Diving Theory and Relaxing in the Morning in Marsa Alam
Sunday, 15 March
8.30 – Dany begins the OWD upgrade course.
The entire morning is devoted to theory including the exam.
I meanwhile enjoy the sunshine, though a very strong, cool wind takes the edge off the summer feeling in winter ;-). It is just warm enough for a sunburn, though.
Quad Safari to a Gold Mine in the Desert
At 14.30 we set off from the hotel beach on a 3-hour quad tour into the desert.
After roughly three-quarters of an hour we reach an abandoned gold-rush settlement in the middle of the desert, dating from 1904.
After about 45 years, however, the search here was apparently called off without a single find. What remains is an interesting backdrop for tourists who pass through by quad, horse or camel.
Visiting Bedouins in the Desert
A little further on we reach a Bedouin family who have made a speciality of serving tea and baking bread for tourists. They live in reed shelters, have a chicken, a cat and an 18-month-old child. Civilisation nowhere in sight. Unimaginable to us to live here, but interesting to see how little one can get by with — and without showing any discontent. Respect!!
An Evening in Port Ghalib
In the evening we take the hotel shuttle for around €2 per person to Port Ghalib to visit the bazaar. The entire complex is of recent construction and was planned entirely from scratch on the drawing board. It has nothing in common with the chaotic sprawl of Hurghada. There is no litter on the streets and no troublesome traffic. It does feel, however, rather like a nicely laid-out satellite town that was, at least during our visit, quite deserted.
Continue in the Marsa Alam – Egypt travel report to Day 4: Diving at Marsa Mubarak.
