12/10/2025
Title: "Sailing Back In Time"
At the docks, the air was a sharp mixture of sea brine and the heady sweetness of the orange export—the true smell of Jaffa’s wealth. My father managed the high-stakes coordination of men loading hundreds of wooden boxes, each containing meticulously wrapped oranges, onto small, sturdy boats. The port hummed with rhythmic calls from the boatmen and the dull thud of crates, a testament to the focused, high-risk labor required to navigate the treacherous rocky barrier that separated the harbor from the large, far-off steamships. For me, observing this work provided a quiet but profound lesson: the stability of my family and the security of their life rested upon my father’s professional competence in the ancient, unforgiving environment of the sea.
When the final manifest was signed and the last load was successfully dispatched across the water, a visible tension eased from his shoulders. The ritual of the successful export was complete.Turning away from the sun-drenched, noisy docks, we stepped into the shaded, winding alleys.
My father placed a warm, large hand on my shoulder. "My heart," he said, using a common term of affection, signaling the transition from the world of serious commerce to the world of celebration and familial reward. The sensory environment shifted immediately. The harsh scent of the sea receded, replaced by the enticing aromas of roasting nuts, strong Arabic coffee, and floral syrups, the true essence of the city's inner life.
Milk pudding, Baklava and the sweet syrup, glistening with crushed pistachios, was the delicious, immediate confirmation of a successful day of work.
As the sun began to cast long shadows down the narrow, ancient streets, my father and I began our walk home. I was carring my toy (the smooth, heavy olive wood spinning top) and the sweet and colourful memories of bazar.
Every trip to the port and the market reaffirmed my father’s ability to provide, transmitting not just wealth, but confidence and heritage to the next generation...
185×125 cm (framed)
Mixed media on canvas
# #أبوظبي
