We were going to get away from it all, but with the news on Friday evening in the airport that Mubarak had resigned we knew we had more of a chance of having a relaxing holiday.
When we first discussed the break with Kevin we were unsure whether to spend the full week in Dahab, or just part of the time and then travel to spend time together in Cairo. This would be the longest we'd stayed in Dahab and sometimes there's only so much laid-back music and Bedouin seating you can take! We thought we might do a few activities, but then have some time to relax. We were right, and wrong in a way.
When packing I put three books in the suitcase along with diving gear, running gear and a uke. That'll keep us busy was the reasoning - and it did.
So what did we accomplish in our week?
We do need to add that Dahab was deathly quiet when we got there. We'd heard from a friend who was already there that it was quiet, but this really surprised us. For example we got to the Jasmine on the first night (the restaurant we always hang out in) and we were the only people there apart from the chef and the waiter. When we ate there two nights later it was the same. Normally the place isn't heaving, but there are at least a fwe other groups of people there. As we walked down the front so many restuarants didn't have people in, or only had one small group. In our hotel for most of the week it was just the three of us and then one other guest. Diver's House and Jasmine didn't have anyone staying with them. So many shops or restaurants though were just closed - no lights on. When we bought our t-shirts we saw in their log book that we were the first people to buy something from them in four days.
It was really sad to see it so quiet actually. We've been complaining on our last few visits that it is getting more well known with tourists and therefore busier and more commercial. But seeing it so empty and so quiet made us really worry about the businesses here if tourism doens't pick up again. This time of year is off-season, but with everything that is going on obviously a lot of people had canceled their trips. We do hope things pick up again.
When we first discussed the break with Kevin we were unsure whether to spend the full week in Dahab, or just part of the time and then travel to spend time together in Cairo. This would be the longest we'd stayed in Dahab and sometimes there's only so much laid-back music and Bedouin seating you can take! We thought we might do a few activities, but then have some time to relax. We were right, and wrong in a way.
When packing I put three books in the suitcase along with diving gear, running gear and a uke. That'll keep us busy was the reasoning - and it did.
So what did we accomplish in our week?
- We established that Kevin loves cats, and would feed them from the table (if only Scott and I weren't there to tell him not to!)
- We went snorkling (twice for us, and five times for Kevin as he went snorkling at the dives sites whilst we were under)
- Alice grazed her knee snorkling (luckily it was the left knee so these scars will now join the ones from snorkling March 2009 and Road 9 February 2010)
- We drank cold karkady, tea, nescafe then proper coffee (from the German Bakery), fresh orange juice, three new beers (Sphinx - predictably named, but gave us a stinking hangover from just one bottle. Castillo - new generic larger. Goldberg - new larger that is tastier than most as hops is actually listed in the ingredients)
- We love King Chicken (half a chicken, bread and tahini, rice, soup and potatoes cooked in lard all for 25LE = bargin!)
- We love our fresh bread and mezze starters and grilled meats.
- Scott loves beef pizza at the Jasmine.
- Our Valentines Day dinner was one of the worst ever (it was about 9.45pm when we got to the restaurant we wanted to try and it was new, but looked very nice on the front. After an hour they managed to bring the wrong food, cold. After some arguing about what was written on the menu we finally got half of the meal correct and some food. Scott was told to calm down and we paid them the exact amount on the bill leaving food on the table to encourgae the cats)
- We went on three dives to deserted dive sites (you know it is quiet when there is only one other group at the Canyon at 10.30am. We dived to the coral garden on the right of the Canyon instead of the Canyon itself and then at a dive site that has no signs and is accessed via a building site!)
- Kevin completed two watercolours and has photos ready for many more. One painting was finished using coffee as colouring)
- Scotty recorded a music video on his uke
- We went for a run
- We went for a walk....up a mountain!
- Kevin had a camel ride....up a mountain!
- We bought t-shirts and postcards
- We only nearly finished the books we were reading
We do need to add that Dahab was deathly quiet when we got there. We'd heard from a friend who was already there that it was quiet, but this really surprised us. For example we got to the Jasmine on the first night (the restaurant we always hang out in) and we were the only people there apart from the chef and the waiter. When we ate there two nights later it was the same. Normally the place isn't heaving, but there are at least a fwe other groups of people there. As we walked down the front so many restuarants didn't have people in, or only had one small group. In our hotel for most of the week it was just the three of us and then one other guest. Diver's House and Jasmine didn't have anyone staying with them. So many shops or restaurants though were just closed - no lights on. When we bought our t-shirts we saw in their log book that we were the first people to buy something from them in four days.
It was really sad to see it so quiet actually. We've been complaining on our last few visits that it is getting more well known with tourists and therefore busier and more commercial. But seeing it so empty and so quiet made us really worry about the businesses here if tourism doens't pick up again. This time of year is off-season, but with everything that is going on obviously a lot of people had canceled their trips. We do hope things pick up again.
No comments:
Post a Comment