Travel Missteps: Trapped in Prayer

I only had a few minutes before my group was going to leave. And I really really wanted a star lamp. I mean really, being in a Middle Eastern Souq/Market just screams buying a lamp. So I was determined to get one during my visit to Khan el Khalili, the large market in the heart of Islamic Cairo. But, all the other shops had lamps that were much too big. And I knew I was going to have to carry on whatever I bought.

So right as I was about to leave, when I spied the perfect smallish star lamp I was overjoyed. I knew how much I wanted to pay for it, and had the money ready so I could do the “Sorry, this is all I have, take it or leave it.” Bargaining that I had become skilled at during my last few days in Egypt.

But when I approached the seller, the call to prayer went out and echoed through the market. And the seller took out his prayer rug and started to stand up and then kneel all the way down. Never having seen a muslim pray, I didn’t know what to expect or for how long it would last. Every time he stood up, I expected him to be finished…and no, he knelt again. I felt so awkward, trapped in his shop with him praying in the doorway. I just stood quietly, not knowing what to do. I then turned and took photos of his shop. The praying seemed to go on forever, and I looked at my watch as 5…10…minutes went by. I was worried my group would be mad.

Finally, he stood up and put away the rug. I showed him the lamp I wanted, and told him I only had 15 USD. He tried to bargain me higher, but I stayed firm and said I was in a rush. He relented, and bagged up my small lamp, and I hurried to find…that the group wasn’t even ready to go yet!