Day 19 - Aswan

Still here, still waiting.

Last night, our local facilitator Mohammed invited us to his family's home up by the First Cataract, taking us there in his boat- up the silky smooth, black Nile by moonlight (with just a bit of help from distant sodium lights). His sister had prepared a welcoming glass of hibiscus tea followed by a hefty meal. Then another sister painted a henna design on the feet of Anki, Karina and Rose before we had a guided tour of the house (including the two crocodiles being bred for future food in a small tank - not good for us, but perhaps a sort of cross between keeping chickens and a goldfish in a bowl?). This is a Nubian village, where the first language is Nubian and the children have to go to school to learn Arabic.

Oh - and stand by for shock horror. I had a haircut just before leaving home, but decided my hair was still too long here, so subjected myself to the mercy of an Egyptian barber in the souk yesterday. Definitely no photographs! Anki says that I look "very suave" but I wonder if that means something less complimentary in her native Swedish?

PS. Postcards posted - how many will arrive????


Bryan