In describing the events that happened to us, I am in no way trying to influence anyone or tarnish anyone's reputation. It is unlikely that this prose will interest tourists experienced in visiting Egypt. Rather, it will be useful to those who go there for the first time in order to be prepared for possible surprises. Everything that is written below actually happened, there is not a drop of fiction in it. Only my personal observations, supported by the experience of traveling to other countries.
Actually, this is what happened to us. Four of us went to Hurghada. Me, my wife and another married couple, our friends. It so happened that the male half of the quartet could only go for 7 days. Women's same rushed for two weeks. Accordingly, we bought two vouchers - for the men for a week, for the girls - for two. We went to Hilton long beach 4 * in two double rooms.
That is, the first week we would live, as they say, each couple in a room, and after our departure, the wives would move to one double room for the remaining week.
It didn't work out at the airport. Our Atlant-Soyuz flight was delayed by almost three hours. Well, it's okay, we decided, it happens with charters. After the traditional wandering around the Vnukovo duty-free, buying flight doping in the form of a bottle of cognac, smoking in the toilets and eating airport sandwiches with sausage and scrambled eggs with tomatoes, expensive as a cast-iron bridge, we finally ended up on the longed-for plane. Before the rest, as we then believed, there was a little less than four hours of flight. The flight went well, if I understand something in this from my philistine-aerophobic bell tower. I myself, after taking some five-star valerian, soon fell asleep. But the guys say that at least they didn’t chat, and they fed well and on time.
After a soft landing, applause for the skill of the pilots, taxiing, passport control and baggage claim, we finally set foot on the long-awaited land of the all-Union health resort, known in the Egyptian vernacular as Hurghada.
Having identified the guide by the “ICS group” sign, who kindly pointed to the buses waiting in the distance, we found out that for some reason our ladies and I were seated in different places. The men, they say, should appear on bus number two, and the ladies are waiting for number five, if I'm not mistaken. Moreover, having already left the polite guide and whiled away the time for smoke breaks at the buses, we found out that the guide had taken all copies of our tourist vouchers from one of our companions. Said it was necessary. Although, theoretically, we should have left one copy each. Once again, having smoked, we were perplexed about what had happened and began to wait for the further development of events with hope for the best.
Moreover, after a three-hour sitting in Vnukovo and a four-hour flight, I already really wanted not only to take a shower, but at least lie down in an honestly paid hotel room.
And we had to wait a long time. Either the tourists scattered around the airport were collected, or they waited until everyone passed passport control, or something went wrong with the receiving party. In general, we had another hour and a half to admire the local starry sky and the African month lying on our backs on a warm breeze through the ubiquitous cigarette smoke.
Finally, it happened. Several figures in red jackets loomed on the horizon. The guides were preparing for the final part of the Marlezon ballet - the delivery of tourists to the hotels, reeling from fatigue and rolling up after the flight hangover.
Our seeded under the second number "Mercedes" started before anyone else.
Leaning back in my chair and anticipating the imminent end of the protracted road to vacation, I sleepily listened to the guide's murmuring, which was difficult to distinguish from habit. He cheerfully greeted us all on the land of the fraternal country and reminded us that local time is different from Moscow. Therefore, if we do not want to be late anywhere, then we should move the arrows back an hour. Then came an almost Moscow Art Theater pause, during which some still could not stand it and began to nod off. And then our guide, whose name, if I am not mistaken, was Ahmed, spoke again. He began as a general who, at an emergency meeting of the headquarters, sets subordinates a difficult operational task. “This is the situation, ” he said mournfully, but decisively, “A lot of tourists come to Hurghada at this time of the year. Therefore, it so happened that at the Hilton Long Beach Hotel, where we must now go, all the rooms are occupied. And there are no reservations for anyone.
But our company, the ICS company, will provide all of you with rooms in another hotel. This is the Grand Azur Resort, also four stars and also has an ol inclusive system.
For the first twenty seconds in the bus, apart from the noise of the engine, and the cars constantly beeping outside, nothing was heard. Then someone held out like this with the arrangement: “Cheeeeoooo ? ! » And rushed. I will not undertake to convey all the polyphony that began in the cabin. I only remember that someone's female voice constantly exclaimed “You have no right! ”, someone frankly sent Ahmed and his whole gang-watering can to mom, and most shook the air with a discordant choral “Why is that? and “The hotel has been confirmed! ". As for us, we attended to the issue of further deployment of our weak halves and immediately began to call them to tell them the depressing news.
Prior to our call on the fifth bus, no one had heard of any change in accommodation.
Their escort, it turns out, saved the sensation for dessert. However, because of us, the nasty ones didn’t even reach the sweet point when the categorical question of the girls “Which hotel are we being taken to? He, after hesitating for a couple of seconds, was forced to answer: “To Arabella. ” This, as it later turned out, is, in principle, a good four-star hotel built next door to the Grand Azur mentioned above.
Do you understand the beauty of the situation? Not only did they take us not to the Hilton. In addition, the girls - in one place, and us in another. And we would run to each other, as in the good old days of pioneer camps ...
Such a rosy prospect for us, of course, was unacceptable. Meanwhile, despite numerous protests, our buses were inexorably approaching the Grand Azur and Arabella.
In any extreme situation in which a group of people finds themselves, a leader is needed.
The one that will determine the general line of conduct and inspire confidence that everything will be OK. Such a character was found in the fifth bus, where our ladies were. I don't know the name of this respected man, but then among ourselves we dubbed him Bald. And nothing funny! It is not his fault that nature sometimes deprives people of the hair on their heads. However, it doesn't matter. So, Bald, having heard about the change in course, got up and quietly said: “Everyone will calm down when we arrive, no one gets off the bus. ” And he began to call the consulate. And after all, I got through on the phone, they promised to help, about which Bald hastened to inform everyone else. Subsequently, however, it turned out that he did not really care for the common good, but first things first.
While in the fifth bus passions were just beginning to boil, in number two they had already whipped over the edge for a long time. Upon arrival at the Grand Azur, some of the tourists refused to leave.
The rest, including me, spewing curses, rushed in a group after the guide, who, at the speed of a roe deer running away from a pack of wolves, rushed to the reception. My friend meanwhile went on foot to the Arabella to meet the girls.
The staff of the Grand Azura, who had opened their arms to us, noticeably turned sour when they saw the mood with which we tumbled into the building. Our Akhmed, shaking the lists, lilted at the counter and offered to settle in as soon as possible, to which the tourists in unison demanded that he return the vouchers and go to the Hilton to clarify the situation directly on the spot. The volume of the swearing has passed a critical level, and the number of eloquent gestures in the direction of Akhmed's neck and face did not portend anything but a speedy lynching.
