Monday, February 22, 2010

Sharks Bay, Sharm El Sheikh, Sinai


By Claire
We've stepped up in the world, literally, but only for one day and night. Our room is wonderful with a nice, private balcony overlooking the beach and water, and it's so quiet! However, it's so high up on the hill I felt like I was once again climbing the Steps of Repentance. We are staying in a Bedouin style room built into the hillside. We are still on the Red Sea, just further south from Dahab. We leave for Istanbul very early tomorrow and the airport is here.



We enjoyed swimming with the fishes along with a Muslim woman in jeans plus two layers on top including a long sleeve shirt, and a scarf. She was with her male escort (boyfriend? husband?) at all times. We were excited about this beach because it is sandy, unlike Dahab, which is quite rocky. However, it was all a sham. As soon as we went in, barefoot, we found the rocks hiding a little further in. No matter, we swam out and came to the most incredible iridescent turquoise I've ever seen in my life.



I guess it's true, you get what you pay for. We're staying at Shark's Bay Village for €43, €18 more than Penguin Village. However, we found huge bath towels, XXL beach towels and a shower that doesn't flood the bathroom!

I highly recommend this spot. We're relaxing with our Kindles--my latest is The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak. I like it. It came up in conversation while we were sitting on top of Mt. Sinai and I remembered I had it on my Kindle. We also found out that Greg Mortenson, who wrote Three Cups of Tea, has a new one out: Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan. I'm anxious to start it.

Not all those who wander are lost. ~ J. R. R. Tolkien

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Hi there C&C!

I just turned on my computer and there your post was, waiting. It is a regular "after-dinner" thing for me and I look forward to it like a dessert. And speaking of desserts, that photo of Chuck with the world's thickest/tallest shake was priceless! I'd like one to put on my refrigerator. Your photos of the Sinai were amazing. I finished The Book Thief a few weeks ago and really liked it. It's not one I would normally pick out while perusing the bookstore shelves, but I was with a friend and asked her what the best book she had recently read was. That was it so I bought it (at Pt Reyes Books!). It is written from such an interesting perspective and with a style that is rare. It gets better and better. It had been a while since I'd read a book that made me cry and that one did. So simply written but packed with emotion and depth.

Til the next post...
Love, Holly