Although the calendar says it is winter and the temperature suggests it's summer, the palm trees nearest our house say that it is spring. I just noticed that the male palm is blooming. The flowers will be cut down and attached to female trees to fertilize them. This work is all done manually by men climbing the trees in their bare feet -- they don't leave such an economically important matter to Mother Nature.
Since one male can fertilize numerous females, a grove will have only a few males on hand. The females are the money-makers: each can produce 100kg of fruit. Since the Gulf War interrupted Iran's market, Egypt has become the largest supplier of dates worldwide.
9 P.M. Update: The Time Traveller and I motored down the Nile to a friend's home for a sunset barbecue on his riverside terrace. On route we spotted an old cruiser. After a bit of 'spit and polish' it would be fun to roam the Nile in this intimate boat -- about one-eighth the size of most cruisers.
We were blessed with a glorious sunset.
Shari, Your reports and photos make me want to go to Egypt! Keep it up! Larry
ReplyDeleteHey Larry - Egypt Air and Alitalia offer direct flights to Luxor. Benvenuti! Come for Spring Break.
ReplyDeleteyou know my friend that this boat belongs to my grandfather and now it belongs to my father ....i spent my childhood on this boat between 1983 and 1990 ,,,and it stopped working ever since 1992....i am mahmoud el gabry from cairo, egypt ,,,:) where about have you seen it in luxour ..i mean in which area if u can tell me ill go and save it ...i can send u a photo of how it looked like in 1985 at its prime when it was alive and fun ...it is a shame to see it like that ....
ReplyDeleteDear Mahmoud,
ReplyDeleteIt has been 3 years since I took this photo. At the time, it was docked on the East side of the river, North of the Sheraton hotel. I do hope you are able to restore it. It is a treasure.