Diaries, Embassies And Falookas

Multi-topic-post :

- It's interesting to read someone's diary. Not their private diary of course, I mean their online diary, the one they have there for public access. It kind of feeds your curiosity without being nosy. Because one way or the other we all have a little bit of curiosity within us. At least I would like to think so, because I don't want to feel that I'm too curious and nosy.

- I was in Zamalek the day before yesterday and on my way to where I parked my car there was an embassy. I was curious to know which embassy it was because I didn't recognize the flag. So I stopped in front of it and took a look at the sign, then decided to ask the guard (3askari) that was standing in front of the building about it. He went silent for a few seconds and concentrated real hard to remember the name. And then a smile was drawn on his face as if he was secretly saying "Eureka!!". Then he said.. "The Embassy of Bab Zewela" ( that's the name of one of the fortified gates to Cairo in the Fatimid reign). It turned out that what he meant to say was Venezuela!!!

- So a couple of days ago I went with my friends on a "falooka" ride. A falooka for those who don't know it is an Egyptian name for a small boat that goes on little cruises in the Nile.


The man who was sailing the boat was amazing; He was really old, and he's from upper Egypt. His name was Shaaban. We asked him when we got on the falooka if he had a cassette player (they usually install cassettes that you put in your car in the falooka ) so we could put some music on. He said that they got so noisy that the coast guards told them to remove all cassette players from the boats. But he reassured us that it wasn't a problem because he had an alternative: he'll sing some ballads and songs from his home town. And so he did....

It was extremely fun to sit there and listen to him sing his songs and in between tell us his story and how he raised his 8 daughters and got all of them well educated and then happily married except for the youngest who is still in school. He told us about how his wife had passed away and is in heaven now. He told us stories about some of the manors on the river banks and who owned them... He was a charming old man in his own way.

OK! here's what I'm most excited about! A video of him singing one of the songs.

Enjoy :)

Shawsheska III

Madonna - This used to be my playground

"Dear Gwyneth,

How are you? It's been so long since you last came to visit me. Or at least it seems this way to me. I've lost track of time. It's so hard to keep track of days in here, sometimes I feel that It's a blessing. It's so hard to keep count of the time I've spent and the time I have left in here before I'm released. Time passes by so slowly that it makes me want to scream at the top of my lungs whenever I realize how much time I have left within those walls.
It's OK though. I know I'll be out soon. I just have to keep my chin up and everything will be just fine...

How are Jeff and Scotty doing? How's their school work going? Is Scott studying well for his tests? I know how hard all this has been for him. I just wish he focuses on his future. Oh Gwyn I'm so scared that I might have ruined my own babies' lives... I blame myself everyday for what I've done. I can't help it.. it just tears me up inside.. the pain I feel is blinding.

Tell Jeff to be strong.. tell him that I love him so much and that he and his brother are the most important things to me in the entire world.. tell them that I'm coming out soon and I'll make everything right again.

Gwyn, come visit me soon. I need to know how you all are doing. I'm going crazy not knowing what's happening on the outside with my family. Or just call me.. it's really hard to use the phone around here, but if I get a call it's easier. We can talk for a couple of minutes just so I know that everything is OK.. because everything is OK, right?

Okay, I'll finish up then. Tell my boys I love them and that I miss them so much.. tell them that I miss taking them in my arms and hugging all their worries away. Tell them I'm coming home soon.... "