Sailing With Your Lawn

Despite the fact that everyone thinks of Egypt as a barren desert (which in fairness, much of it is), anywhere you have water, almost anything grows. Still, I was surprised to see grass growing on the rudder of a felucca sailing near us on the Nile the other day. At least the captain isn't bringing a goat along to mow it.

Winter Feluccas

Although it's mid to late November, it's still warm enough to enjoy sunset on the Nile. So people rent these wooden sailing boats for an hour or two.

Messing About in Boats

During the summer's heat when you think that you are simply going to sink into the tar of the asphalt streets and never be heard from again, the best remedy is to go down to the Nile and rent a felucca with some friends. If someone brings beer, someone else brings pizza and someone else brings some fresh fruit, you are set for a heavenly recovery. These lateen-rigged wooden sailboats will float you away from your problems for about the equivalent of ten dollars US for an hour and they seat roughly 15 people on the benches along the gunwales. The feluccas are nothing less than wonderful and if you've ever done any sailing, watching the captains dock them gently with no assistance and no motor...just the wind, inertia, and the river's current...is a sobering experience.