Friday, July 16, 2004

Changing clothes

I decided to change the look of the blog and came up with this new one. It's simpler than the old skin and I like it better. Hopefully sometime I can figure out how to put pictures with it. Tough being technologically challenged.

One of the reasons that I'd like to be able to post photos occurred the other night. I was standing on the roof of my house enjoying the evening while one of the many passenger planes that land at Cairo International circled overhead on its pass over the Pyramids as it was descending to bring yet another load of visitors. The dust and smog over the valley (I hate to admit it, but we have a real problem there) made a peach background to the silhouettes of the palms and mango trees, and the apartment buildings of Maadi across the river. Below, in the fields my neighbours were leaving their work with their donkeys, cows and water buffalo. Dogs trailed groups of children along paths back to the homes that line the path behind me. The greens of the corn, zucchini, the summer hay, with the warm glow of the sky where a silver jet curved in the air....I don't know how to express it but I wanted to share that image with everyone.

The sheer beauty of Egypt is breathtaking. It was the therapeurtic night rides the summer that my husband died that truly opened my eyes to the loveliness of my chosen home. I would amble along the paths in the farming areas, usually alone with my favourite mare, listening to far off village weddings and engagement celebrations. With all of the lights in Cairo, it's never really dark out and the palms are always black against a slightly lit sky, but the stars can be seen clearly in Sakkara. Every so often I would ride past some of the farmers' houses where the family would be gathered on a mat in front of their house often watching some old Egyptian movie on a black and white tv. Gentle "good evenings" and "Peace be with you" would float out into the air in welcome. I knew that summer that I would never want to leave this place.

10 comments:

J-Birds said...

Your new template is great. The parchment background ads to the flavor of your posts. Tell us more about parrots in Egypt.

Stefano said...

Hi I came across your post completely by accident, but I just love it. Having been a lover of Egyptian art and history for so many years it's now great that I've stumbled across your blog. In passing posting pics to your blog is pretty easy, the only touchy part is finding a place to store your pictures and then point to them in your blog. You can find information on posting pics in blogger.com's help section and I suggest perhaps you open up a yahoo account as they give you quiet a bit of space for pics and the like and their uploading system for pictures is pretty easy. I look forward to reading your entries.

Stefano

Sweet Honey said...

Hi...
I just went to Egypt last month for my holidays. I have to say, it was beautiful.
I was there for 11 days and when it was time to go home, i didnt feel like going home.
I went to Cairo, Luxor and the Nile...absolutely beautiful...even tho my skin was peeling and drying.
Would definately come again.

Anonymous said...

When I was a little girl of only 10 or 11, my Dad had a year long Fullbright scholarship to study Arabic in Cairo. Though it's been 15 years now since we were there, i miss the night time in Cairo. The smells and the sounds. Something about the city at night it so peaceful. At least that's how I remember it...

I love your blog. It makes me remember our time in Cairo- and happier times when my Dad was still with us.

-Lexie

Virginia said...

I love your blog, and the pictures on your other site. I've always had a love for Egypt and it's history since I was a child, but have to yet travel there. Your personal experiences make me want to come even more!

I was very disappointed to see that the photos of your new home weren't available on alsorat.com. If you have techie questions, I'd love to help.

Best wishes!
Virginia
vodine@direct.ca
British Columbia, Canada

Rowena said...

I just happened onto 'Living in Egypt'....you have a great blog and are a wonderful writer. I especially liked the post about the swallows. Right now in the mountains, the swallows (or rondini) are driving me crazy with their constant chatter throughout the day. I look forward to more posts!!

Lilian said...

hiii

Eden Bond said...

Hi Maryanne,
Great Blog, if you want to add pictures to your blog it's really easy with www.hello.com
once you load up the program, it stores them online and publishes them directly to your page.

Good luck
Vee

wordplay said...

hey! i love your blog! i've always been v interested in Egypt..and i think ur blog rocks! my blog is.. a typical college girl blog..from S'pore.Visit if ur free=)

wordplay said...

hey! i love your blog! i've always been v interested in Egypt..and i think ur blog rocks! my blog is.. a typical college girl blog..from S'pore.Visit if ur free=) http://hands0ff.blogspot.com