Felucca has always been considered as a means of transportation ever since the pharaohs' era. Over the years, Egyptians perceive riding a felucca down the Nile as a way of escapism from the crowded cocoon of the hustling city to the open horizons of the beautiful soothing Nile. On Sham El Nessim aka Easter Day, I was lucky enough to get on a felucca and be so close to the almost crushed low social class who, despite the poverty and their day-to-day ordeals, managed to exploit every passing moment of such radiant celebration. Sham El Nessim is a very special occasion that dates back to the harvest season of the Ancient Egyptians. As years passed by, it became joyfully celebrated by Egyptians where they hit the streets to welcome the spring season with its lovely gentle breezes. Aside from eating "Fesikh" as well as "Ringa" aka "herring" and commonly identified as "salted rotten fish", taking a felucca ride is often seen as a famous Egyptian norm.
Once the felucca started sailing, most people admired how the Nile sparkled in the bright sunlight, then the cassette's volume was highly turned up to persuade people to jump onto the felucca's most humble dance floor. Luckily, the felucca was packed with young adults who were full of life and spontaneity and without a second thought; they all started dancing enthusiastically to a variety of Sha'abi songs as well as the Korean Gangnam style soundtrack without even resting a bit. On our way back, I was intrigued by a young couple who were dancing on air when I came close to them. They seemed to be romantically involved and so the guy did not want his girl to be photographed whilst dancing, even though I earlier took her consent and she did not appear to disapprove. The funny thing is that he allowed her to dance with other guys aboard and when I took photos of her behind his back, he went furious and was an inch away from tossing the camera into the Nile.
Among all the cheerful couples who were dancing back and forth, there was one interesting young man whom everyone on the felucca was cheering for. His almost steady and studied dance moves made him look more or less a superstar compared to the rest of the crowd. I have to admit that I was totally gripped by how incredibly good his foot work was. After my cruise came to an end, I had this vast thirst for exploring the felucca itself without people aboard, the marakbeya who are responsible for running the business as well as the space essence that the Nile offers. As a result, I went back on three different afternoons and I rented a private felucca where I could take photos of people riding other ones without being so much hostile towards the camera. Amid the things that really caught my attention was that more families were seen after 5 pm and the music was not that loud anymore, and the overall atmosphere was of less vibe. Different people of different social statuses were all sharing the tranquility of the Nile with its most colorful feluccas. Even the lights of the nearby grand hotels, which were dancing on the water, added this sensation of not riding a modest wooden felucca but a lavishing sophisticated yacht.
Once the felucca started sailing, most people admired how the Nile sparkled in the bright sunlight, then the cassette's volume was highly turned up to persuade people to jump onto the felucca's most humble dance floor. Luckily, the felucca was packed with young adults who were full of life and spontaneity and without a second thought; they all started dancing enthusiastically to a variety of Sha'abi songs as well as the Korean Gangnam style soundtrack without even resting a bit. On our way back, I was intrigued by a young couple who were dancing on air when I came close to them. They seemed to be romantically involved and so the guy did not want his girl to be photographed whilst dancing, even though I earlier took her consent and she did not appear to disapprove. The funny thing is that he allowed her to dance with other guys aboard and when I took photos of her behind his back, he went furious and was an inch away from tossing the camera into the Nile.
Among all the cheerful couples who were dancing back and forth, there was one interesting young man whom everyone on the felucca was cheering for. His almost steady and studied dance moves made him look more or less a superstar compared to the rest of the crowd. I have to admit that I was totally gripped by how incredibly good his foot work was. After my cruise came to an end, I had this vast thirst for exploring the felucca itself without people aboard, the marakbeya who are responsible for running the business as well as the space essence that the Nile offers. As a result, I went back on three different afternoons and I rented a private felucca where I could take photos of people riding other ones without being so much hostile towards the camera. Amid the things that really caught my attention was that more families were seen after 5 pm and the music was not that loud anymore, and the overall atmosphere was of less vibe. Different people of different social statuses were all sharing the tranquility of the Nile with its most colorful feluccas. Even the lights of the nearby grand hotels, which were dancing on the water, added this sensation of not riding a modest wooden felucca but a lavishing sophisticated yacht.