St. Cloud, Minnesota: Right now, Peggy and I are on one of our wandering adventures, rambling across North America, rarely knowing where we will be the next day. Long experience with a nomadic lifestyle has taught me that one gathers a lot of blog material when out on the open road. It has also taught me that there isn’t a lot of time to blog. (There are reasons why nomadic societies rarely create great civilizations.) So rather than try to pound the proverbial round peg into a square hole (which is what I usually do), I’ve decided to take a break from blogging for a couple of months. Peggy and I will be back in September with tales of our trip to Burning Man 2023. The tickets are in the mail!
“Hello Curtis Mekemson!
We are excited to let you know that your Burning Man 2023 Animalia tickets were shipped…”
Oh boy, we get to go be animals— we are excited as well! It’s been a while since we have been to the mind bending experience that takes place in a remote Nevada Desert the last week in August. Expect some fun posts. In the meantime, we will sign off WP today with a walk through the Aswan, Egypt market.
We started our visit to the market with a stop at an exotic spice market…Where they served us Jasmine tea and bread…Along with a selection of their spices to sample. Out in the market place, spices were being sold in a less formal (and less expensive) form. The dark spices on top are Jasmine buds. Want spicy hot? The small red peppers up front will provide it!Not so hot, but good. I’m a big fan of yams. Yum. Peggy isn’t.Since the market is only a couple of blocks away from where riverboats are docked, tourist items featuring Ancient Egyptian themes could be expected.But there were also more African based themes such as these masks. Aswan marks the beginning of Nubia, much of which was drowned out by the Aswan Dam and Lake Nasser. African sculptures were available as well. They remind me of what peddlers would bring by my house when I was a Peace Corp Volunteer in Liberia, West Africa. The Bush Devil that I brought home with me from West Africa and featured on the front cover of my book is an example. If you are missing me over the next two months (grin), you can download my book and read it. The book will take you from the craziness of UC Berkeley and the student revolution of the 60s to the jungles of West Africa. Just Google “The Bush Devil Ate Sam” and various sources will be listed.Most of the items were to meet the needs of the local population, however. Like these chicken cages, for example. Looks like a serious sewing machine to me. Does your sole need to be saved?Or do you need a new robe? Had this man not been standing while being fitted for a robe, I would have thought we were looking at a butcher market complete with a butcher block. Maybe it had been repurposed… Women in Aswan are likely to be dressed in the traditional Muslem garb featured for sale here. Third from the left represents the most conservative.But we also found a pair of teenage girls strolling through the market on the Nile who were a reminder of the ubiquitous nature of modern culture, right down to cell phones.
That does it for today. As always, Peggy and I appreciate your following Wandering through Time and Place and truly enjoy the friendships we have made along the way and the great blogs you share. We will see you in September!
Since we’ve been posting on Egypt, here’s a sign for The Elvis Wedding Chapel at Burning Man 2014. We will return to our Egypt and National Park posts in September as well as blogging about Burning Man where I have gone 13 times and Peggy 10.
As exotic as an Egyptian market sounds, what got my attention was “St. Cloud, Minnesota.” I did a big chunk of my childhood there. It’s changed a lot in the interim.
St. Cloud, eh. I’ll bet it has changed! But then again, what hasn’t? We were at a quite pleasant campsite with the unique name of St. Cloud Campground. Fun at Burning Man is almost a given…
I enjoyed these photos immensely. The shops, the spices, the masks, the girls. It’s part of why I like to tour without the tour bus: because traveling on your own you get more opportunities to see average people doing average things, like getting your gallabiya fitted. I saw these kinds of sights from the tour ship on the Nile though. I spent most of my trip on the deck, staring.
Fun to put it mildly, right, Curt? 🙂 I have a friend who went to Burning Man. What an experience! Glad you get to go again!
You never cease to amaze me Curt. Gotta love the picture and title of your book. I can’t wait to dig into it. I just love it already.
Wow you are really a burner at heart and can’t wait to hear your mind bending experiences once again. 😎 Take lots of pics. Keep enjoying and it all makes sense to me that you take a break. I’ll be changing diapers as you are rock n rolling.. hi to Peggy. 🥰
Glad I could make you chuckle my friend. Gosh thanks.. and I think watching her cat while she has her last hoorah is bad..
Hahahaaha you’re break but yes a travel back in time. living vicariously through you.. not sure I’ll ever make it unless you send your tickets.. 😂😂😂
hahahaha “shoot on”
Just pics thought dear Curt🥰
Oh I am so late replying! Thanks for the stroll through the Egyptian market – brought back some good memories. My fave shot is of the man being fitted for a robe.
