menotyou

I used to live in Egypt when I was a kid. There was this one time I remember going to the Kahn el kalili. I'm not sure exactly what it means, but basically its a fucking huge market/slum district that spans miles and miles. It actually reminds me a lot of Venice...nothing but a labyrinth of alleys. Minus the Canals of course.

Anyway, this one time I went to the Kahn with my mother...we came out of an alley into a wide open courtyard. In the center of the opening was a giant pile of rubbish, and lying dead (heh) center of it all is a giant camel corpse. Its neck had been broken, and its head was twisted around at an awkward angle. Maggots were crawling around its belly, and all I could think was...wow. That's fucking cool.

Later I recall walking back toward the square and seeing thick black smoke rolling down the alley. I was actually a little worried someones house was on fire...then I saw it. The garbage pile had been turned into a giant pyre for the dead animal. I witnessed the flesh boil, and the maggots pop, and the smell. Good god the smell.

I couldn't move, all I could do is stand there in awe.

True story.