Here is a small remark about the attitude of the Arabs. Never, hear, never try to talk to them from the crowd, shouting over each other, as many of our compatriots like to do.
As for our joint settlement in the "Grand Azura", they answered me with a refusal - there are no places for everyone. Later, by the way, it turned out why the tourists were scattered on different buses. It turns out that the strategists from the ICS Group, faced with a problem at the Hilton, took and stupidly divided the arrivals according to the duration of their stay. We flew for 7 days - us for a week at Grand Azur, as there were rooms available for a week. Our girls flew for two weeks - them to free places in Arabella, because there were already places for two weeks in advance. And he doesn’t care who is with whom, who is flying to whom and why. The main thing is to settle! Here is such a simplified approach. Like in a cartoon, remember? "This kid counted you too. " Nevermind.
In general, I, having calmed down from the fact that I managed to clarify at least something in this mess, called back to Arabella and told my guys the news. Wait, I say, I'll be there soon. And then he went out to smoke on the porch and watch the development of events.
Meanwhile, some of my colleagues in misfortune nevertheless decided to settle in the Grand Azur. But there were few of them. The rest again settled on Ahmed with a demand to return the vouchers and go to the Hilton for a showdown. The exhausted guide, no longer looking like a cheerful representative of a travel agency, but like a victim from the movie "Saw", wearily murmured that his colleague had the vouchers in the neighboring hotel - "Arabella". They decided to go there and pick up everything I needed from my colleague Ahmed, drop me off, and then go to the damned Hilton.
For some reason, the program was completed only on the last two points. That is, they dropped me off at the Arabella and went to the Hilton. And no one reacted to the fact that the vouchers were not brought to them. It is understandable - people still came to rest, and not to defend their rights to the point of hoarseness in their voices. I never saw these guys again. I don't know if they were put up at the Hilton that night or not.
I think that it is unlikely that they still returned to Grand Azur.
So, I was finally reunited with mine. At the reception of "Arabella" they managed to get acquainted with the local manager, Lena. By the way, she was very supportive and reassuring. And that, it turns out, is not the case. Where with a kind word, and where just a joke, she helped people not to become discouraged. So I recommend it to everyone - if suddenly a difficult one brings you to Arabella, there in her person you will always find a true ally. For all that, however, he is also not indifferent to the interests of his employer.
Meanwhile, the night rolled towards dawn. The aforementioned Bald and well-spoken young man with the appearance of a gifted system administrator rallied the tired tourists around him. As a result, endless calls to various authorities led to the threshold of the hotel some bump from the Egyptian tourist police.
I don’t understand the ranks there, but the newcomer had three stars on each shoulder strap and he himself radiated confidence and calmness, characteristic only of high-ranking bosses.
A bump from the police, the general manager of the hotel, Bald and the System Administrator retired to clarify the situation and, as they say in the official chronicle, to find common ground in finding a way out of the current crisis. They sat for about an hour, or maybe more, periodically calling a guide to the carpet, whose face, through a forced smile, read an ardent desire to get out of all this bedlam somewhere quickly.
The negotiations ended with the first rays of the sun. Bald went out to the people and announced a communiqué that at 12 o'clock local time a representative of our tour operator would arrive at the hotel, who would answer the eternal question “what to do?
”, which, as it has now become clear, has become a byword not only in Russia. In the meantime, everyone should temporarily populate the rooms of the hospitable Arabella.
We didn't sleep that night. Leaving our belongings in the rooms and squinting at the sun that was quickly coming out of the sea, we set off to explore the territory. Of course, it was not quite what we expected.
At first, "Arabella" seems like a chaotic heap of Arab houses, in which even a person experienced in topography will get lost, like Masha in a fairy tale about three bears. But after living there for a couple of days, you will significantly increase your chances at orienteering competitions. For those who like strong drinks, I do not advise to go to this hotel. Not a single, even the most proven autopilot will lead you immediately to the number. You will complain about the builders and call people like Farad in The Wizards. The rooms are small, but some will find it cozy.
The hotel is quite old, so almost every corner breathes decay there. Our friends got a room with a sink and a shabby toilet bowl, like a watering can. But they moved the beds! Our sleeping places resembled shelves in a train. They were firmly attached to the walls. Therefore, we had to sleep on the same bed, which was not very convenient, and often one of us woke up with his head on the bedside table due to crowding. For lovers of the dubious pleasure of watching TV on vacation, I recommend commercial breaks on Channel One. They are in Ukrainian. You know very much invigorating in the morning. "Your kid's chisels" and all that.
The hotel has two beaches. Alone in the lagoon, but there the wind blows with such force that the path from the sunbed to the sea and back leads to bad thoughts about Napoleon's army retreating along the frozen Russian road. The second beach is smaller, but not so windy.
It protrudes a little into the sea, right below it there is a large accumulation of corals and fish. So lovers of snorkeling will have something to see. Fortunately, masks, fins and snorkels are provided free of charge, as well as towels with sunbeds. There are also two swimming pools on the territory, in which you can swim only during the daytime. However, only those who like to dive in ice polynyas will be able to swim in them. There is basically no hot water. So it's better - on the sea, which is much warmer.
The food at Arabella is tasty, but monotonous. I personally, as a meat lover, liked all sorts of goodies on the grill. There are practically no fruits. There are some of their representatives in the face of apples, guava, bananas and pieces of melon. Once there was even a persimmon. I also remember pasta with different additives. The parmesan just let us down. Instead of being crumbly, it looked like caked sugar, from which you had to break off pieces with a spoon.
Baking deserves special praise. Here the inhabitants of the Maghreb, as always, are at their best. I highly recommend the local beer. Personally, I liked it, although, as you know, the search for like-minded people in taste and color rarely ends in luck.
Of course, I can be wrong, but it seems to me that the Arab feeding is the same everywhere. Passing by the Arabella delicacies for the first time, I immediately remembered how I was fed in Tunisia. Well, it's very similar, I'll tell you, although in Sousse, I remember, I lived in five stars. But let's not digress.
In the hotel guide found in the room, we read that somewhere in Arabella there is animation. Hmm ...There is something she is, but only she is practically invisible. Every day, vacationers peacefully dozing on the beach were awakened by a heart-rending cry “VALEYBOOOOOOL! ". So one of the three available animators touted those who wanted to leave through the net for some reason too weighty, hitting all the hands of the ball.
