as humans  
superimposing our interior views of our background, concepts,  
experiences desires and aversions on the exterior world, creating a  
fusion of both, and therefore never really seeing each clearly and  
separately?)

There is no central heat in the apartment, so I am dressed in  
sweaters as it gets cold. Not the 28 degrees I heard is in Boston,  
only about 40 at night. We also use a portable electrical heater.

The days are beautiful and when it's sunny the temperatures can get  
up to 75 degrees - in the sun - I always feel cold in the shade. (I  
am from the tropics originally! Jamaica!)

Out on the streets, a newspaper seller has his wares laid out on the  
sidewalk, weighted down with stones.

All are in Arabic.

This could have been a scene from India, and I am also reminded of  
India when I am inside looking at the cabinets in the kitchen  
climbing to the ceiling, the hot water heater attached to the wall of  
the kitchen and the bathroom, and the general shape, size and  
ambience of the rooms.

Outside also feels like India, a blend of modern and ancient  
buildings with interesting decorative appeal, and the crush of  
humanity and sounds of traffic with bleating horns. Even the taxis - 
and haggling over fares with a driver who does not speak English  
feels the same. My limited Hindi is adequate for this, my Arabic  
almost non-existent. The phrase book is getting a work out.

Taxi trundles by a man on his cell phone.

People walk around with cell-phone in their hands, constantly  
talking, which also adds to the noise level of crowds.

Along the Banks of the Nile on Corniche el Nil, (the street we live  
on) is a nice sidewalk for a stroll.

Ken fits right in - looking quite Egyptian.
People speak to us in Arabic believing that we are Egyptian.

The River up close.

Benches on the sidewalk invite lingering conversations,

Or just a moment's rest,

And you can buy hot drink on the street to ward off the chill.

Although I would not recommend this for Westerners, as the level of  
hygiene is low and one could get ill from the glasses if not from the  
water used to make the tea.

There is even a gazebo where a family can sit by the river on a nice  
day.

This walk along the river also takes me to the Egyptian museum, where  
I will be spending  a lot of time, and a lot of cash it seems. The  
entrance fee is a bit exorbitant for Egypt, but I guess they mostly  
cater to foreigners, and they must have a  price for Egyptians.

We can also go to the metro via the river and then turn into the  
downtown area.

On most streets the curbs are high and keeps me hopping up and down  
like a bunny. So my preference for walking on Corniche El Nil.

The days seem to be flying past, and I know we just got here but it  
seems that too soon it will be time to go back to Boston.

Young men enjoy strolling down the street on a beautiful day after  
the rains.

This morning I was heard a knock on the door. An elderly man was  
gesticulating and waving a hundred pound Egyptian note and telling me  
about the "trash." I gathered he expected me to pay him this amount 
( about $20US) for taking our trash, which we put down a chute near  
the fire escape in the back.

After consulting my phrase book for the word tomorrow (bukra) he  
shook my hand enthusiastically saying "bukra" and I gathered that he  
was so pleased that I could communicate to him in Arabic. Of course I  
was stalling to find out about this payment for trash services as I  
was not told this was a charge we had to pay for.

Today I found out that the trash service is already paid for, so now  
I have my phrase ready to read to him tomorrow - in Arabic. (Although  
we will probably give him a tip at some point.)

Much love,

Lucilda

Visit my website www.Lucilda.com

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