Enjoy your wanderings. Hoping you’ll wander up this way 😁
Alison
Curt and Peggy, I can’t tell you how much I’m enjoying your Egypt posts. And I loved your quip, “There are reasons why nomadic societies rarely create great civilizations.” Enjoy your wandering, have a blast at Burning Man, and see you in September. 🙂 ~Terri
I’d love to wander through an Egyptian market, Curt. Enjoy your break and have fun at Burning Man. And I picked up your book! I’m looking forward to it.
Wandering through Time and Place 
Ah! Your Bigfoot Post is back. Good. Have fun in the next weeks. All I can say is, I’m glad it’s you going to Burning Man and not me!
Laughing. I think I’ve heard that last refrain from you before Linda. As you know, Peggy, Eeyore Bone and I will.
We’ll all look forward to the reports! Safe travels, and a hug for Peggy.
Thanks, Linda. I passed the hug on to Peggy. She says hug right back.
Of course, I enjoyed your photos of the market. But I am really looking forward to more pictures of the exotic things at Burning Man. Have fun!
Thanks Ray. Burning man never disappoints. Always something new and different, especially in art and mutant vehicles.
Have a brilliant time and enjoy!
Wonderful market photos! Enjoy the festival.
Thanks, Cindy.
As exotic as an Egyptian market sounds, what got my attention was “St. Cloud, Minnesota.” I did a big chunk of my childhood there. It’s changed a lot in the interim.
Have fun at Burning Man!
St. Cloud, eh. I’ll bet it has changed! But then again, what hasn’t? We were at a quite pleasant campsite with the unique name of St. Cloud Campground. Fun at Burning Man is almost a given…
All the very best on your journey – and think of me while you browse through Burning Man!
I will G. I know you have always enjoyed our trips to Black Rock City!
😎
I enjoyed these photos immensely. The shops, the spices, the masks, the girls. It’s part of why I like to tour without the tour bus: because traveling on your own you get more opportunities to see average people doing average things, like getting your gallabiya fitted. I saw these kinds of sights from the tour ship on the Nile though. I spent most of my trip on the deck, staring.
Enjoy your blog-free travels, wherever they may take you! It’s wonderful for the soul!
Thanks Lexi. My soul is looking forward to it. Grin.
Have fun and safe travels, looking forward to reading about them in September!
Great photos, Curt! I especially loved the market photos, too. Have a wonderful time and I look forward to seeing some fun photos in September! 😃
Thanks, Lauren. Burning Man pretty much guarantees fun photos, and really good art. We are ever so excited to be going back again.
Fun to put it mildly, right, Curt? 🙂 I have a friend who went to Burning Man. What an experience! Glad you get to go again!
You never cease to amaze me Curt. Gotta love the picture and title of your book. I can’t wait to dig into it. I just love it already.
Wow you are really a burner at heart and can’t wait to hear your mind bending experiences once again. 😎 Take lots of pics. Keep enjoying and it all makes sense to me that you take a break. I’ll be changing diapers as you are rock n rolling.. hi to Peggy. 🥰
Couldn’t help but laugh at your diaper comment! The best of luck with that. 🙂 And congrats to you and your daughters.
Thanks. We are both excited about our “break.” And about returning to Burning Man. No worry about our photos. We normally take around a thousand!
Glad I could make you chuckle my friend. Gosh thanks.. and I think watching her cat while she has her last hoorah is bad..
Hahahaaha you’re break but yes a travel back in time. living vicariously through you.. not sure I’ll ever make it unless you send your tickets.. 😂😂😂
hahahaha “shoot on”
Just pics thought dear Curt🥰
Oh I am so late replying! Thanks for the stroll through the Egyptian market – brought back some good memories. My fave shot is of the man being fitted for a robe.
Enjoy your wanderings. Hoping you’ll wander up this way 😁
Alison
Curt and Peggy, I can’t tell you how much I’m enjoying your Egypt posts. And I loved your quip, “There are reasons why nomadic societies rarely create great civilizations.” Enjoy your wandering, have a blast at Burning Man, and see you in September. 🙂 ~Terri
I’d love to wander through an Egyptian market, Curt. Enjoy your break and have fun at Burning Man. And I picked up your book! I’m looking forward to it.
Exotic pics here, almost as good as going myself! Have a relaxing and replenishing break, Curt!