Traveling to Egypt is one of those things you think about doing from the time you learn in school about the Pharaohs and the pyramids. Generally, Ancient World History is taught in 6th grade; definitely in the Middle School curriculum. By the time I finally had an opportunity to visit Egypt, I had been dreaming about it for over 60 years.
The trip that was suggested to me by a friend was unusual. It included sailing the Nile in a sailboat built in the late 19th century but retrofitted to give us all the modern amenities. And the best part? Only ten passengers. Because of the small size of the boat we were able to stop anywhere along the river. At night we just pulled up along the shore and the crew tied the boat to shore….sometimes just pounding stakes in the ground and securing the ship. We were able to visit small villages, meet the very welcoming inhabitants, explore more remote caves with drawings and hieroglyphics…..remember having to spell that word on a your 8th grade test?
My favorite stop was a Nubian community that had been displaced because of the Aswan Dam. By the 1950s it was clear that the government of Egypt needed hydropower to provide for the burgeoning population. In 1963 between 50,000-100,000 Nubians were displaced and sent to live in new villages 60 miles north that were nothing culturally like their former homes. Those homes are now at the bottom of lake Aswan. It was and still is a very controversial subject.
In all the small villages we explored, there were plenty of small children trying to sell us trinkets, homemade bowls, and colorful souvenirs. The little ones were spectacularly sweet. They knew a few select vocabulary words in English to get our attention. I rarely purchase items like these for fear of being a ‘mark’. The other sellers seem to think if you have bought one, surely you will buy another.
The tyke in the above photo couldn’t have been more than 5 years of age. He was much quieter than the others and surely would have starved if his family was waiting on his selling skills to supplement their meager income. As usual, I was attracted to his face. I wanted a portrait. So the negotiations began. There was much smiling, pointing, gestures, a few dollar bills waved about, and pleading looks on both our faces. Yeah! I can look convincing too! He finally understood that I wanted a picture of him. And he became even more shy. While holding onto the bowl that I promised to buy, he put his little hand to his face, lowered his head and gave me the perfect view of those gorgeous dark eyes you could see into forever. Perfection.
I love this portrait so much that it is on display in my kitchen along with another portrait of a young girl from Ethiopia. The two images remind me of how blessed I am that I get to meet such lovely souls as I travel the world.
Available for purchase in the Faces Gallery at http://PatriciaClairePhotography.com
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