Egypt, the Nile, Cairo and the Pyramids – it was hard work and hot. Cities like Cairo are not for the fainthearted and not easy to travel in when you contract a viscious Egyptian cold and find yourself reaching for the antibiotics (fortunately antibiotics can be purchased over the counter in Egypt and fortunately my father, who is 86, stayed well throughout the trip!)
But I have to say that there were wonders to behold: not least the only remaining wonder of the Ancient World – the Pyramids sat on the edge of the Western Desert, visible from here too, the remarkable standoff bewteen city and wilderness; then there were the temples of Luxour and Karnack, the tombs in the Valley of the Kings and the impossibly green fertile strip inhabited by white egrets, local farmers and children running ribbon like along the edge of the great river.
I lost my camera the first day !(I was lucky to get it back a week later- so many lovely Egyptian people around). It was good for writing as I came home with over 100 2-3 line verses (renga style) each of which conjure the place for me as vividly as any image.
grey moth fellucca /sails the Nile/ with folded wings
dusk gathers in the corners/of the valley tombs
cool tombs/indigo ceilings/faded stars
polished brass and pale marble/slip between hands and feet
smooth, angular/beauty of face/and manners
the call to prayer/sucked into car’s throat/Cairo
sacred place of silence/sighs with our noise/Valley of the Queens
orange pants/red t-shirt/video camera
the trip sounds like an amazing adventure! Full of ancient kings buried under mounds of sand. I’ve always wanted to visit the pyramids and I can’t wait to hear all bout your trip and the Valley of the Kings xx
Quite an adventure – yes! But its good to be back too xxx