When Adel and I arrived back at the Bed in Breakfast in Cairo, from our camping excursion, it was early evening. I remember meeting a lovely female guest who had arrived while we were gone. I can’t recall her name, but we shared dinner and had a great conversation on the rooftop before I bid her goodnight, showered and crashed. Tomorrow would be my last day, because I was leaving early the following morning. I awoke the next morning refreshed, having slept well. I started some light packing while enjoying tea. I eventually emerged from my room and took this video.
Adel and I were going to spend the morning re-visiting a few shops he took me to earlier in my stay. I still had items I wanted to check out, and this would be my last opportunity to purchase authentic keepsakes and souvenirs. This day I would be having fun…spending money. He was also taking me to an incredibly special place which specialized in oils and teas. I was excited about that and ready to get the day started. Adel drove his own personal car for our ventures out and about on this day. To me, traffic was organized chaos but throughout the morning, Adel weaved in and out of traffic seamlessly. Once we arrived at the store, I browsed through scarves, muddled through trinkets, and tried on outfits that caught my eye. After shopping there, we were off to the specialty shop.
I didn’t take any pictures during my time at this shop. Although in hindsight I wish I had. I don’t even recall the name of it. But I do recall the experience with much clarity. This shop had a multitude of oils displayed in glass bottles on the right side as I walked in, and multiple teas in clear bins on the left side. Adel gave me an assuring nod as we entered, and I was escorted to a back room with two sofas facing each other with a glass table between them. There were shelves with beautiful bottles of oil in them and a giant mural of the Chakras and where they are located on the body. An older gentleman entered the room and sat on one sofa, as I sat on the other facing him. He introduced himself, and I understood him to be a wise and spiritual elder. He began reading me, telling me personal truths I already knew about myself. I found him to be warm although I got the impression that’s not how he wanted to be perceived. Nevertheless, we engaged in a deep spiritual conversation. As we talked, there was a young woman who pulled specific oil bottles from the selves as the Elder directed. By the time our conversation had ended there were six bottles of different oils placed on the glass table between us. He explained the benefits of each one and how to use them. The bottles were labeled by his assistant as he spoke. I ended up purchasing a beautiful case with oils representing Soul, Heart, Mind, Protection, Grounding, and Essence. Along with the case, I received six beautiful perfume vials in which to place the oils and a burner.
Afterwards, and before leaving I was drawn to the tea side of the building. There I purchase two half bags of green and apricot Egyptian teas. It’s been over a year since those purchases. The teas have long since been enjoyed, the case fell apart, and I placed the remaining oils in spice containers. The oils are getting low, and I continue to burn them in my diffuser, to dress the candles I burn on my Ancestors altar and when I’m meditating.
When we returned, I immediately packed up all the purchases of the day and told Adel I wanted to walk across the street for lunch and maybe browse a few street stores. He had a guest arriving and he needed to be present, so he’d stay behind. But he assigned a young man in his employ to be my escort. I could have easily walked across the street to eat lunch by myself, but Adel would not hear of it, “Women shouldn’t walk alone in the streets, it’s a cultural thing,” he said. I thought, “he’d also fend off all the solicitors that were sure to pounce, if I were alone.” I appreciated him for considering my safety in such a way. My escort told me he’d be right outside when I finished lunch and would walk around with me afterwards, and that’s exactly what he did.
That evening, I finished packing. I would be picked up early the next morning for the airport. The last thing I packed was a gift Adel gave me. It was a picture of a Queen/Goddess made on authentic ancient Egyptian papyrus paper. It is extremely delicate. It is an extensive process to make. I can’t begin to tell you how special that picture is to me, I had it framed and it hangs over my bed. Adel was a wonderful host and tour guide. The monetary gift/tip I gave Adel that night pales in comparison to what he gave me, nevertheless, I know it blessed him and we will always have a special bond
I headed back to Guadalajara, MX the next morning. I was going to spend eight days on the north shore of Lake Chapala before heading back to Atlanta to pick up Quincy. You see, I had arranged for a friend in Mexico to pup-sit Quincy during my 3-week stay in Africa. Those plans changed with the passing of my mother, but the ticket was already bought. So, it worked out that I spent my last 8-days Lakeside without Quincy. He was with my son in Atlanta. I planned to leave Lakeside the same way I entered…with a party. So, I had an all white Going Away Gala before my 8-days were up. It was the last hurrah I gave myself as I was leaving. Including the travel days, I had been gone for close to a month. I truly missed my little man, and he missed me. Queen & Quincy were finally back together…reunited and it felt so good.
The journey to the Motherland, my ancestral village, and Egypt birthed a nonprofit organization called, Fula History & Genealogy Society in America. That nonprofit organizations birthed a conscious curriculum for middle school-aged students called, 52 Insights for Gen Alpha: A Conscious Curriculum. They are both a gift from my Ancestors and my legacy. I finally understood the assignment and my Soul is now at peace.🧡