in my mothers name: March 2014

30 March, 2014

Palm leaf furniture

We seem to go for return visits these days,

and visiting with this man,

his business and his family,

is definitely one of my favorite destinations.

With arms held wide open,

he welcomes us like family.

And before long

we are nestled around him as he works

and give us an insight

to a piece of fabulous handwork

that can only be achieved by

someone who has practiced as he has,

for a long time...

Egyptian tea is served

with a little sugar and mint leaves

from the garden.

On our way here

we picked up bread and tamia

from the local marked.

It could not have tasted better

if it was served on silver plates!

The sun just came out,

we are having a perfect day

in the most relaxing and peaceful setting.

Away from the busy city traffic....

Not far from us is the archaeological site of Memphis.

Memphis was the first capital of Egypt,

founded in 3100 BC.

Not a lot can be seen on the site itself,

but we have the feeling of that the world

around us has not changed

for hundreds of years.

Not my first ferry trip

across the Nile,

and probably not my last.

Every time I experience something new.

The ferry goes back and forth all day,

bringing the farmers to town in the morning,

and back again at the end of the day.

The line to get on it,

on each side of the river,

gives us an indication of
how important it is for the locals.

The first ferry left us on the river bank,

as it was all ready full.

As we wait, we are in good company,
others have to wait as well.
The guy to the right was just about to jump,
but changed his mind
as the distance from the ferry to the bank grew larger.
To bad,
it could have made a great picture...

As we weren't in a hurry,

we didn't mind waiting for the corresponding ferry
starting from the opposite bank.

The air was very dusty this day,
as it can be this time of the year.
Sand everywhere so close to the desert.

As the next ferry approach
my camera captures
a couple of near by boats.

A little bit of sunshine
is peaking through the dust,
and gives us hope for a nice rest of the day.

This ferry is not the best kept boat I have seen,
and would possibly have failed a control elsewhere,

but it doesn't seam to have any problems running.
Not sure if the small boat above is a life boat,
or if it by any chance would float at all.
I'll say probably not,
but in lac of another,
this was the only one on board.

A handful of passengers are eager to get off,
moving out on the ramp
as we get close to the other side.

This little passenger was hitching a free ride.

Whats next for us this day is another story...

24 March, 2014

Norwegian artist Britt Boutros-Ghali

whom I got to meet and visit with,

welcomed us

in her atelier and showroom.

I was very exited to meet this woman,
a Norwegian girl from Sortland in Vesterålen.
She is the first Norwegian I have met here in Cairo
since I arrived almost 2 years ago now.

Britt has made Cairo her home,
having been here for 40 years!

This quiet and serene work space,

located inside two houseboats

and tied to the bank of the Nile,

is tucked away from traffic and daily life

on the streets above.

From her windows she has a view to the river,

and can see across to downtown Cairo.
A pleasant view,
maybe not the same
as the view of the mountains
up north in Norway,
but pleasing to the eye.
A relaxed environment
on the lazy waves of riverboats passing by.