Riding the Panting Dog
Trip Start
Sep 19, 2008
1
8
11
Trip End
Sep 23, 2008
Where I stayed
Dahab,
Red Sea and Sinai,
Egypt
Sunday, September 21, 2008
I've gone from sea to shining sea: Sea of Galillee to Dead Sea to Meditteranean Sea to the Red Sea on this trip. It seems that I have found my way back to the Land of No T.P. I'm in the Sinai now, which is effectively Egypt w/out the need for a Visa. It took a good bit of time and coordination to get here. I had plans to fly but after some deliberation decided instead to take the bus. Time was about the same, logistics easier, cost was cheaper and got to see the sights along the way: Judean Desert, Negev Desert, Dead Sea,...
I began this morning with a leisurely breakfast outdoors in the American Colony courtyard. I had some charming dining companions: birds taking a bath. After a relaxing breakfast I made a mad dash via taxi to the bus station. I got on the bus in Jerusalem and let me tell you their bus seats make coach-class seats on an airplane look spacious
Birdbath
. My seat partner was over 6' and his knees were just about tucked under his chin throughout the ride. Good news is that it did have A/C... for awhile. It is a 4 hr. ride from Jerusalem to Eilat and you stop halfway for a quick break in the midst of the desert. When we got back on the bus we went for a few miles and I thought 'It sure does take awhile for the A/C to cool things off again.' Later it became obvious that the A/C had broken. So the last 2 hrs. were spent sweltering. Finally arrived at Eilat and then had to catch a cab from the bus station to Taba. Got off the cab and walked w/ luggage a couple of blocks to the passport control in Israel. Got thru passport in Israel and then walked another block, with luggage, to passport control in Sinai/Egypt. Seeing as how the sun had just set and it was Ramadan, means that everyone was on break to eat. So we had to stand in a sweltering building for :45 minutes while we watched the passport/customs folks eat in front of us. Couldn't they hire just a couple of non-Muslims for days like this? After getting thru that passport control then had to walk another block, with luggage, to find my cab that had been ordered. No cab as he too was on a Ramadan break. So I waited another :30. Now I'm in Egypt and so that means I'm going to be pestered CONSTANTLY by cab drivers wanting to take me to my destination. They are relentless, not taking NO for an answer. Finally my guy showed and it was off to Dahab, a 2 hr. drive. Good news, I arrived safely at my resort and got upgraded. All's well that ends well.
Speaking of 'well', therein lies a problem. I came down with a sinus infection so may not get to dive after all that trouble to get here. Fortunately my ever-efficient coworkers/angels of mercy got me the names of some respiratory antibiotics and I obtained them, without a prescription, in Israel prior to leaving for the Red Sea
Dahab; Red Sea
. I'm on day 2 so I am hoping that tomorrow I'll be able to dive.Today I snorkeled, which is sort of a tease when you are a diver, but at least I got to see something. There is one really unique thing they offer here, which I doubt you'd see elsewhere- camel scuba trips. It's an all day affair where you take a few hr. trek to your diving location. I'm definitely not going to feel up to that, but it does sound entertaining. Speaking of camels, I was lounging on the beach and had a couple stroll by me w/ bedouins on them. There's something you won't see in FL. Wish I'd had my camera!
The place that I'm staying, Le Meridian Resort, has these flimsy cotton bathrobes. I guess people must like them for some reason though because they had a card next to them which I thought was humorous, it reads: 'This bathrobe has enjoyed considerable success among our guests, to the extent that some particularly enthusiastic customers have become 'collectors of Le Meridian bathrobes'. While we recognize that this initiative helps spread the reputation of our establishment, we nonetheless urge our most fervent supporters to make an effort to separate themselves from this admittedly endearing garmet when they leave.' Couldn't they have just said 'Leave the damn bathrobe or we'll charge you for it.'? Guess that would be cactus-speak!
One more day here and then it's back through the redtape gauntlet return to Israel.
Comments
bathrobe
I think that is a real neat and imaginative way of telling you 'To leave the (^*(&Y(*&^*&^ V bathrobe'.....in Marketing 101 they would pass with flying colors!
I just love it!