Egypt, January 2000 (I was 12) Our Nile cruiser that took us from Aswan Dam back up to Cairo in about a week was 4 or 5 stories high, which did not facilitate trade between us passengers and the locals. However, these people were expert throwers ! Up, up, up came blankets and table cloths folded in tight plastic, film canisters filled with earrings and other jewelry, or post cards in ziplock bags in case they fell into the Nile. As a result of this, I purchased a circle-shaped table cloth with Nile duck and lotus designs, and matching napkins. The second result of this barter was my engagement to the 14 year-old looking Egyptian boy that stood in the small canoe down below and tossed up all these goods. "WAAAIIIT FOR MEEE!" he called up.
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