Saturday

This Saturday went down like any other one. We got up and went to Maadi House for breakfast and playground time. It was a beautiful morning, not too warm and really sunny. We ran by and picked up Grandpa and then we came home. I put Grant and Jacqueline down for naps. Then Eliza, Mairyn, Grandpa and I left to go to the Khan al Khalili. Grandpa needed some scarves (for Grandma) and I got some t-shirts for the girls. The main reason I wanted to bring the girls was b/c they wanted to get a henna design on their hands. I usually run into at least 2 or 3 ladies that want to put a henna on me each time I go to the Khan. Well, we were there for 2 hours and we didn't see any of the usual ladies. Then I saw a woman walking by that had a fresh henna on her hand. I asked her where she got it and she pointed in the direction of the square near the row of cafes. So we waited around and she showed up. The girls got their designs and then the waiting-for-it-dry process began. It takes about 15-20 minutes for a design to dry. More if it is really globby. Well, Mairyn smeared part of her arm even before the lady was done. She fixed it and Eliza's too. Anyway, we made it home with minimal damage to the designs and the girls couldn't wait to show their friends at school.
There was one moment yesterday that couldn't be captured on film. It was an energy, a change. We were walking through the crowded alleys and every shopkeeper is calling out to you. "Hey, what do you need? I got it! You want statue, scarf, galabeya? I got it!" ad infinitum. One shopkeeper aimed his petitions at Eliza and she did such an egyptian and grown up thing. She shook her head, looked at the ground and waggled her little finger at him. All in one smooth movement! Is she a smooth operator or what?
Anyway, that was our Saturday.