Our main group left very early this morning for their Abu Simbel trip. Although they tried very hard to be quiet, the pergo floors on this ship creak so badly that about 5am I was sure someone was coming into our room. The Tamr Henna has 4 passenger floors. The crew quarters, laundry, etc are below the waterline. Next is the restaurant, kitchen deck. I is the main lobby, bar/ lounge, and a few rooms. Floor 2 is rooms, 3 more rooms, then the top sun deck with small pool. We are sitting on the sun deck in comfortable chairs with a cool breeze, cooling us after our morning trek to the market. I was feeling the need for a little textile excursion and managed to haggle like a fishwife over some cotton scarves. Both the vendor and I were satisfied with the transaction. I was certainly his first customer of the day as many of the shops were still closed when we arrived at 8:30.
As we walked back through the awakening market, I watched 2 women in front of me, each walking at a good pace while balancing what looked like heavy loads on their heads. One woman stopped, the other continued. When we had passed her, I turned and asked if I could take her photo, showing her my camera. She smiled shyly and nodded. After I took her photo, she smiled again, seeming so pleased that a foreigner would want a picture of her. She was about to continue on her way, not asking for $$, but I did give her some Egyptian pounds, thinking how difficult her life must be. It was a very sweet moment in the midst of so many men entreating, "Madame, lady, moustache (referring of course to Mark). I really do not have a moustache.
We leave about 11:30 for the Aswan airport where we will meet the rest of the group returning from their Abu Simbel trip, then all go on to Cairo.
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