this and that

I owed one of the local fruit stand guys 7 Egyptian Pounds (CAN$1.25) for a few apples I didn’t have the money for one night earlier in the week. I always go to the same shop, so he knew I’d come back. I was also the only white guy in the area within at least a 3km radius, so he knew he could find me if he wanted to; 7 EP is a lot of money for these people.

Heading back there the next day to pay up, he invited me for a smoke and tea in his shop. 5 minutes later, dinner was laid out on the table, and we dug into Bread, rice, some sort of stew and some sort of green soup/dip. It was a proper Egyptian meal, and I enjoyed it. He spoke as much English as I could speak Arabic, but we got along, showed pictures of our family and cracked jokes through hand gestures and funny sounds. I wonder when the last time a Canadian invited an Arab in for dinner?

The next day it was moving day, out from our apartment in Mohandessen (an area on the west bank of the Nile) to the Ramses Hilton, where my King sized bed and balcony with the Nile view waiting me. Can you believe this? I wake up to a view of one of the most famous rivers of all time. Cool.

Friday was spent in a true travelers style. Ellen and I hired a boat for 4 hours, and spent the day cruising the Nile, well north of Cairo, out of the pollution and out of the noise. This was a true glimpse into what Egyptian farming life is all about. We stopped off at a island around the Nile Delta, smoked some shisha, drank some tea, and walked around looking at the various farming plots. It was a cool experience, and this is what makes the job worth it for me. I may be in a suit sweating my balls off for a good chunk of the day, but once work is finished, you have the city of Cairo to explore; and I've only just begun.