My Marrakesh

Yemen Jambiya photos: a tale of a double edged sword

Oh make no mistake -- she was a pacifist.  One of those We-Shall-Overcome swaying types.  One of those peace sign waving types.  One of those out-of-the-closet Quaker types. 

But she made exceptions.  Made exceptions for the Yemeni jambiya. 

Some how, yes, some how, it didn't bother her that men throughout Yemen wore large daggers strapped to their waists.  The sharp blades sheathed in the most elaborate holsters.  The holsters held in place by belts embroidered in gold and silver.  It all seemed straight out of a film but in fact.........it was real.....

  

 

 

Yemen photography: and a tale of not judging a book by its cover

They were all over the city.
The shops.
One...... after another........after another.

She liked to think that
underneath all the black
and behind the closed doors....

were lives of extravagant imagination............

Sana'a Yemen souk photos: and a tale of shopping temptation

Oh she had been to many souks, bazaars, and markets in her time.  Ones in Iran, Turkey, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, and Morocco.  Not to mention those in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand,  Cambodia, Vietnam, South Africa, Benin, Senegal, Ghana, and Tanzania.  And so many more that she couldn't possibly list them.  After all, she was a traveler, she was a gypsy, she was a shopper. 

And mostly, she was a girl on a quest for beauty.

But of all the souks that she had been to, it was the souk at Bab el Yemen in the old city of Sana'a that she found most beautiful.  Because rather than packed with new imports from China and plastic-y souvenirs, it was filled with the loveliest things from Yemen, a country with a culture so rich and unique that it was nothing short of dizzying.  Yes, treasures were to be found in the Yemeni souks -- many old, many valuable, many one of a kind.   One's pocketbook was seriously at risk....

Just the smallest sample here.....

Tribal jewelery.  Both new and old.

Accordion lanterns, all folded up.

Or swinging from high above.

Silver boxes. Just one would never do.

Baskets and more baskets.

Vintage patterned flatweaves and blankets.

Antique lacquered spice boxes.

And the most exquisite old embroideries.

So what did she buy?  More to come....

Sana'a Yemen photos: a tale of me and you and her and they and really, we

Dateline Yemen:  What separates us?

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You could be my husband.

My husband could be you.

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You could be my daughter.

My daughter could be you.

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You could be my uncle.

 My uncle could be you.

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You could be my grandmother.

My grandmother could be you.

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You could be my neighbor.

 My neighbor could be you.

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You could be my best friend.
Yes, yes.  Really.  My best friend could be you.