At the same time, he whistled with enviable frequency, like a traffic cop, who suddenly got the opportunity to fine everyone who drives faster than 30 kilometers per hour. I also once saw three or four and a half women by the pool, who seemed to be doing aerobics. The face of the animator who directed them expressed such unimaginable boredom that one involuntarily wanted to somehow support the guy, come up, put his hand on his shoulder and say: “Hold on, friend, it will all end soon. ” Animation culminated in the so-called daily evening shows, which, as far as I understood, were repeated every week. Personally, having visited one of them, I did not get pleasure. Such, you know, a mixture of kefir paradise for the elderly and the show of the notorious Yevgeny Vaganovich. But again, I appeal to a matter of taste. Many liked the performance, judging by the cheers and applause.
The hotel staff is emphatically polite, with the exception of a couple of dunces who believe that pouring a beer or giving a guest a mask with flippers is tantamount to obsequious kneeling. Some bartenders really do not like to pour one person into several glasses. To my call "Four beer, please", I received the controversial exclamation "Wow! For who? How many persons? ". I consider myself a polite person, but such reporting requirements annoy me. What's your business, yo-mayo? I'm not just for myself. We are here on Thursday. And in general - I have everything included. At least I’ll drink a barrel here, damn it ...He made such a face as if he personally brewed this beer for his friends, and I, a foreign bastard, bearing the burden of whites in this beautiful African country, came and took away the last.
But, despite all the shortcomings listed, Arabella is a fairly good hotel. Quite cozy, green and clean. Neither I nor my friends consider themselves hypocrites.
If we were going there on purpose, then, I have no doubt, all these leaking shells, pseudo-animators and greedy bartenders would not spoil our mood. But since we tuned in to a completely different place, to the Hilton, then we had the appropriate impressions.
It was noon on the first day of our stay in the country of the pharaohs. Discordant ranks of "deceived equity holders" stretched to the reception. As usual, the ICS representative was a quarter of an hour late. The meeting of the “residents of our ZhEK” took place in a local disco, as we eventually dubbed it - in the assembly hall. Everything was outrageously reminiscent of the famous story of the Fauna garage cooperative, with the only difference being that four people were evicted in the Ryazan cinema, and here all the contributors to the Egyptian budget tourism article suffered. The guide told us for a long time about the reasons for what happened.
Finally, the third option seems to me the most plausible. The guys from ICS claimed that, using the annual statistics on visitors, the specialists from the Hilton thought that so many tourists would refuse tours from them. And they confirmed the numbers to other sufferers, that is, to us. And those "assholes" who seemed to have to refuse, took it and came. Maybe it was, but I'm sure that it would be wrong to blame the Hilton administration for everything.
Of course, a considerable share of responsibility lies with the ICS Group. In my opinion, the guys in red clothes got such a small speck on their reputation that was about the size of an ozone hole over Antarctica.
However, we were neither hot nor cold from numerous exhortations and promises of reprisals against the guilty. We did not want blood, we wanted to get the rest for which we gave our hard-earned money.
When the question arose of moving us to the Hilton, the guide said that they might be able to do it in two days. Moreover, only those guests who bought weekly tours can be transported there. All others will move only at the end of the week. The prospect of going to the Hilton without wives, of course, did not please us. If we move, we decided, then together. Although, still, few believed that some of us would be relocated in the near future.
As compensation for non-pecuniary damage, ICS offered to choose any excursion from its standard package. If people agreed to this option, then they were required to write a statement with a summary of what happened and the rejection of all claims against ICS Group and their partners Abanup Travel. What do you think most people did?
Of course, it was possible, spattering with saliva and shaking Hilton vouchers, to defend their rights, write complaints, call the consul and threaten the court. But vacation is not given to us so often to spend it on such a showdown. Therefore, everyone I saw at the meeting agreed with the folk wisdom “even a tuft of wool from a black sheep” and accepted the proposed option. Including us.
We chose, of course, Luxor. First, and so they were going there. And we went to Hurghada because from there it is not so far to the Karnak temple as from Sharm el-Sheikh. Yes, and the obvious savings of 260 American presidents, even at the expense of moral compensation, at least a little, but warmed the soul.
The main tedium of an excursion to Luxor is a trip there and back. Or rather, even there. On the way back, full of impressions, we slept like gophers. Buses of various travel agencies go to Luxor and back in a long guarded column.
The first impression is absolute confusion and vacillation. One gets the impression that Egyptian drivers are world champions in the frequency of beeps and blinking headlights. Plugs are not rare. Moreover, it often happens that on the road there are just relatives or friends who, stopping just to chat, block the entire street. In this case, the rest of the drivers patiently wait for them to speak out, but periodically remind themselves of themselves, briefly beeping and blinking. My friend, who has been driving for more than 10 years, hysterically threw the steering wheel of a rented car after just 15 minutes of driving through the city streets. Those who wish can see for themselves, but do not say that I did not warn you. But the roads in Egypt are very good. Both in the city and on the highway - everywhere there is a good even surface, which is no worse than the domestic one, and sometimes it seems that it is even better.
But I digress. On the way to Luxor we stopped twice.
”, then know that you are lucky with the guide and the impressions of an interesting excursion are guaranteed.
I will not describe the sights of Luxor. Firstly, it is better to see once than to read, and secondly, this will require a lot of time and paper. Do not flatter yourself - you will not have time to see absolutely everything in one day. Let me just say that you will see the stunning Karnak temple complex, in comparison with which the scenery for the Hollywood "Mummy" looks pathetic and dull. Then you will be taken by boat to the west bank of the Nile. By the way, I recommend ladies to be more careful when boarding and disembarking - locals, under the guise of help, strive to stealthily touch female charms. So be vigilant and do not bring to an international scandal. On the west coast you will find a whole range of attractions.
Among others, you will see the giant colossi of Mnemnon, visit the Valley of the Kings and visit the tombs of the pharaohs. Keep in mind that you will not be allowed to use a video camera in the Valley of the Kings! Only with a camera. And in the tombs, any filming equipment is generally prohibited. The crown of the trip will be a visit to the temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Don't forget to look up when you enter the temple. The overhanging rock has a mesmerizing effect.
In addition to historical sites, you will also find yourself in a workshop where, it seems, apartment dust collectors, that is, various interior items, are made manually from mountain stone. This is where they are sold. As for the price, I can say with confidence - quite high. But as for hand-made - I will not be so sure. Too diligently those guys with towels on their heads polished marble and too soon they left as soon as our bus moved on.
