The Search for Scarves ....but first a bit of current events and news from Egypt

I'm writing from Luxor today Wednesday, August 14th....but parts of Egypt are in a defiant, defensive and survival mode... Sorry but I have to take time to explain certain things.  It seems completely superficial for me to talk about fashion with all the problems happening in Egypt at the moment.  I'm currently in Luxor, southern region of Egypt so I'm fine.  Don't panic or get nervous when you read what's below.

For those of you that may not be aware Egypt is trying to create their future of a better life , a democracy. So here is a helicopter view of the last 2 years in Egypt from my perspective.

It started 2 years ago on Jan 25, 2011 with a revolution to topple a dictator and its abusive regime that had been in power for 30 years.  The military took over until new elections were put in place.  Several candidates ran, some were disqualified and finally 2 were left. One from the Muslim Brotherhood and one from the previous Mubarak regime.  No one wanted the guy from the old regime they had just toppled and so the MB guy, Morsi,  won by 51% , a very narrow margin. Egyptians are not fans of the MB, an ultra conservative and  Islamic organization with very narrow minded philosophies, but he was the better of two evils.

This was June 30th of 2012.  This man, proceeded within weeks/months to begin changing the constitution granting himself absolute executive and legislative power and establishing Islamic rule of law (girls could now be wed at 13 years of age!), radically changed and removed large parts of the judicial system, granted amnesty to jailed terrorists, including one that had led a massacre of 60 tourists murdered in Luxor and then proceeded to appoint him Governor of the same place where the massacre took place. 

The last drop for the Egyptian people happened on Egypt's version of Memorial Day honoring those fallen in war, this President chose to have sitting next to him on one side, the Head Commander of the Military, General Sisi and on his other side the leader (one of the jailed terrorist he had granted amnesty)  of the group responsible for the assassination of Anwar Sadat.  A complete utter lack of disrespect to Sadat, a hero to the Egyptian people and the veterans who died fighting these domestic terrorists.  To put it in context, imagine if President Obama is at a Memorial celebration and chooses to have next to him the Chief of the Secret Service (who's job are to protect the President and his family) and on the other side Lee Harvey Oswald, (if he were alive), the man accused of assassinating JFK.....hmmmm get the picture?...Anyway, a year to the date later about 30 million Egyptians gathered all around Egypt and demanded he resign, they didn't want him another 3 years as President.  Who knows what else he and the MB would have done in that time. He didn't and so they asked the army to remove him and they did. 

So here we are now, 6 weeks later, the pro Morsi people refusing to accept this change and not leaving without a violent fight and so they have created havoc with bombs, violence, burnings of govt and military buildings & churches, protests all around the country with their "brothers" and admitted Al Qaeda supporters side by side.  They created two sit-ins (imagine Occupy Wall Street but with guns, cement barricades, hostages, armed gunmen checking everybody in and out of the area, office buildings, ....etc..).yeah...you get the picture.  So yesterday the government and the military decided, enough.  Went into one of the sit ins, cleared it and are now finishing the clean up of the 2nd sit-in.  But these people are not going away peacefully.  So its chaos in that area and they are impacting transportation, disrupting traffic anything they can do to be a pain in the a**.  People are staying home from work and completely fed up with the whole situation.  It really is admirable and unique that although Egypt is predominantly an Islamic country (there are about 18 million Christians here too) they DO NOT want Islam in their political government.  This is truly unique in the Arab world. They are actually fighting against domestic Islamic terrorism.

So there you have it in a nutshell, the last 2 years of Egypt's politics.   Yea I know what you are thinking.....and Julie..you're are trying to create a business with handmade Egyptian products....are you completely nuts!  Hmmm there is some truth to that....but I have never given up and I believe I'm being careful so I will continue here and if I see that I need to change course then I will....

Now back to the world of travel and fashion.....

Samples of scarves I'm bringing back

In spite of the turmoil in Cairo, here in Luxor I have been successful to a degree in finding what I was looking for.  Beautiful scarves, unique stones, and even beautiful belly-dancing outfits that have all been handmade and skillfully sewn.

I found this man in the Souk (marketplace) getting the raw pieces of rock and grinding them down, cleaning them and then putting a round of silver around them.  Beautiful quartz, lapis lazuli, agate, tiger's eye, alabaster, sandstone (vinturina!) , I couldn't believe my eyes!...I starting thinking of all the jewelry pieces I could create from them and I bought them up.  And now I'm kicking myself for not buying more !

 

I also found wonderful outfits for belly-dancing and I'm going to try to see if they are commercial back in Miami.  All handmade and really beautifully done. Gorgeous colors and beading that will be great for those into belly-dancing or a great costume too !

Gorgeous colors

Blue with Orange & silver beads



I love the beading





So it's been 3 days of intense talking, negotiating, shopping, walking, translating, frustration....I mean everything you can imagine, but I did find some treasures......I'm exhausted btw....but happy and content. 

Mohamed and Amr

I couldn't ask for better company and support in Luxor than Mara, Amr and Mohamed (the driver)...I've asked, requested, bullied, pushed and they have gone out of their way every time to accommodate and make me happy without asking for anything in return.  I owe them a huge debt of gratitude.  They will always be welcomed, especially Mara in my home any time.  It's really safe in Luxor, and a haven in Egypt.

My very own village !

So now since there is a curfew and we are stranded indoors, "Chef Amer" is cooking for us a wonderful meal. We are sitting around "Egyptian" style on the floor drinking wine/beer and enjoying each other's company.  Mara has one other guest from Australia who's here to do a bit of diving in the Red Sea.  Not too bad even if outside our walls there's a bit of commotion going on...