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Africa -
Egypt
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Written by joseph yenkavitch
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Page 1 of 2
Strong arm perfume haggling in a "laissez-faire world", but the taxi cab man will go out of his and your way for a commission. On the way to the Sound and Light Show. Enjoy the business life of Africa
When the taxi cab driver I hired to take me to the Pyramids for the evening Sound and Light Show suddenly veered off into a dark alley and stopped in front of a ramshackle building with a tired one-bulb sign, I wasn’t sure what to do.
It didn’t take long to realize there wasn’t much I could do.
At one end of the alley were the lights and friendly people of the bazaar while ahead the unpaved road wound through rubble and dark buildings with even darker shadows. Already, I thought, this tour, purchased at the airport, had cost more than it should have and now maybe I was about to pay that last full measure.
Allah wills it. The phrase, previously relegated to guidebooks, quickly came alive. It had helped many Egyptians in a bad spot. It did me no good whatsoever.
The taxi cab driver flung a thick arm over the seat back and smiled. “Follow me,” he said, and since it was my first day in Cairo, Egypt, I had no cute reply to get him back on any well lit road.
I also smiled that stupid smile of the traveler who deep down hopes his idiotic expression or effervescent friendliness will stop others from robbing or destroying him.
Outside the taxi, voices from far away could be heard and an Egyptian or two strolled past hardly taking notice of me. I found that encouraging. It didn’t appear they were thinking about being onlookers to some tragedy.
The sign above a doorway casting its dim light was covered with the squiggles of a language I had little hope of deciphering. One English word sat at the bottom – essence - perfume...great, I thought.
The taxi driver beckoned and I walked inside with him. Immediately upon entering the air became thick with a jumble of perfume. Everywhere, as in an old apothecary shop, large stoppered perfume bottles sat on shelves that reached floor to ceiling. A smiling Egyptian, somewhat on the thin side, pumped my hand and led me to a couch that might have adorned a train station somewhere.
My taxi driver disappeared into the night after indicating he’d return in time for me to make the Sound and Light Show. The fears evaporated.
The perfume proprietor motioned to a young fellow standing obediently to one side. The boy stood before me. The shop owner spread his arms slightly. Refreshments?” he asked.
Oddly, my first thought was of diarrhea. What could I drink that wouldn’t be teeming with wildlife.
“Pepsi?” the owner asked.
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Miami Characters
"You'll know me by the
number I throw down: 305.
Bros before hoes!"
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Sooooo