In short - a pseudo-exotic for gullible tourists, generating income for travel companies.
Another place to shake your wallets is the Papyrus Museum. There you will be shown the technique of making this famous carrier of the writing of Ancient Egypt and will be offered to purchase the painting you like. By the way, there are very beautiful works. For some, the money is not a pity. Keep in mind - the museum sells really real papyrus, and not a fake banana skin, like in street markets. So you can be sure about the authenticity and buy the thing you like.
In general, in this African country, all conditions have been created so that long-term diarrhea begins in tourist wallets. The word "baksheesh" is used there no less than "hello". Moreover, resourceful Egyptians often make money in kind out of nothing. In the temple of Karnak I was approached by such a handsome grandfather.
For no reason at all, he took my hand, led me to an unsightly fragment of some statue, put my hand to the stone, and then to my chest. At the same time, he burred twice uttered "fortune. " Then he did the same with my wife's hand and gestured for us to kiss. Hmm ...After the pantomime, grandfather hung in our wake for about ten minutes. He held out his hand to us and blew "bakshiiiiish". I suspect that without giving him half a pound, we would have seen his plaintive face behind our backs for a long time. In addition, you will come across figurine sellers offering their wares for as little as a few pounds. Do not hurry! They mean English pounds, not Egyptian pounds, so be on the lookout. It is better not to pay attention to such peppers at all, otherwise they will not get rid of it. Finally, once we were almost deceived in an ordinary local minibus, when they tried to slip 50 piastres, that is, half a pound, instead of a 50-pound bill.
I repeat - be careful - the Egyptians were very successful in taking money!
The only thing that upset us in Luxor was the lack of sufficient time to visit historical monuments. For example, we were allowed only 35 minutes to visit the Karnak temple complex. Although, by and large, you can’t do it there in half a day - it’s so huge.
After visiting the papyrus museum, we said goodbye to our valiant Hassan and headed to the bus sump to join the convoy heading to Hurghada. On the way back, the taciturn guide Maxim presented us all with a painted plaster necklace and put, so as not to get bored, not the best copy of Gaidai's masterpiece "Ivan Vasilyevich Changes Profession". But we didn’t have to be bored - full of impressions, we slept almost until Hurghada itself.
In addition to Luxor, we took two more excursions. Already at your own expense.
The price offered by ICS did not suit us and we found options one and a half times cheaper in one of the agencies in the city. And they didn't regret it at all.
To begin with, we saddled ATVs. Those who have traveled know. For those who have never tried it, I highly recommend it, you will not regret it. Driving a four-wheeled vehicle is no more difficult than a water scooter. And the child would have coped if he had been allowed to drive. I advise you to bring clothes specifically for such a trip. Windbreaker, jeans and arafatka. After the trip, you can safely hide them away. Covered with dust, they are unlikely to be useful to you until the next wash.
Previously, two people were allowed to ride on the same vehicle. But after a few years ago some drunken Russian idiot left the column, rustled far to the side and, having lost control, crashed to death on stones, security rules were sharply tightened.
Now, without a helmet, they won’t put you on an ATV, and they’re forbidden to ride together in principle. Although, with due diligence and charm, it is always worth trying to negotiate with the guide. Initially, you can subscribe just for skiing, or you can pay more for a full excursion - a trip to a Bedouin village created specifically for tourists. The settlement itself is not of particular interest - you can see plenty of local color in Hurghada. But the sunset in the desert and the subsequent ATV race under the starry sky are truly impressive. Personally, the adrenaline rush was added to me by the headlights of my clunker periodically cut down on the bumps. It is very, you know, invigorating when, apart from the dimensions of the comrade-in-arms walking in front and the stars in the sky, not a damn thing is literally visible. It's fun, it's fun. Yes, and try to get in so that the whole group is Russian.
The escorts know that our brother loves fast driving and do their best to please him. Within reasonable limits, of course.
And another excursion that we tried is El Gouna. The bottom line is that some time ago, an Egyptian oligarch and at the same time a friend of the president, the owner of factories, newspapers, steamships, as well as the manufacturer of the good Egyptian beer mentioned above, visited Venice. And what he saw shocked him so much that he decided to do something similar in his homeland. He poured a pile of sand into the sea, dug it all up with channels, connected the resulting islands with bridges and - voila. A fashionable district was born, in which camels have their own toilets and own property in which even pretentious Philip Kirkorov does not consider shameful. There are also several hotels there, where not everyone can afford to stay, even in three stars.
We also saw a small aquarium with sea fish, among which, by some miracle, two small crocodiles wormed their way.
We were taken to El Gouna by sea. Here, by the way, it is worth mentioning one annoying fact. When going on a sea excursion, be prepared for the fact that your ship can spend several hours in the port. It's all about the notorious safety rules. Without the permission of the police and verification of all necessary documents, not a single ship can go to sea. We're out of luck. Arriving among the first, we sunbathed on the deck for probably three hours before we were given the go-ahead to go out.
After skiing on the Red Sea Venice, we were taken to a coral reef, where we swam a lot with masks, admiring the underwater views. The end of the excursion was fishing, which resulted in four fish and a branch of coral torn from the bottom.
I don’t know the fate of the latter, they are very reverently guarded in Egypt and, God forbid, they will catch you trying to take even a tiny piece out of the country. But the fish was taken by a woman - our guide. Honestly, I don’t know why - maybe for food?
Finishing the conversation about excursions, I can say that of the three described above, El Gouna I liked the least. Few impressions somehow remained from this Egyptian Rublyovka. The only plus of the trip is that you spend the whole day on the sea and the sun. Just stock up on sunscreen and, if possible, beer...
I think no one will be surprised when they find out that in the end we never got to the Hilton Long Beach. All those who were settled in "Arabella" lived there for a week. But miraculously, after a couple of days, the leaders of our “resistance” disappeared - Bald and the System Administrator. At least I didn't see them again. Subsequently, Bald was seen on the territory of the Hilton. Well, okay.
Everyone has their own way of solving problems and tries to get along as best they can. Seven days later, our fellow citizens were transported from Arabella to the Hilton. Everyone went, even those who had to leave in two days. Our wives went there for the rest of the week, and we, having ordered the spouses to behave well and wishing them a good rest in a new place, went to the airport. Towards the problems, worries and cloudy sky of autumn Moscow. And you know, just before departure, when you look back at a quickly flying vacation, all these problems with settlement, windy weather, mercantile locals already seem to be something completely insignificant. And I recall Menshov's phrase from the "Chinese Service": "NO, I HAVE RESTED IN GENERAL, NOT BAD... " And it becomes good.
