Artisan Market Weaver at the Unfinished Obelisk
Aswan, Egypt
One never knows when or how a delightful encounter will cross your path. Our afternoon tour plan was a stop at Aswan Egypt’s ancient stone quarry where the largest known obelisk (notice the size of this thing compared to the guy just above on the cliff) ever hewn was left unfinished after it’s creators began to carve it, but as you can see cracks appeared in the granite and the project was abandoned. The bottom side of the obelisk, still attached to the bedrock, is so fascinating since you can see the ancient Egyptian stone-worker’s techniques with the tool marks still clearly visible! It’s like returning through a time machine to see the process of construction. No other site we saw in Egypt was anything like it. And that was what I thought would be the highlight of my afternoon…
At the base of the stone quarry hill there was a little market. One of the shops had a small artisan merchant bay filled with brilliantly colored scarves where every inch of the walls, floor to ceiling, were hung with solids, stripes & striking patterns of fabrics forming beautiful rainbows. In the center of the shop was a large wooden loom. At the loom a handsome chiseled older man with graying hair and a well trimmed graying beard sat and wove. There was a younger man in the back who, save the graying, was nearly his twin. The younger was bustling about, bartering in English, harried and busy with the rush of customers. This was THE place to shop with its very popular soft flowing scarves produced from the well worn loom.
From a distance I knew I wanted to visit this bright little shop & hurried over to beat the crowd, but once I stepped inside, although there were many scarves that caught my eye, I didn’t select any to inspect. Something else had captivated my interest. It was the skilled hardworking craftsman at the loom in the center of the room. His hands were all I could see and my heart hurt. I watched the artist pass the large wooden boat shuttle up and down through the threads and knew, without a doubt his thumbs joints were in pain, arthritic. You see, I’ve been there. Wore mine out with work, piano, crocheting… just with life till the joints were bone on bone. (No worries, got ’em fixed with a little surgery awhile back, but, this isn’t about me.. I digress).
I can’t really explain specifically how, but without a doubt we understood one another. There were some hand motions, some laughing, some facial expressions and some hand holding. Suffice it to say, we communicated. He and I bonded over our well worn hands. We were instant friends. He touched my heart with his smile, the light in his eyes and the sparkle in his soul.
SHARED LANGUAGE IS NOT REQUISITE FOR HUMAN AFFECTION & CONNECTION. PEOPLE TRULY ARE THE TREASURES OF TRAVEL.
TRIPPIN WITH NATALIE 
Natalie,
You’ve done many things in your life and from what I know you’ve done most of them very well! I dare say though that with this venture you’ve found something you were truly born to do and you do it fabulously! I’ve always had a bit of a travel bug, or wanderlust, or whatever one may choose to call it myself and with each of your stories it is ignited as I read!
Thank you for allowing us all to journey with you! Especially from one who wishes to do so himself but has not in recent years had the opportunity to fulfill it!
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Thanks for joining me on the journey, Chris! I believe there is a time & a season for everything. Somehow, it is my season right now… yours may come one day, my friend. š I do love sharing … and writing about the amazing people & places. I’m learning & stumbling through all the technology along the way, however. Seems every post I find some other little challenge to scratch my head about! LOL Thanks again for join me…it means a lot, truly.
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I like your observation: “it’s in the eyes”. You have that.
I’m loving this travel/trippin with you!
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