The bus trip from Aswan to Hurghada takes 6 hours, and on the way Tischa has to take a leak on a fly friendly low sitting toilet. She is brave and uses it. She is cool. Hurgada is what I thought it would be. Benidorm in Egypt. The hotel is clean, but the people seem to have less humor. While I kiss a small bald Egyptian head-waiter on his head (He is really small) the other waiters laugh. But the remarks about my nose miss target. Well... We go to sleep.

Tischa on the boat

Tischa on the boat

©ShanTVision, Photo's by ShanT Frigge

Tischa on the boat

Tischa on the boat

©ShanTVision, Photo's by ShanT Frigge

Tischa on the boat with our dive master

  ©ShanTVision, Photo's by ShanT Frigge

  We slept well, although Tischa is coughing again. I doubt if I will extend this vacation. We get out at 7.30 to get the taxi to the boat. It's diving time. I tell I have Padi 1 and 2, and they ask me if I want to go for a ship wreck. Sure! I tell them I need to go through the whole thing again, since I haven't been practicing for 4 years.

Tischa on the boat

Tischa on the boat

©ShanTVision, Photo's by ShanT Frigge

   We go through the briefing, and get our gear. I am assigned to a Russian guy who is into disco's and casino's. Ok. Tischa is happy on the boat and gets a place in the sun at the sun deck. The water is blue but there is a strong wind. We get down on a rope towards the wreck. The water is 22 degrees, and could be more comfortable. I am wearing the short wet-suit and am thinking about this new situation. Should I get another one?

ShanT under water. Hi!

©ShanTVision, Photo's by ShanT Frigge

The wreck

A OK

©ShanTVision, Photo's by ShanT Frigge

    The wreck is an old fishing boat. Rusted without any interesting features. It's practicing time. 20 meter below surface is enough for today. There are some fishes but no sharks or any dolphins. It's nice down here but that's it. I am used to Thailand, and this isn't as colorful as I have experienced or expected according to the stories. Another scam?

Tischa on the boat

©ShanTVision, Photo's by ShanT Frigge

      We get up and the boat moves to another location. We have food and some sleep in the sun. Dolphins are seen and Tischa and me move to the front deck. They are so close and on the surface, I dive in directly. They dive too and I swim a couple of minutes above them. How wonderful. They disappear as more people try to catch up with them. Wow! Then the next dive.

Everything is well

©ShanTVision, Photo's by ShanT Frigge

Dolphins!

Almost touching me

©ShanTVision, Photo's by ShanT Frigge

Hi guys!

Very A-OK

    We are at an under water atoll. It's like underwater walls full of coral. A lot a bit brown, and not really exiting, until a group dolphins appear. There are about 15 of them. They swim very relaxed and disappear into the deep blue. This is great! We move on and suddenly the dive master is signaling again. They are back! Denis, a Russian is making photo's. It's amazing. Again they disappear. We move on but then a third time they are back. This time I am in the middle of them. One almost touches me. I am cold but happy. This is what I wanted!

Tischa on the boat with our diving master

©ShanTVision, Photo's by ShanT Frigge

Tischa on the boat

  I get back on board. Tischa is jumping around, happy and cheerful. She tries to go in with the dive master, who offers her a free lesson diving, but she is scared. First learn how to swim! The boat moves back to Hurgada. It was a fine trip.

Diving Master

The boat

Some other guys on the diving trip.

Back in the mini van

©ShanTVision, Photo's by ShanT Frigge

     I make an appointment with the Russian to exchange photo's and we head for a restaurant. The owner is a nice man married to a woman looking like Cleopatra. She is very very expressive, like I haven't seen any Egyptian women. And he is a bit round and happy. We talk a lot about politics and is amazed to hear about the involvement of Bin Laden family in USA economy and the 9/11 story. It's good Arab world and Europe freethinkers are communicating! We leave for the Princess hotel where Dennis is waiting. An Egyptian girl gets us in the mini-bus for free, and on the next one. She doesn't speak English, but I understand she works at the Hotel next door as a masseur. The trip takes 45 minutes. We are late and get a note from reception to call him. Yes, 3 seconds to glisten to an answering machine and I have to pay 33 pound! It's a 5 star hotel, and it's clear which direction the money river is running. Since we are there anyway, we decide to walk around the garden of the hotel. Tischa is totally exited about the scenery. She loves it. I wonder weather she wasn't born in the wrong family. She is actually jumping up and down through the garden screaming how wonderful it all is. As I try to tell her at what cost these few people can enjoy this luxury, I see the futility of trying to get this message across.. Lets enjoy. We get home late, and with nothing on the program, since the boat to Sharm el Sheik is not running, we decide to wake up late...

Our Hotel

©ShanTVision, Photo's by ShanT Frigge