Moscow-Hurghada-Moscow, November 2006
Actually, this is what happened to us. Four of us went to Hurghada. Me, my wife and another married couple, our friends. It so happened that the male half of the quartet could only go for 7 days. Women's same rushed for two weeks. Accordingly, we bought two vouchers - for the men for a week, for the girls - for two. We went to Hilton long beach 4 * in two double rooms.
That is, the first week we would live, as they say, each couple in a room, and after our departure, the wives would move to one double room for the remaining week.
It didn't work out at the airport. Our Atlant-Soyuz flight was delayed by almost three hours. Well, it's okay, we decided, it happens with charters. After the traditional wandering around the Vnukovo duty-free, buying flight doping in the form of a bottle of cognac, smoking in the toilets and eating airport sandwiches with sausage and scrambled eggs with tomatoes, expensive as a cast-iron bridge, we finally ended up on the longed-for plane. Before the rest, as we then believed, there was a little less than four hours of flight. The flight went well, if I understand something in this from my philistine-aerophobic bell tower. I myself, after taking some five-star valerian, soon fell asleep. But the guys say that at least they didn’t chat, and they fed well and on time.
After a soft landing, applause for the skill of the pilots, taxiing, passport control and baggage claim, we finally set foot on the long-awaited land of the all-Union health resort, known in the Egyptian vernacular as Hurghada.
Having identified the guide by the “ICS group” sign, who kindly pointed to the buses waiting in the distance, we found out that for some reason our ladies and I were seated in different places. The men, they say, should appear on bus number two, and the ladies are waiting for number five, if I'm not mistaken. Moreover, having already left the polite guide and whiled away the time for smoke breaks at the buses, we found out that the guide had taken all copies of our tourist vouchers from one of our companions. Said it was necessary. Although, theoretically, we should have left one copy each. Once again, having smoked, we were perplexed about what had happened and began to wait for the further development of events with hope for the best.
Moreover, after a three-hour sitting in Vnukovo and a four-hour flight, I already really wanted not only to take a shower, but at least lie down in an honestly paid hotel room.
And we had to wait a long time. Either the tourists scattered around the airport were collected, or they waited until everyone passed passport control, or something went wrong with the receiving party. In general, we had another hour and a half to admire the local starry sky and the African month lying on our backs on a warm breeze through the ubiquitous cigarette smoke.
Finally, it happened. Several figures in red jackets loomed on the horizon. The guides were preparing for the final part of the Marlezon ballet - the delivery of tourists to the hotels, reeling from fatigue and rolling up after the flight hangover.
Our seeded under the second number "Mercedes" started before anyone else.
Leaning back in my chair and anticipating the imminent end of the protracted road to vacation, I sleepily listened to the guide's murmuring, which was difficult to distinguish from habit. He cheerfully greeted us all on the land of the fraternal country and reminded us that local time is different from Moscow. Therefore, if we do not want to be late anywhere, then we should move the arrows back an hour. Then came an almost Moscow Art Theater pause, during which some still could not stand it and began to nod off. And then our guide, whose name, if I am not mistaken, was Ahmed, spoke again. He began as a general who, at an emergency meeting of the headquarters, sets subordinates a difficult operational task. “This is the situation, ” he said mournfully, but decisively, “A lot of tourists come to Hurghada at this time of the year. Therefore, it so happened that at the Hilton Long Beach Hotel, where we must now go, all the rooms are occupied. And there are no reservations for anyone.
But our company, the ICS company, will provide all of you with rooms in another hotel. This is the Grand Azur Resort, also four stars and also has an ol inclusive system.
For the first twenty seconds in the bus, apart from the noise of the engine, and the cars constantly beeping outside, nothing was heard. Then someone held out like this with the arrangement: “Cheeeeoooo ? ! » And rushed. I will not undertake to convey all the polyphony that began in the cabin. I only remember that someone's female voice constantly exclaimed “You have no right! ”, someone frankly sent Ahmed and his whole gang-watering can to mom, and most shook the air with a discordant choral “Why is that? and “The hotel has been confirmed! ". As for us, we attended to the issue of further deployment of our weak halves and immediately began to call them to tell them the depressing news.
Prior to our call on the fifth bus, no one had heard of any change in accommodation.
Their escort, it turns out, saved the sensation for dessert. However, because of us, the nasty ones didn’t even reach the sweet point when the categorical question of the girls “Which hotel are we being taken to? He, after hesitating for a couple of seconds, was forced to answer: “To Arabella. ” This, as it later turned out, is, in principle, a good four-star hotel built next door to the Grand Azur mentioned above.
Do you understand the beauty of the situation? Not only did they take us not to the Hilton. In addition, the girls - in one place, and us in another. And we would run to each other, as in the good old days of pioneer camps ...
Such a rosy prospect for us, of course, was unacceptable. Meanwhile, despite numerous protests, our buses were inexorably approaching the Grand Azur and Arabella.
In any extreme situation in which a group of people finds themselves, a leader is needed.
The one that will determine the general line of conduct and inspire confidence that everything will be OK. Such a character was found in the fifth bus, where our ladies were. I don't know the name of this respected man, but then among ourselves we dubbed him Bald. And nothing funny! It is not his fault that nature sometimes deprives people of the hair on their heads. However, it doesn't matter. So, Bald, having heard about the change in course, got up and quietly said: “Everyone will calm down when we arrive, no one gets off the bus. ” And he began to call the consulate. And after all, I got through on the phone, they promised to help, about which Bald hastened to inform everyone else. Subsequently, however, it turned out that he did not really care for the common good, but first things first.
While in the fifth bus passions were just beginning to boil, in number two they had already whipped over the edge for a long time. Upon arrival at the Grand Azur, some of the tourists refused to leave.
The rest, including me, spewing curses, rushed in a group after the guide, who, at the speed of a roe deer running away from a pack of wolves, rushed to the reception. My friend meanwhile went on foot to the Arabella to meet the girls.
The staff of the Grand Azura, who had opened their arms to us, noticeably turned sour when they saw the mood with which we tumbled into the building. Our Akhmed, shaking the lists, lilted at the counter and offered to settle in as soon as possible, to which the tourists in unison demanded that he return the vouchers and go to the Hilton to clarify the situation directly on the spot. The volume of the swearing has passed a critical level, and the number of eloquent gestures in the direction of Akhmed's neck and face did not portend anything but a speedy lynching.
