After a month of rain the sun appeared and the sky was blue and hot. The combination of unexpected sunshine and the escapism of reading Death on the Nile have put me in an exotic mood.
Most of us are occasionally smitten by exotic fantasies - whether we care to admit it or not. My current imaginative escape has transported me to Egypt in the 1920's.
(I figured Cairo in the 1920's was probably more exotic than it is now)
I'm smooth, suave, deliciously young - - dressed in white summer attire, a custom-made suit that would rival anything worn by Jay Gatsby. I look like a Leyendecker illustration in Collier's Magazine. I'm languishing in a cool corner of a Cairo cafe, sipping a karakadey, smoking a Caravellis cigarette. The distant smouldering sunset is merely a prelude to the erotic secrets of a sultry desert night.....
illustration by J.C.Leyendecker
I've always been fiercely attracted to exotic romanticism. When I was young I tried to incorporate it into my life. Now, I only dream about it and yearn for the past. There are times in my past that were intriguingly similar to my Cairo fantasy. I've never been to Cairo, but Southern California was a very reasonable facsimile.
I remember sultry summer nights in Los Angeles, when I played the piano in clandestine bars and cafes. I often wore all white back then (even my shoes), mostly to vainly emphasize my dark tan. I smoked Krakatoa clove cigarettes and sipped Madeira. I wasn't remotely suave but I gave an impressive illusion. Those were the nights when I seldom went home empty-handed......
Occasionally there would be weekend escapes to Palm Springs. At the time it seemed remote and exotic. It's a two-hour drive from L.A. - - considerably less if you're drunk and driving a Camaro.
My memory burns with the image of one spectacular moonless night, near Palm Springs, having a romantic escapade in a convertible, parked near a grove of date palms.
My spontaneous spitefulness sometimes unexpectedly turned into exotic episodes. Most often after the breakup of a torrid romance.
I vividly recall throwing a volume of Dostoyevsky's The Brothers Karamazov at my soon-to-be-ex-lover and dramatically shouting "I'm leaving forever! You'll never see me again!"
Fortunately my aim was bad. Dostoyevsky hit the wall and shattered a framed document. If it had hit my intended victim, the blow would have probably been fatal.
I disappeared from L.A. and wound up on a beach in Baja, near Ensenada, where I lived for three weeks. That was an exotic odyssey - - at least I thought so.
Baja
I have other exotic memories to share, but I don't want to overstay my welcome. Well not much, anyway.
Remind me to tell the incredible tale of what inspired me to sail a boat solo to Catalina Island with very little nautical experience (I've told this before on my old blog Lone Star Concerto but it's worth a rerun).
It's hard to believe that my life was once filled with romance and exotic adventures, when now - in the Tennessee wilderness - my biggest adventures consist of falling down the mountainside on my clumsy ass and chasing wayward 'possums out of the house.
Life is a bitch but the memories are sweet.
link to my new photo blog Cabinet of Curios Treasures:
Beautiful Egypt
Remind me to tell the incredible tale of what inspired me to sail a boat solo to Catalina Island with very little nautical experience (I've told this before on my old blog Lone Star Concerto but it's worth a rerun).
It's hard to believe that my life was once filled with romance and exotic adventures, when now - in the Tennessee wilderness - my biggest adventures consist of falling down the mountainside on my clumsy ass and chasing wayward 'possums out of the house.
Life is a bitch but the memories are sweet.
link to my new photo blog Cabinet of Curios Treasures:
Beautiful Egypt
I suspect that the reality of Cairo would have been rather less exotic than your imagination teased you with. I've always considered Palm Springs to be rather romantic and adventure laden too. Something about the pink mountains at sunrise. Like Cairo, the reality is somewhat different. We lived there for three years and although pleasant enough for seven months of the year, the five oven like summer months rather ruined the adventure. You've lived a much fuller like than most of us can only imagine.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, most places have changed for the worst. I figured that Cairo in the 1920's might be slightly better than it is now. Palm Springs can be quite romantic and lovely, but I agree - - I hate the heat!!!!
DeleteI once received a post card from a friend spending two weeks in Cairo, he rambled on about the excitement being trying to guess who's dinner the fly would land in the middle of first. Lots of adventures in my life, and yes life is a bitch, but while we are here we might as well have a little fun.
ReplyDeleteFlies playing musical chairs on dinner plates? Sounds a lot like Texas.
DeleteAside from the lust-worthy (late) Mr. Sharif, I never really gave Egypt much thought. Sometimes I think our imaginations are our greatest gifts.
ReplyDeleteI always wanted to visit Egypt long ago. Nowadays, however, it seems to be much more dangerous than romantic.
DeleteWhat an enjoyable post! Since we have some pleasant history of correspondence, Jon, I will caution you in your Cairo reveries to steer clear of the wizened old native whose crafty eyes peer out of his cowl like beads set in skunk-jerky, who tries to sell you antiquities supposedly stolen from tombs that really were made in China. He is my imaginary self in 1920s Egypt --and an unprincipled rascal!
ReplyDeleteGeo. I admittedly was cheated when duped into buying bogus antiques in Cairo. I should have been cautious of the crafty eyes of the vendor but the heat and exotic atmosphere affected my judgement. I never suspected that it was you!
ReplyDeleteStarting out I wanted to be an archaeologist. Egypt in the 1920's sounds divine.
ReplyDeleteIt would be fascinating to be an archaeologist - especially around the time when Tut's tomb was discovered.
Delete....but I would be worried about ancient curses.....
The Lyendecker illustration in "Colliers" (a family magazine?) lured me into a romantic fantasy. Much more erotic than the openness (where everything is shown) of today. Your imagination can go wild. Suddenly, I'm wanting a Caravellis cigarette.
ReplyDeleteLeyendecker drew sexier pictures than that one, but I thought it was appropriate for my story (fantasy). I agree that things left to the imagination are much more erotic than seeing it all.
ReplyDeleteJon,
ReplyDeleteI love these trips down Memory Lane! I also love exotic. Unfortunately I don't have much (any really) "exotic" in my Past Adventures. Fun times for sure but nothing exotic. By the way, I love the new art deco design of your blog. And one more thing, my apologies for not commenting sooner. Just now catching up on my blog reading.
Ron
Thanks, Ron. I just delighted that you're back to you "old"self , walking again, and enjoying life.
DeleteMy dad was born in Egypt and both my parents lived there in the days when it was really pretty glamorous in some ways. I revisited some of my mum's old haunts when I went to cairo a couple of years ago. http://jennywoolftravel.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/cairo.html It was a gripping place, and I am sad to hear about the increasing problems there now. Still, in time I am sure it will come around. It has had its ups and downs for thousands of years.
ReplyDeleteI had forgotten that your father spent his boyhood in Egypt. I have no doubt that your parents had wonderful memories of Cairo. Thanks for the link to your Cairo post - I enjoyed it - - and I would love to ride a camel!
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