Dahab

This morning consisted of packing, breakfast, an hour for swimming (the girls with their British friends); then checking out and heading to the Luxor airport for our short flight to Sharm El Sheikh. The Luxor airport is a sight to behold. It’s a brand spanking-new, sparking clean terminal. Now if you could just abolish the smoking…

By 2pm we had landed in Sharm. It was quite a dramatic view from the plane coming over the Sinai Peninsula. Rugged red mountains juxtaposed against crystal blue waters. The airport in Sharm, was equally if not more impressive than the airport in Luxor. After a brief panic upon exiting the terminal (when I couldn’t find the driver), we were met by our representative and driver and took off for the hour’s drive to Dahab. The entire area around the airport was full of soldiers and security checkpoints. Apparently, they were expecting the President’s arrival shortly.

Le Meridien Dahab is a beautiful and striking property. It was designed by French architect Alain Jaouen who drew his inspiration from the Persian poet Omar Khayyam. Phrases from Khayyam’s poems are carved out in the ceilings and when the sun shines through, they appear written on the ground. Likewise, the layout of the lobby and public areas is eclectic and well-appointed. The rooms are laid out in rows of individual casitas along a hill facing the Red Sea. Behind the property (which is irrigated so there are flowers, various types of grass and aloe plants) the desert is imposing with its ragged, red mountains.

We arrived in time for the girls to take a swim in the warm pool, and then we used the spa for sauna and steam while Avery and Josh napped. By the time we headed out for dinner in the town of Dahab, it was late. We went to a seafood place where you choose your fish (like at a market downstairs) and then they grill it for you. While you wait, soup and oriental salads are served. Olivia and I chose the fish: one grouper, one white snapper, a squid and some prawns. It turned out to be way too much food. Avery was already lying down again, he was so tired.

After dinner, we walked down the sea front boardwalk. Dahab is a cute tourist town lined with restaurants and shops, but without as much hawking as in the other Egyptian cities we’d visited – but still some. There is definitely still a hippie type vibe here. No one is dressed up.

The main activity in these parts is SCUBA and snorkeling, and there are many dive shops catered to it. Before we returned to the hotel, we rented snorkeling equipment for everyone – even Avery. It had been a very full day; it was almost midnight by the time we got back and put the kids to bed.