Two years have passed now since I have last written and so much has happened. A year ago almost exactly, I came back to Abydos, Egypt for my third season. I was expecting the typical, a short 3 month season, walking the desert floor, mapping and reducing my carbon footprint. Little to my knowledge was I going to be part of a Revolution that would change the country of Egypt forever. After only being in Egypt three weeks and in Abydos for only two weeks I was extracted out of the country. It was a very stressful, frightening and sad time for me and for my colleagues, my friends. It was an experience I will never forget and will always hold in my heart.
Now, I have returned and am so anxious to be here, to learn, to smell and to be part of it...
It has only been two days here in Abydos, but it seems like I never left. The flight here to Egypt was longer than ever as I sat and awaited my landing. I had no idea what to expect, what to want, or how to feel. I arrived Thursday afternoon, was stuck in the airport for a very long time and finally reached our hotel around 4:00 pm in the afternoon. I quickly showered and left to the souk! The souk is a large street market full of shops, spices and PEOPLE. In route to the souk we passed by Tahrir Square. I am not too sure what I was expecting, but i was slightly disappointed. The view was simple. Some people standing in and around tents. Life resumed and the streets were littered with people in route to where ever they were going. I was one of these people, in a taxi, taking pictures and headed out to shop. I felt as if the joke was on me. I was convinced I should have been scared and should have kept a distance from Tahrir, but good thing I do not listen to what I read or to what people tell me.
Before our taxi even dropped us off there I could smell the scent of cumin and saffron blowing through the narrow streets. Immediately I was anxious!
Currently, I am in Abydos, working. I anxiously await to see what the week has in store for me, for all of us!