Here is a small remark about the attitude of the Arabs. Never, hear, never try to talk to them from the crowd, shouting over each other, as many of our compatriots like to do.
As for our joint settlement in the "Grand Azura", they answered me with a refusal - there are no places for everyone. Later, by the way, it turned out why the tourists were scattered on different buses. It turns out that the strategists from the ICS Group, faced with a problem at the Hilton, took and stupidly divided the arrivals according to the duration of their stay. We flew for 7 days - us for a week at Grand Azur, as there were rooms available for a week. Our girls flew for two weeks - them to free places in Arabella, because there were already places for two weeks in advance. And he doesn’t care who is with whom, who is flying to whom and why. The main thing is to settle! Here is such a simplified approach. Like in a cartoon, remember? "This kid counted you too. " Nevermind.
In general, I, having calmed down from the fact that I managed to clarify at least something in this mess, called back to Arabella and told my guys the news. Wait, I say, I'll be there soon. And then he went out to smoke on the porch and watch the development of events.
Meanwhile, some of my colleagues in misfortune nevertheless decided to settle in the Grand Azur. But there were few of them. The rest again settled on Ahmed with a demand to return the vouchers and go to the Hilton for a showdown. The exhausted guide, no longer looking like a cheerful representative of a travel agency, but like a victim from the movie "Saw", wearily murmured that his colleague had the vouchers in the neighboring hotel - "Arabella". They decided to go there and pick up everything I needed from my colleague Ahmed, drop me off, and then go to the damned Hilton.
For some reason, the program was completed only on the last two points. That is, they dropped me off at the Arabella and went to the Hilton. And no one reacted to the fact that the vouchers were not brought to them. It is understandable - people still came to rest, and not to defend their rights to the point of hoarseness in their voices. I never saw these guys again. I don't know if they were put up at the Hilton that night or not.
I think that it is unlikely that they still returned to Grand Azur.
So, I was finally reunited with mine. At the reception of "Arabella" they managed to get acquainted with the local manager, Lena. By the way, she was very supportive and reassuring. And that, it turns out, is not the case. Where with a kind word, and where just a joke, she helped people not to become discouraged. So I recommend it to everyone - if suddenly a difficult one brings you to Arabella, there in her person you will always find a true ally. For all that, however, he is also not indifferent to the interests of his employer.
Meanwhile, the night rolled towards dawn. The aforementioned Bald and well-spoken young man with the appearance of a gifted system administrator rallied the tired tourists around him. As a result, endless calls to various authorities led to the threshold of the hotel some bump from the Egyptian tourist police.
I don’t understand the ranks there, but the newcomer had three stars on each shoulder strap and he himself radiated confidence and calmness, characteristic only of high-ranking bosses.
A bump from the police, the general manager of the hotel, Bald and the System Administrator retired to clarify the situation and, as they say in the official chronicle, to find common ground in finding a way out of the current crisis. They sat for about an hour, or maybe more, periodically calling a guide to the carpet, whose face, through a forced smile, read an ardent desire to get out of all this bedlam somewhere quickly.
The negotiations ended with the first rays of the sun. Bald went out to the people and announced a communiqué that at 12 o'clock local time a representative of our tour operator would arrive at the hotel, who would answer the eternal question “what to do?
”, which, as it has now become clear, has become a byword not only in Russia. In the meantime, everyone should temporarily populate the rooms of the hospitable Arabella.
We didn't sleep that night. Leaving our belongings in the rooms and squinting at the sun that was quickly coming out of the sea, we set off to explore the territory. Of course, it was not quite what we expected.
At first, "Arabella" seems like a chaotic heap of Arab houses, in which even a person experienced in topography will get lost, like Masha in a fairy tale about three bears. But after living there for a couple of days, you will significantly increase your chances at orienteering competitions. For those who like strong drinks, I do not advise to go to this hotel. Not a single, even the most proven autopilot will lead you immediately to the number. You will complain about the builders and call people like Farad in The Wizards. The rooms are small, but some will find it cozy.
The hotel is quite old, so almost every corner breathes decay there. Our friends got a room with a sink and a shabby toilet bowl, like a watering can. But they moved the beds! Our sleeping places resembled shelves in a train. They were firmly attached to the walls. Therefore, we had to sleep on the same bed, which was not very convenient, and often one of us woke up with his head on the bedside table due to crowding. For lovers of the dubious pleasure of watching TV on vacation, I recommend commercial breaks on Channel One. They are in Ukrainian. You know very much invigorating in the morning. "Your kid's chisels" and all that.
The hotel has two beaches. Alone in the lagoon, but there the wind blows with such force that the path from the sunbed to the sea and back leads to bad thoughts about Napoleon's army retreating along the frozen Russian road. The second beach is smaller, but not so windy.
It protrudes a little into the sea, right below it there is a large accumulation of corals and fish. So lovers of snorkeling will have something to see. Fortunately, masks, fins and snorkels are provided free of charge, as well as towels with sunbeds. There are also two swimming pools on the territory, in which you can swim only during the daytime. However, only those who like to dive in ice polynyas will be able to swim in them. There is basically no hot water. So it's better - on the sea, which is much warmer.
The food at Arabella is tasty, but monotonous. I personally, as a meat lover, liked all sorts of goodies on the grill. There are practically no fruits. There are some of their representatives in the face of apples, guava, bananas and pieces of melon. Once there was even a persimmon. I also remember pasta with different additives. The parmesan just let us down. Instead of being crumbly, it looked like caked sugar, from which you had to break off pieces with a spoon.
Baking deserves special praise. Here the inhabitants of the Maghreb, as always, are at their best. I highly recommend the local beer. Personally, I liked it, although, as you know, the search for like-minded people in taste and color rarely ends in luck.
Of course, I can be wrong, but it seems to me that the Arab feeding is the same everywhere. Passing by the Arabella delicacies for the first time, I immediately remembered how I was fed in Tunisia. Well, it's very similar, I'll tell you, although in Sousse, I remember, I lived in five stars. But let's not digress.
In the hotel guide found in the room, we read that somewhere in Arabella there is animation. Hmm ...There is something she is, but only she is practically invisible. Every day, vacationers peacefully dozing on the beach were awakened by a heart-rending cry “VALEYBOOOOOOL! ". So one of the three available animators touted those who wanted to leave through the net for some reason too weighty, hitting all the hands of the ball.
