Egypt. Past. Part 2.
Having visited Egypt once, I already got hooked on it. Exactly a year later, in November 2008, we again take a ticket to the already beloved Rehana, but already for four - me, my beloved and a friend with my son. This time there were no handicap. Departure from Donetsk. The airport is much nicer than in Zaporozhye, but the flight is delayed by at least 2 hours. In anticipation of a miracle, the people empty the dutik and sour with inspiration. We save currency - we drank cognac on the other side of customs. Finally, landing is announced. The carrier - Donbassaero, “pleased” with the complete absence of alcoholic beverages (or just miser, or the crisis crept up), I had to be content with tomato juice. But for some people, that's enough. One couple flew with two babies. Dad passed out in an armchair, one baby crawls on it, the second yells in his mother’s arms - his ears probably hurt.
Arrived. As it turned out, almost half the plane goes to Rehana. Some network marketing rewarded their capitalist labor drummers with a trip to Egypt. And at that time, Rehana was a hotel, consisting of two parts - actually Rehana Sharm and Prima Life. When we lived in Rehana Sharm last year, people from our side said that Prima Life is much cooler and only foreigners are accommodated there. Upon arrival, the whole gang, well, we are a trailer, lodged in this notorious Prima Life, although we took vouchers to Rehana Sharm. So what? Nothing is better there. All the same. There are about the same number of foreigners as in Rehan. It’s just that our people believe that “it’s good where we are not, ” and they are treated badly and settled somewhere in the wrong place. Since the departure was late, and even the flight was delayed, we were already at the hotel around 11 pm. Settled quickly and even fed. Let's go drink. Life is Beautiful! But I no longer had a feeling of unreality of what was happening - I arrived as if I were at home.
The next morning, as an already experienced tourist, I tell my people that we will take excursions in local agencies, but we still go to meet the guide. A hefty, fat, imposing, I would say, zazhraty, hotel guide began to sell only the most expensive excursions - Cairo, Jerusalem, Jerusalem-Petra. When asked about sea excursions, he answered that the sea is stormy, and he does not advise us (what a concern! ). And we wanted to go to the Colored Canyon. But the guide said that it had rained in the mountains and the road had been washed out. I didn't believe him. What on FIG rains in the desert? We strengthen our decision to buy excursions at a street agency. But it still needs to be found. It seems that last year I saw a la not far from the hotel in a shopping center. Looked like, looked like - did not find anything. I really wanted to go to Jerusalem, and the rest in Egypt for the first time, of course, were not in Cairo. Tail between our legs, we return to the guide. We buy tours from him.
It's time to go to the sea. A lot has changed in my year of absence. We used to go to the sea across the road, and then along the path past some hotel. Our beach consisted of several wide steps down to the sea with sunbeds and umbrellas - Rehana on the left, Prima Life on the right. They also had bars. And now a new 5 * Reha-na-Royal Beach 5 * hotel has been built across the road and a cool underground passage is up to it. Our path to the sea now passed through the territory of the new hotel. At that time it was still unfinished, but some buildings were already functioning. It was very interesting to watch - yesterday there was bare ground near the buildings, and today the rolled lawn was rolled out, a palm tree was stuck - beauty! The territory is cool - there are a lot of pools, even near the buildings there are individual ones. But such a speed of construction did not carry anything good for tourists. I subsequently read reviews of this hotel - some year has passed, and everything is already collapsing and falling off. Yes, the Egyptians forgot how to build for centuries. The pyramid builders are turning over in their sarcophagi.
The new beach was a pleasant surprise. Long, wide and a lot of free sunbeds. A friend does not know how to swim, but she guarded things. And we floundered to the point of unhappiness. There was no limit to the delights of the sweetheart. A new underwater camera was bought (this time reusable). Last year's film had to be thrown out after developing the film as unusable. Fotkal now he, and I just swam. Yes, I probably would not have been able to - this year there was a very strong current. Once I foolishly went with the flow, so then I could hardly return to the pontoon. Don't care for the sweetheart, he's wearing flippers.
Lying on the beach, we watched the air show (see photo), in the evening we learned that it was a performance in honor of the arrival of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The newly arrived guys said that on the occasion of the arrival of the distinguished guest, their plane landed instead of Sharma in Taba! That's lucky.
