Today was our “𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲” experience with an Egyptian farm family on the west side of the Nile.  The West Bank of the river is a very different world from the temples and lively markets of the Eastside.  We used a motorboat to cross the river. 

The west side is rural, reedy, and less developed. It is home to subsistence farmers. They are far removed from the Hollywood-ready attractions just across the water.  Most houses are modest, made from mud bricks or concrete, and surrounded by date palms, henna, and fruit trees.    

Our group was with the family of 𝗔𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘇𝗮𝗯. They are farmers and local leaders. They have lived on the West Bank since 1960.  The weather and soil favor many crops, including potatoes, eggplant, mangoes, and tomatoes.  All the work (seed, grow, and harvest) needs to be accomplished before the flooding of the Nile each year.

We toured the community,  then helped make sun bread (a flatbread similar to pita).  This bread is a staple of the community. Every family has a stone oven. Some have access to a shared range.  We were provided lots of time for questions before being served lunch….followed by a cup of hibiscus tea.

We bid farewell to our family and walked to the Nile’s bank, where we encountered a local icon, a 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗮.  These traditional wooden-hulled boats with lateen (triangular) sails ply the water in profusion.  They’re the ideal vessel to take us back to our ship on the east bank.  We sailed for about 45 minutes, able to reflect on the power of this ancient, life-giving river.

The rest of the day was so relaxing. Our ship set sail for Qena. We lounged on the back deck. We imagined what it was like for the ancients taking this same route.