May 21 Hurghada


(Tender down for maintenance.We were In port overnight)
An easier day with a short bus trip down (heading north) along the Red Sea, to a town known as a beach resort. Originally, just a small fishing village, but 60 years ago, a resort  began to be built. Originally, I was hoping to go to  the Older quarter. But a sure sign of aging, I was a little fearful of going by myself, Michael saying that he needed to REST, and I unwilling to find someone to tag along with, and unsure of what to expect re crowds and safety. Excursions offered included a "Bedouin Experience"that included a jeep ride to go to the  destination, which I decided against because I 'd had enough  dirt in my eyes. Another excursion was a submarine ride down to the coral reefs which I decided could be fun. But then Michael decided that he felt better and wanted to go somewhere, but not the submarine ride, because he is claustrophobic. So, we went into town to just amble around. We could have just stayed at Safaga, and gone to their beach, but we're just not beach people (although, sometimes I wish we were).
Not too many people out and about during the day. Probably because of the heat. We would see more life on our return to the ship.
Hurghada has their old quarter but most of the city is new, with a large modern shopping center on the periphery and also a fair amount of uncompleted construction. Recession and covid left their marks here, as well as everywhere else on the world.
At one point, I asked about some tents that I thought I saw in the distance. Turns out that these "tents" are part of a new airport terminal.
(picture taken from the internet)
Many (wealthier)Egyptians escape here and have secondary homes here alongside foreign nationals.
Short blog for this day, but please check out the following two links.
First link, is the passenger (with teachers) belly dance show.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/AhpydJpZiN6UUAak6
The second link highlights two of the ship's crew doing a performance on another night. Belly dance performed by one of the ship's security officers.
The other, is a song sung by one of our waiters. He has the sweetest voice although, in this case, he was just getting over a throat infection, so not at his peak. But he still wanted to perform this song to honor his father, who had passed away from covid, and he had been unable to get back home to him in time.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/vpaRup3h6M5kNDx68



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