Cairo- Day 6

Yesterday seems like a distant memory by this morning.
I'll do my best to recap it now though.

We woke up on time and actually made it to the mountain early (about 40 minutes early).
So we waited around for Hanna, one of the original members of Solar Cities.
We were able to shoot a bunch of footage of the morning streets of the Zabaleen before he showed up.
Once he got there, he took us up to his house.
We walked through the garbage cluttered alley and up an infinite amount of grimy stairs to his sparklingly clean and beautifully painted apartment.
He was a young and extremely intelligent and resourceful man. His wife and beautiful baby were there with us as well.
Plus there were 2 other journalists from local newspapers who came a bit later to join the interview. This threw us off a little bit but Lauren held her own and did a great job.
Hanna was responsible (with the help of T.H. from Solar Cities) for most of the implementation and construction of the first solar panels in the Zabaleen community. He also owns the first ever bio-gas generator in the area.
He demonstrated how it works and we were also able to have some tea made from the kettle heated by the bio-gas.
He was extremely helpful and very pleasant to be around.

Once we left his house we made our way toward the church on the top of the mountain to shoot a time lapse of the sun setting over the community.
We were quickly sidetracked by all the eager children who wanted to be on camera.
When we got the to the top of the path, we ran into the man who escorted us around A.P.E. He introduced us to a few people and one man insisted on taking us up to his roof.
When we got to the entrance of his building, we were sort of overwhelmed by the amount of trash and shit (really, poop) all over the place. There were baby goats sitting in the darkened corners. Cows in the backyard. Barefooted children running through the filth.
We made our way up the stairs which had clothes, trash, and even blood on them. Another endless flight of stairs, which halfway up, was cluttered with goats. Really really.
Finally, we made it up to the roof. Same scene.
BUT... they had one of the "clubhouses" that we so badly wanted to go up into.
With a lack of fear or caution, we were climbing the dilapidated ladders up.
WOW.
I dont think I have ever been so high up in the air and partially scared for my life.
It turns out what we thought were clubhouses, were actually pigeon coops. The little boys that took us up insisted I climb to the very highest point with them. I couldn't say no.
I wanted to see the community from the absolute highest point within the community.
And I sure did.
The wind was blowing and I firmly planted my ass on the roof and did my best not to fall a few thousand feet to my death. Lauren took tons of great photos up there. (Wish I could post them.. but of course the internet is unwilling to cooperate)

Once we had our fill of that, we climbed down and headed up the mountain to the spot we thought would be the best vantage point.
It was 1:30pm.
A bit early to start a time lapse.
So we sat around talking shit for 3 hours and slightly lost our minds.
We also realized that the sun doesn't set in the place we were told so it never really even entered the frame.
None the less, the shot was amazing and we were all super excited when we watched it last night.
Threw some music on it and a rough working title... and there it was.
The beginning of our film.
It's really starting to feel real.
And I think we are all very excited about how it will turn out. Everything we have shot so far looks great and all the people we have met have been super supportive and helpful.

This is a pivotal moment in my life.
I can feel it.
Making something important, about something important, with two very important people.
Importance of being important.
Perfect.

Life, I love you.

As for today, we had to cancel an interview with a less than enthusiastic scholar (no biggie) and had a long breakfast.
Then I went for a stroll and found a nice little book store and bought some good little souvenirs.

Today, Khan El Khalili and back up to the mountain at 4 for another time lapse and then some night shots on the streets.
Tomorrow is our last day here.
I can't believe it to be honest.
I don't want to leave and at the same time, can't wait to come back in February.

For now, making the best of every moment.