Yesterday was a fairly uneventful day with the 5 hour drive from Luxor to Hurghada. The driver was a shocker and we all felt terribly sick by the time we arrived. After checking in, all we did was unpack some clothes, have dinner and fall asleep.
Again the breakfast isn’t that great. Actually most of the food in Egypt has not been too good. Some of the traditional dishes have been amazing but when they try to do western food they fail miserably. One thing we have noticed, they don’t do cheese, bacon, cream and maple syrup at all. You can get honey or molasses on your pancakes. Some form of chicken sausage and really, really dodgy eggs!
We have our day trip to Giftun island booked today tho we all feel like staying at the hotel. With much back and forth we decide to go. The bus picks up at 8.40am and we head to the marina. We purchased to GoPro and face masks just for today so let’s hope it’s worth it. The boat is a bit old and the toilets don’t flush so you can imagine the smell!! Not a great start! We are heading to three places, Giftun Island for swimming and two places for snorkelling. We arrive at the island which has a big sign ‘Paradise’ on the beach. Ummmmm…… not where I come from! It’s ok, and the water is beautifully clear but there is rubbish on the sand and everyone smokes, leaving their buts there too. It’s not very pleasant. Mark and kids have a swim. We need to stay together with the owner of the boat as a group so can’t really explore.
The hour goes fast and before we know it we are back on the boat. There are quite a few Germans in Hurghada and not as many Asians. The second stop is lovely but the water is really cold. It’s winter here so it’s hard to get in! Again the water is crystal clear with the reef just under the surface so the fish are amazing! There are blue clams and even moray eels! Mark and Benjamin have a ball. Ayrlie and I stay a bit closer to the boat. At the second stop, the coral etc.. is even better. The guide throws fish food right on top of Ayrlie and I so the fish swarm us. They tickle a bit and Ayrlie is excited she gets to touch them. We were told lunch on the boat is better than at the hotel. I beg to differ. They are both bad! Before we head back there is a bit of free swim time and mark and B.B. jump of the end of the boat. A big German throws B.B. off and two of the crew pick Ayrlie up (who is fully dressed) and pretend to throw her over board too. Its great fun and we dance with some Brazilian ladies and crew most of the hour ride home. Overall everyone is glad we went today.
(Yes that is 19 people in a mini bus! – Rules are a little more lax in Egypt – Sorry for the bad pic, it was a composite on my phone, while driving). As part of our meal plan at the hotel, we are allowed one evening dining at the Italian restaurant so decide to go tonight. We didn’t realise it’s a 5 course set menu! A set soup, your choice of caesar or mozzarella n tomato salad, pasta, then a choice of pizza, sea bass or chicken for main. Desert is either strawberry mouse, tiramisu or fruit salad. Every course is amazing and it’s the best food in days! Unfortunately the kids are too tired to eat most of it and we crawl back to the room for sleep!