One evening we decided to take a walk to the nearest shopping center. On the open stage, the guy danced a dance with skirts. I'm happy to see it for the second time. And then we see the travel agency! Where were you before? We go in, look at the prices for excursions and the heart bleeds - Jerusalem-lim - $ 110, and I bought for $ 210. Okay, I'll survive. Yes, there was something wrong with the timing. Documents are submitted in a few days and I did not fit. This calmed me down. We ask for an excursion to the Colored Canyon. What problems? For 40 dollars and you will have a Colored Canyon. Great, let's get it!
The next day, at 7 am, a jeep drove for us and we were going somewhere in the desert. The jeep has 2 parallel benches along the walls. The driver, who thought he was at least Schumacher, began to dress up in the desert so that we were thrown at each other. Miraculously, there were no injuries. And the poor dear had drunk whiskey since the evening and did not feel very well. How good was he! The guide said it was an Egyptian massage. Massage therapists! We arrived at a Bedouin village. Our guide and the guide of the second jeep had a long discussion with the local aksakals. Then one of the locals climbed onto our roof and we drove on. The guide said that this is our guide. And he handed over something to a couple of foreign guys, as I understand it, hashish. The Italian fiddled with it in his hands, but seeing my interest, he hid it in his pocket with a guilty smile.
We arrived at the area, at the sight of which the name of the film seen in early childhood popped up in the brain - "Mackenna's Gold". And we went. On the way to the canyon, we had to overcome an obstacle course. Not everyone did well. Only Italians rode in the second jeep, and a couple of them were very obese and, of course, they could not climb a rocky ledge almost to the height of their own height, even with the help of guides. They had to go back to the jeeps and wait for the others. Oh those travel agencies! Did they not see that this excursion was not for them? Just to cut down the bab-la. Those who successfully overcame the first test came to the beginning of the canyon, and then some were simply shocked! We had to go down into the canyon along an almost sheer narrow chute, though only 3 meters high. Our guide was the first to go down and help us do this circus attraction, he was especially zealous in helping women, supporting them in all sorts of places. A uniform hysteria happened to one young Italian woman - she was very afraid and roared like a beluga. This descent also didn’t come to me in vain - I tore the back pocket on my favorite shorts. There I had the key to the room, and when I rested my fifth point against one wall and my feet against the other, I went down, the protruding parts of the key broke through the fabric. Abidna, you understand! I did not return the key, remembering last year's eviction incident.
Well, in the end everyone somehow got down and we went through the canyon. It's just fantastic! In some places those fat Italians wouldn't get through anyway, it was so narrow. And the walls are so white. I was tormented by the question, why is the canyon called Tsvetnoy? Having already returned home and looked on the Internet for photos of other tourists, I caught myself not recognizing the area. I think that the hotel guide did not lie to us, it did rain (we saw some kind of puddle) and the Colored Canyon was really inaccessible at that time, and we were brought to some other canyon - White or some other. Why not breed stupid tourists? But basically, what's the difference? We really liked it. God willing, we'll also go to Tsvetnoy. Nevertheless, if someone recognizes the area, at least write, sho tse boo-lo? Well. We wander through the canyon, in places full of inscriptions (guess in what language? ). Hands would be torn off by these Yulyam! (see photo). At the exit, the guide said that our guide wanted a tip. I had to give.
After the canyon we were taken to Dahab. Interesting place. Unlike Sharm, there the mountains come close to the shore. But what poverty! There are pissed-off children everywhere, selling something, or simply begging. If you move a little away from the cafes, huge fish heads and just rubbish are lying on the shore. I would not like to rest there. In addition, the agency did not warn us to take masks. But I am also good, because I knew that we would have the opportunity to dive. Good thing you brought your swimwear. And the Italians didn't take anything at all, and at lunch in the cafe where they brought us, they sat with disgruntled faces.
The cafe was right on the beach. Cafe is a big word. We sat in Turkish style on the second floor on the open veranda. It’s not even dostarkhan, there was no resemblance to a table. Just a few greasy pillows and peeling rugs. They brought several dishes, I don’t remember with what. We quickly snatched it all up. In a large family, do not click your beak! This is just the case. You could really go hungry. The Italians are also cunning guys. After lunch we had an hour of free time. As I found out later, we were near the famous Blue Hole. Before lunch, we were taken to a store where we could rent masks, but we did not take them, deciding that we would not see anything new. Probably in vain. The toad crushed. One Russian guy swam - he said that, in principle, nothing, but not ah! But while he was diving, his slippers were taken away. Then there was the Dahab market and everything, to the hotel. In principle, with the exception of the above-described jambs, I liked the tour very much.