At the same time, he whistled with enviable frequency, like a traffic cop, who suddenly got the opportunity to fine everyone who drives faster than 30 kilometers per hour. I also once saw three or four and a half women by the pool, who seemed to be doing aerobics. The face of the animator who directed them expressed such unimaginable boredom that one involuntarily wanted to somehow support the guy, come up, put his hand on his shoulder and say: “Hold on, friend, it will all end soon. ” Animation culminated in the so-called daily evening shows, which, as far as I understood, were repeated every week. Personally, having visited one of them, I did not get pleasure. Such, you know, a mixture of kefir paradise for the elderly and the show of the notorious Yevgeny Vaganovich. But again, I appeal to a matter of taste. Many liked the performance, judging by the cheers and applause.
The hotel staff is emphatically polite, with the exception of a couple of dunces who believe that pouring a beer or giving a guest a mask with flippers is tantamount to obsequious kneeling. Some bartenders really do not like to pour one person into several glasses. To my call "Four beer, please", I received the controversial exclamation "Wow! For who? How many persons? ". I consider myself a polite person, but such reporting requirements annoy me. What's your business, yo-mayo? I'm not just for myself. We are here on Thursday. And in general - I have everything included. At least I’ll drink a barrel here, damn it ...He made such a face as if he personally brewed this beer for his friends, and I, a foreign bastard, bearing the burden of whites in this beautiful African country, came and took away the last.
But, despite all the shortcomings listed, Arabella is a fairly good hotel. Quite cozy, green and clean. Neither I nor my friends consider themselves hypocrites.
If we were going there on purpose, then, I have no doubt, all these leaking shells, pseudo-animators and greedy bartenders would not spoil our mood. But since we tuned in to a completely different place, to the Hilton, then we had the appropriate impressions.
It was noon on the first day of our stay in the country of the pharaohs. Discordant ranks of "deceived equity holders" stretched to the reception. As usual, the ICS representative was a quarter of an hour late. The meeting of the “residents of our ZhEK” took place in a local disco, as we eventually dubbed it - in the assembly hall. Everything was outrageously reminiscent of the famous story of the Fauna garage cooperative, with the only difference being that four people were evicted in the Ryazan cinema, and here all the contributors to the Egyptian budget tourism article suffered. The guide told us for a long time about the reasons for what happened.
Finally, the third option seems to me the most plausible. The guys from ICS claimed that, using the annual statistics on visitors, the specialists from the Hilton thought that so many tourists would refuse tours from them. And they confirmed the numbers to other sufferers, that is, to us. And those "assholes" who seemed to have to refuse, took it and came. Maybe it was, but I'm sure that it would be wrong to blame the Hilton administration for everything.
Of course, a considerable share of responsibility lies with the ICS Group. In my opinion, the guys in red clothes got such a small speck on their reputation that was about the size of an ozone hole over Antarctica.
However, we were neither hot nor cold from numerous exhortations and promises of reprisals against the guilty. We did not want blood, we wanted to get the rest for which we gave our hard-earned money.
When the question arose of moving us to the Hilton, the guide said that they might be able to do it in two days. Moreover, only those guests who bought weekly tours can be transported there. All others will move only at the end of the week. The prospect of going to the Hilton without wives, of course, did not please us. If we move, we decided, then together. Although, still, few believed that some of us would be relocated in the near future.
As compensation for non-pecuniary damage, ICS offered to choose any excursion from its standard package. If people agreed to this option, then they were required to write a statement with a summary of what happened and the rejection of all claims against ICS Group and their partners Abanup Travel. What do you think most people did?
Of course, it was possible, spattering with saliva and shaking Hilton vouchers, to defend their rights, write complaints, call the consul and threaten the court. But vacation is not given to us so often to spend it on such a showdown. Therefore, everyone I saw at the meeting agreed with the folk wisdom “even a tuft of wool from a black sheep” and accepted the proposed option. Including us.
We chose, of course, Luxor. First, and so they were going there. And we went to Hurghada because from there it is not so far to the Karnak temple as from Sharm el-Sheikh. Yes, and the obvious savings of 260 American presidents, even at the expense of moral compensation, at least a little, but warmed the soul.
The main tedium of an excursion to Luxor is a trip there and back. Or rather, even there. On the way back, full of impressions, we slept like gophers. Buses of various travel agencies go to Luxor and back in a long guarded column.
The first impression is absolute confusion and vacillation. One gets the impression that Egyptian drivers are world champions in the frequency of beeps and blinking headlights. Plugs are not rare. Moreover, it often happens that on the road there are just relatives or friends who, stopping just to chat, block the entire street. In this case, the rest of the drivers patiently wait for them to speak out, but periodically remind themselves of themselves, briefly beeping and blinking. My friend, who has been driving for more than 10 years, hysterically threw the steering wheel of a rented car after just 15 minutes of driving through the city streets. Those who wish can see for themselves, but do not say that I did not warn you. But the roads in Egypt are very good. Both in the city and on the highway - everywhere there is a good even surface, which is no worse than the domestic one, and sometimes it seems that it is even better.
But I digress. On the way to Luxor we stopped twice.
”, then know that you are lucky with the guide and the impressions of an interesting excursion are guaranteed.
I will not describe the sights of Luxor. Firstly, it is better to see once than to read, and secondly, this will require a lot of time and paper. Do not flatter yourself - you will not have time to see absolutely everything in one day. Let me just say that you will see the stunning Karnak temple complex, in comparison with which the scenery for the Hollywood "Mummy" looks pathetic and dull. Then you will be taken by boat to the west bank of the Nile. By the way, I recommend ladies to be more careful when boarding and disembarking - locals, under the guise of help, strive to stealthily touch female charms. So be vigilant and do not bring to an international scandal. On the west coast you will find a whole range of attractions.
Among others, you will see the giant colossi of Mnemnon, visit the Valley of the Kings and visit the tombs of the pharaohs. Keep in mind that you will not be allowed to use a video camera in the Valley of the Kings! Only with a camera. And in the tombs, any filming equipment is generally prohibited. The crown of the trip will be a visit to the temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Don't forget to look up when you enter the temple. The overhanging rock has a mesmerizing effect.
In addition to historical sites, you will also find yourself in a workshop where, it seems, apartment dust collectors, that is, various interior items, are made manually from mountain stone. This is where they are sold. As for the price, I can say with confidence - quite high. But as for hand-made - I will not be so sure. Too diligently those guys with towels on their heads polished marble and too soon they left as soon as our bus moved on.
In short - a pseudo-exotic for gullible tourists, generating income for travel companies.
