Love & Death of Cleopatra
(PART 1 OF 5)
Alexandria, the birthplace of Cleopatra, is located on the western edge of the Nile that flows into the Mediterranean. Stretching 20 Km along the coast, it was one of the largest cities in the world. Surrounded in the north by the Mediterranean, in the south by Lake Mareotis, in the east by the the Nile River, the city served as a perfect base for international trade among Europe, Asia and Africa.
But it was 69 BC, when Cleopatra was born. When Kato visited Alexandria last summer, he couldn't see the the glory of those days anymore.
Seen from the window of the hotel room where Kato stayed is Pharos Island that was once offshore from the city but now connected to the mainland.
Currently, the old fortress stands where once existed the ancient lighthouse---one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This huge lighthouse had a four-layer height of 130 meters. It is said that the light was visible from 55 km at sea.
Diane..., have you been to Alexandria?
No, I haven't. Have you, Kato?
Yes, I have. As a matter of fact, I've travelled around over 30 countries.
Oh..., so, you're a world traveler, aren't you?
Yes, I am. I visited the famous Egyptian city in the summer of 2010.
Did you really visit the city last summer?
Oh, yes. I met Cleopatara. he, he, he...
You must be kidding.
I know you cannot believe it.
Nobody can, Kato. Cleopatra has been long dead. Everybody knows that.
I know, I know..., but I met Cleopatra. Actually, the woman I met believed that she was a born-again Cleopatra.
So, you met a crazy woman..., or at least a feeble-minded woman, didn't you?
C'mon, Diane. She wasn't crazy at all. Actually, she turned out an intelligent woman.
By the way, Kato, you told me last Saturday (April 2, 2011), you would tell me a story that was based on the brochure I'd handed out to you.
Oh, yes, this is the story based on your brochure.
But the brochure I gave you has nothing to do with Cleopatra.
No, it doesn't mention the name of Cleopatra. However, when you read the story to the end, you will know for sure that the nitty-gritty of the brochure has something to do with the love and death of Cleopatara.
Do you really mean it, Kato?
Yes, of course, I do. You'll definitely find the story thought-provoking.
Then, tell me.
Actually, I posted the story on January 27, 2011. I translated it into English for you. So, take your time and enjoy reading it:
Kato woke up at 9:00 am, then went over to McDonald's near the hotel and took a late breakfast.
Kato ordered something like a shish kebab and ate it curiously. Then, with a guidebook in hand, Kato walked to the fortress. After viewing the old fortress, he ventured south into a back street, on both sides of which stood small houses and shops closely packed like sardines. Kato thought that he'd stepped into the world of Ottoman Turkey that had flourished between the 16th and the early 20th century.
The shops sell various kinds of colorful spices and herbs. Kato sensed the indescribable smell mixed with dusty air like the quirky "smell of Egypt".
Near the canal that flows south of the city of Alexandria stand the tenements where the poor people live. The windows seem to be decorated with a colorful laundry. When Kato saw a donkey pulling a cart in the narrow passage, he thought he'd flown back into the ancient days. However, he couldn't find any remains or past glory that reminded him of Cleopatra. He just felt quite tired of walking through the narrow back streets.
When Kato felt hungry, it started to gather darkness. Fed up with fast food, he went to one of the ubiquitous Chinese restaurants and ordered both "a bowl of noodles in a brisket soup" and "a dish of fried rice with eggs, greens, and beef". Eating like a starving pig, Kato could hardly move, but managed to walk back to his hotel room, and lay down on the bed. He soon dropped into a deep sleep.
Middle in the night, Kato suddenly woke up, and rubbed his eyes.
Then, he was startled!
A naked woman sitting on a chair by the window was staring at Kato.
He thought he was still in a dream.
He rubbed his eyes again. However, the woman didn't disappear.
In fact, she was smirking with her mouth covered by her right hand as if to show politeness.
Kato rubbed his eyes again.
However, the naked woman didn't dissapear.
She didn't look like an Egyptian woman he often saw in Alexandria.
Even in the moon-lit hotel room, her skin gleamed whitish-blue like that of a French or German woman.
The naked woman gave him a discreet smile.
“Who ... who the hell are you?"
“Cleopatra...hu, hu, hu...”
“No kidding!”
Rubbing his eyes again, Kato stared at the woman, who laughed merrily as ever.
He turned on the light at the bedside stand.
The light turned her white skin into light-orange color.
With an ornamental cobra in the center, a golden hairband held her black hair like an Egyptian queen.
Slightly below the shoulder, her left arm showed a gilt bracelet that looked like a coiling cobra.
Except for the hairband and the bracelet, she wore nothing.
To his surprise, the naked woman remained still in the antique armchair like a nude model with her left leg drawn up on the edge and right leg stretching out. Naturally, the clean-shaven ripe peach between the legs was on full display.
Although Kato considered it rude to be staring between her legs, he couldn't help but hold his peering eyes.
From the crack of peach bloomed a pair of pink petals that looled like a cockscomb.
With the petals Joining together at the top, the peach boasted a gleaming pearl.
The woman really looked like a voluptuous Venus.
Wow! What a woman!
Kato gulped down a thick drop of saliva or two.
"But..., but, she cannot be that famous Cleopatra," thought Kato.
"Does she tell me that she is a descendant of Cleopatra?"
As if to read his mind, she stood up and stepped forward.
Smiling like an innocent girl, she stopped in front of Kato.
(To be continued)