The next day (or rather night), the people drove off to Cairo. And I was left alone. My excursion to Jerusalem began the next night. Alone, of course, sooo boring. She doesn't eat, she doesn't drink, she doesn't bathe. I went to the sea, swam a couple of times - returned to the hotel. She took a book and lay down near the pool closest to the body. They taught me how to scuba dive there. The instructor persistently began to offer me to try. I refused. Since there were no other volunteers either, he began to stick to me from nothing to do. He asked where is my husband? I honestly answered - in Cairo. Thoughtful. Behind. Probably thought my husband was from the locals. But I'm just wondering, do their Russian wives wear thongs? At dinner, I scored all sorts of sweets and fruits for my own - they will arrive late and may remain hungry. In this hotel, you can take everything out of the dining room. On the territory there are even special tables for dirty dishes.
I never saw mine - I left for Jerusalem, but they have not returned yet. We stood at the border for about 5 hours. The Council of Deputies is full! There is a huge queue, but they are not in a hurry - they are waddling back and forth. At dawn we arrived at the Dead Sea. We were immediately taken to a cosmetics store, which was already (! ) open. The prices are outrageous, of course! Bar of soap $10, shampoo $20. We arrived in Jerusalem, very beautiful, all white, a lot of greenery, despite the fact that it is also, in essence, a desert. We went everywhere we needed to go, kissed everything we needed. I liked our guide. On the way to the sights, all sorts of things were sold on the streets, but she warned us not to stop in any case, and flew past like a bullet. My slipper was torn, I went up to her and asked her to give me the opportunity to buy some shoes (I managed to notice leather flip flops for $ 10). But she began to dissuade me, arguing that she bought these and threw them away the next day. I think everything was explained simply - if we stopped even for a while, we would have time to notice the prices of some goods that she was going to sell us at a higher price. She then took us to a store selling icons and other miscellaneous things. Prices there - mom, don't worry! But take-rut in any currency - even in the hryvnia and rubles. Before that, I still managed to run away for half a minute and buy a bunch of Easter candles on the street for $1. In this store, it cost 2. And in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher - generally 3. But this is from her words. She collected money from everyone who wanted it and said that she would buy it from the priest. This is how our former compatriots dress us there.
After Jerusalem and Bethlehem, we again returned to the Dead Sea, already at dusk. There, in the locker room, they changed and went to the beach, smeared themselves with mud bought in the store and entered this dead water. Despite the late hour, both the water and the air were very warm. Yes, it's fun to swim there. You feel like a piece of shit. The slightest movement of the hands - and you slide on the surface, almost without sinking. I'm lying - bastard. But then a couple of fighters fly overhead. I immediately felt somewhat uncomfortable. They broke off all the fun. One elderly large-sized aunt imprudently tore her legs off the bottom - that's all! She cannot get back up. Splashing hands and feet. Sprays fly in different directions! One of the sprays hit my lip - it was very hot. What if it's in the eye? By joint efforts, somehow, they put her on her feet. Well, everything. They said that it is not recommended to stay in this sea for more than 20 minutes. We wash ourselves, change clothes and go home (in the sense to Egypt). I regret that I didn’t buy mud for my mother to smear her knees. At the border again some troubles. Stayed for 3 hours. True managed to visit the local dutik. Great prices! Shampoo - 6. Dead Sea mud - 5, and if you take 2 pieces - a cream as a gift. We return to the hotel around midnight. I liked it, but it was very hard physically. If it were not for swimming in the Dead Sea, they would have turned sour in general.
And an early flight in the morning. And only then I understand how risky. They might not have returned in time. Thank God that everything turned out like this! We get on the bus. The hotel guide will accompany us. The network marketing tycoons decide if he's going to drop 10 bucks apiece. He served them so well! (he probably warmed them up a little on excursions).
The weather throughout the flight is clear, we see the pyramids from above, I even managed to take a picture. Bad, but visible. We fly up to the Black Sea coast. I recognize my beloved Yalta. I'm taking a picture. The son of a friend, who is sitting on the other side, takes a picture from his side. Then we looked at his photo, and there - no less beloved New World. All coves at a glance. We haven’t even flown home yet, but already we want to go somewhere again! But now you have to endure right up to the New Year. And we will also return to Egypt!