Another place to shake your wallets is the Papyrus Museum. There you will be shown the technique of making this famous carrier of the writing of Ancient Egypt and will be offered to purchase the painting you like. By the way, there are very beautiful works. For some, the money is not a pity. Keep in mind - the museum sells really real papyrus, and not a fake banana skin, like in street markets. So you can be sure about the authenticity and buy the thing you like.
In general, in this African country, all conditions have been created so that long-term diarrhea begins in tourist wallets. The word "baksheesh" is used there no less than "hello". Moreover, resourceful Egyptians often make money in kind out of nothing. In the temple of Karnak I was approached by such a handsome grandfather.
For no reason at all, he took my hand, led me to an unsightly fragment of some statue, put my hand to the stone, and then to my chest. At the same time, he burred twice uttered "fortune. " Then he did the same with my wife's hand and gestured for us to kiss. Hmm ...After the pantomime, grandfather hung in our wake for about ten minutes. He held out his hand to us and blew "bakshiiiiish". I suspect that without giving him half a pound, we would have seen his plaintive face behind our backs for a long time. In addition, you will come across figurine sellers offering their wares for as little as a few pounds. Do not hurry! They mean English pounds, not Egyptian pounds, so be on the lookout. It is better not to pay attention to such peppers at all, otherwise they will not get rid of it. Finally, once we were almost deceived in an ordinary local minibus, when they tried to slip 50 piastres, that is, half a pound, instead of a 50-pound bill.
I repeat - be careful - the Egyptians were very successful in taking money!
The only thing that upset us in Luxor was the lack of sufficient time to visit historical monuments. For example, we were allowed only 35 minutes to visit the Karnak temple complex. Although, by and large, you can’t do it there in half a day - it’s so huge.
After visiting the papyrus museum, we said goodbye to our valiant Hassan and headed to the bus sump to join the convoy heading to Hurghada. On the way back, the taciturn guide Maxim presented us all with a painted plaster necklace and put, so as not to get bored, not the best copy of Gaidai's masterpiece "Ivan Vasilyevich Changes Profession". But we didn’t have to be bored - full of impressions, we slept almost until Hurghada itself.
In addition to Luxor, we took two more excursions. Already at your own expense.
The price offered by ICS did not suit us and we found options one and a half times cheaper in one of the agencies in the city. And they didn't regret it at all.
To begin with, we saddled ATVs. Those who have traveled know. For those who have never tried it, I highly recommend it, you will not regret it. Driving a four-wheeled vehicle is no more difficult than a water scooter. And the child would have coped if he had been allowed to drive. I advise you to bring clothes specifically for such a trip. Windbreaker, jeans and arafatka. After the trip, you can safely hide them away. Covered with dust, they are unlikely to be useful to you until the next wash.
Previously, two people were allowed to ride on the same vehicle. But after a few years ago some drunken Russian idiot left the column, rustled far to the side and, having lost control, crashed to death on stones, security rules were sharply tightened.
Now, without a helmet, they won’t put you on an ATV, and they’re forbidden to ride together in principle. Although, with due diligence and charm, it is always worth trying to negotiate with the guide. Initially, you can subscribe just for skiing, or you can pay more for a full excursion - a trip to a Bedouin village created specifically for tourists. The settlement itself is not of particular interest - you can see plenty of local color in Hurghada. But the sunset in the desert and the subsequent ATV race under the starry sky are truly impressive. Personally, the adrenaline rush was added to me by the headlights of my clunker periodically cut down on the bumps. It is very, you know, invigorating when, apart from the dimensions of the comrade-in-arms walking in front and the stars in the sky, not a damn thing is literally visible. It's fun, it's fun. Yes, and try to get in so that the whole group is Russian.
The escorts know that our brother loves fast driving and do their best to please him. Within reasonable limits, of course.
And another excursion that we tried is El Gouna. The bottom line is that some time ago, an Egyptian oligarch and at the same time a friend of the president, the owner of factories, newspapers, steamships, as well as the manufacturer of the good Egyptian beer mentioned above, visited Venice. And what he saw shocked him so much that he decided to do something similar in his homeland. He poured a pile of sand into the sea, dug it all up with channels, connected the resulting islands with bridges and - voila. A fashionable district was born, in which camels have their own toilets and own property in which even pretentious Philip Kirkorov does not consider shameful. There are also several hotels there, where not everyone can afford to stay, even in three stars.
We also saw a small aquarium with sea fish, among which, by some miracle, two small crocodiles wormed their way.
We were taken to El Gouna by sea. Here, by the way, it is worth mentioning one annoying fact. When going on a sea excursion, be prepared for the fact that your ship can spend several hours in the port. It's all about the notorious safety rules. Without the permission of the police and verification of all necessary documents, not a single ship can go to sea. We're out of luck. Arriving among the first, we sunbathed on the deck for probably three hours before we were given the go-ahead to go out.
After skiing on the Red Sea Venice, we were taken to a coral reef, where we swam a lot with masks, admiring the underwater views. The end of the excursion was fishing, which resulted in four fish and a branch of coral torn from the bottom.
I don’t know the fate of the latter, they are very reverently guarded in Egypt and, God forbid, they will catch you trying to take even a tiny piece out of the country. But the fish was taken by a woman - our guide. Honestly, I don’t know why - maybe for food?
Finishing the conversation about excursions, I can say that of the three described above, El Gouna I liked the least. Few impressions somehow remained from this Egyptian Rublyovka. The only plus of the trip is that you spend the whole day on the sea and the sun. Just stock up on sunscreen and, if possible, beer...
I think no one will be surprised when they find out that in the end we never got to the Hilton Long Beach. All those who were settled in "Arabella" lived there for a week. But miraculously, after a couple of days, the leaders of our “resistance” disappeared - Bald and the System Administrator. At least I didn't see them again. Subsequently, Bald was seen on the territory of the Hilton. Well, okay.
Everyone has their own way of solving problems and tries to get along as best they can. Seven days later, our fellow citizens were transported from Arabella to the Hilton. Everyone went, even those who had to leave in two days. Our wives went there for the rest of the week, and we, having ordered the spouses to behave well and wishing them a good rest in a new place, went to the airport. Towards the problems, worries and cloudy sky of autumn Moscow. And you know, just before departure, when you look back at a quickly flying vacation, all these problems with settlement, windy weather, mercantile locals already seem to be something completely insignificant. And I recall Menshov's phrase from the "Chinese Service": "NO, I HAVE RESTED IN GENERAL, NOT BAD... " And it becomes good.
Moscow-Hurghada-Moscow, November 2006
Translated automatically from Russian. View original
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