Eid in Dahab

Eid al-Adha – Feast of the Sacrifice - October 26 – 29 2012

This was on the side of road 119 on Oct 31/12 (leftovers?)

This Islamic holiday is observed by Muslims around the world in commemoration of the Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his young and firstborn son in obedience to a command from God. Celebrations include the gathering of family and friends for meals, wearing new clothes and giving gifts. Observances include Eid Prayers, sacrificing a sheep, cow, goat, buffalo or camel in the name of God, giving away one-third of the meat to friends and neighbours and donating one-third or more of the meat to the poor and needy.

Because the school observes Muslim holidays, this meant a 5 day weekend for us and another opportunity to explore Egypt. We decided to go to a resort in Dahab on the Red Sea.  

There are two ways to get there from Cairo. We could take a 9 hour bus ride or a 1 hour flight. We chose the flight. A one hour flight actually turned into a 6 hour journey but it was still faster than a 9 hour bus ride.

ü  1 hour to the airport.

ü  2 hours sitting around waiting. The airport was very relaxed. We did go through a metal detector. They did check our passports. We did not have to take off our shoes or belts or take the laptop out of the bag. The security guard did ask us if we had a gun. That was about it. This was the first plane that Becca and I have ever boarded in the middle of a parking lot. The doors of the terminal open, you get on a bus, get off the bus in the parking lot and walk up the stairs to the airplane. Becca thought it was pretty neat …. Just like on TV.

ü  The flight was 1 hour. 

ü  1 hour to get off plane and secure a taxi. We were told that a taxi should cost us 250LE MAX and that the taxi drivers would try and get more from us. They were right. They started at 400LE. Mike was very calm and negotiated down to 250. I was very impressed.

ü  The cab ride through the desert mountains to the hotel was another hour.

A security guard with a rifle. Buses waiting to take us to our plane. Our hotel coming into view. Camels on the road!

The hotel, Daniela Village Hotel http://www.daniela-hotels.com/pages/dahab/, was very beautiful (for Egypt), all white against the blue water with the mountains in the back ground. Our “triple” room was as we expected – 3 single beds. It had air conditioning, a fridge, no TV, big windows and patio door.  The staff at the hotel should teach classes in hospitality. They were super friendly and anything we asked for was delivered to our door very quickly.  We arrived just in time for dinner. The hotel provides a buffet breakfast and dinner to all guests every day; a nice bonus.

The hotel at night. No Camel & Horse sign on the boardwalk in town. The view from the restaurant in town. Becca Boo!

Our hotel ran a shuttle bus to “town” which was just a few kilometers away. The shuttle didn’t leave until 9 at night and returned at 11. I suppose the lateness of this trip is a result of supper being served between 7 and 9 p.m. As we arrived at the tourist strip in town, what we were hoping would be a relaxing stroll along the boardwalk quickly deteriorated into a nightmarish pressure cooker. We had taken approximately 8 steps along the boardwalk when we met the first of many high pressure entrepreneurs attempting to get us to either buy one of their products or eat at their restaurant. They aren’t nearly as aggressive/intimidating as the folks at the pyramids but their determination and persistence is remarkable. These people really won’t take “no” for an answer.  In a way, it’s a nice change from many North American eateries where you sometimes feel like you’re doing them a favour by entering their restaurant. They could learn a great deal about customer service from the Egyptians.  Finally we decided to go in to one of the restaurants and have a drink but when we noticed that there were no alcoholic drinks on the menu we decided to leave. Our waiter (I don’t think we’ve seen even one waitress in Egypt) quickly had us sit back down and disappeared to another establishment and returned with our beer. They weren’t about to let a little thing like no liquor license get in the way of making a sale. 

Later on, the ladies in the group decided that they would purchase some Dahab pants (see picture)  but after at least half an hour of trying on pants and then trying to agree on a price, they left empty-handed. The talks between the NHL owners and the players’ association would pale in comparison to these pants negotiations. We did return the next day where the pants were purchased for the original asking price. Score one for the Egyptians. Mike decided he wanted to purchase a souvenir, something that really captured the essence of this great country, “the cradle of civilization”, with its marvellous history of Pharaohs and pyramids ---- so he bought a t-shirt with a picture of a camel smoking sheesha on it.

View of the hotel from the water. Our lounge chairs. Becca in the Red Sea. My view for most of the day.
Mike with his new friend - he named her Penelope. 

The next morning we got up bright and early for breakfast. They had a chocolate fountain! Becca and I had crepes with chocolate and an omelet. After breakfast – the moment I had been waiting for since we booked the trip – it was time to read my book while relaxing on a lounge chair on the beach wearing anything I wanted (bathing suit or shorts or a tank top – anything goes at the resort). Aaaahhhh ……… BLISS. It was a lovely relaxing day.

The hotel has about 10 resident cats who are very well fed thanks to patrons like Amanda. Becca on our patio.

On Saturday afternoon Becca was looking for something to do so Mike booked us on a 4-wheeling trip through the mountains to a Bedouin camp for tea. Becca was pretty excited about driving her own 4-wheeler. This was Mike’s 1^st adventure on a 4-wheeler.  It was fun and I’m so glad we did it. When we got back, Mike and I went for a swim and I ordered my very first swim-up bar cocktail. It was delicious!

View of Dahab from above. Becca and Mike with their 4-wheelers. Camels resting on the mountain path. 

Lizard at the Bedouin camp. Our guide thought it would be funny to put it on our heads. A sandy beach section ..
... to bad it was dark. Becca returning to the hotel with the guide on a motorcycle after returning her 4-wheeler.

Sunday was another relaxing day on the beach. Unfortunately it was very windy and the glass bottom boat we wanted to go on to see the reef and fish and such was delayed so we couldn’t take it. We should have taken advantage of snorkeling off the shore on Saturday morning … oh well …

We made it home safe and sound late Sunday evening.  I read the final page of my book (The Friends of Meager Fortune) as the plane touched down.