Around Africa: Part Fifteen

From the Sun, Sand to the Red Sea

19.12.2023: Tour Day 8, City 10

Good Morning from Hurghada! I woke up early morning to witness the sunrise over the sea. I had breakfast at 7:30am and then all assembled near the pool for further instructions from Mahendra.

We got the towels in exchange of the towel card at 8:30am and we drove to the venue from where we would be boarding the yort. We had carried a pair of extra clothes since we would be snorkeling in the sea. We walked a stretch of the hotel for 15 minutes to board our yort named Cleopatra. 

We left the shore at 9:30am. Everyone had to sign a form. We removed the shoes and kept those in the shoe boxes. Then assembled on the upper deck to listen the instructions from the deck owners. 

Everyone started clicking photos of the blue shades of the Red sea. We watched a few dolphins as well, too hard to capture in camera. We wore the Egyptian costumes at 11am. 

It's me with Spoorthi Anand. She had joined the tour alongwith her parents, Anand and Latha. The yort was stationed at a point. A few of us changed clothes and got ready for the snorkel, put on the eye gear and the tube; while others watched us from the upper deck at noon. 

It was a disaster drowning experience for me. Post I was brought to the deck by the team, I quickly changed clothes and watched others enjoying in the water. Folks were back to the yort by 1pm and we had lunch. There was a kitchen on the yort. 

We were back to shore by 2pm and reached the hotel by 2:30pm. Post that I had a shower while Aboli, Nanda, Sameer, Saurabh and Barnali went ahead for the water rides. I got ready at 4pm to take a walkthrough of the hotel. Its a nice property with spacious rooms, large swimming pool, water rides, a series of souvenir shops, spa, playing area, open sea beach ambience. 

Red sea and water park view

We had the wristband which allowed us unlimited juice and snacks till 5pm. 

I walked the beach area till 5:30pm alongwith Jayashree and Uma. Then we went shopping on the nearby street. Finally I purchased the papyrus paper rolls and chocolates, after much bargaining ofcourse. We came back to the hotel in an hour and had dinner, or should I say desserts and pizza slice. We did the final packing of luggage and dozed off since we had an early morning checkout.

20.12.2023: Back to Cairo and then Mumbai

We woke up at 4:30am and kept the luggage outside the room and gathered in the reception area. We got breakfast packet from Mahendra, now I don't need to describe the food. Luggage was loaded in the bus and we drove off to Cairo at 5:30am. There were a few thanksgiving speeches. We stopped at a point for washroom break. As we entered Cairo city, it felt like Day One and that our Egypt journey had just commenced. We halted at Red Elephant for lunch at 1pm and then drove off to the airport at 1:45pm.

Luggage was loaded off at the departure and we said goodbye to Mohammed, coach captain and the security. We checked in the luggage and got our boarding pass by 2:30pm. Post that we headed for the immigration, got the passport stamped and cleared the security check and waited at gate no 4 by 4pm. I had a little chat with Rama and Sudakshina in the waiting area. We boarded the flight at 4:30pm. The Egyptair MS 968 seats were divided as AC | DEFG | HK. My seat was 39K, window seat! The flight took off at 5pm and we bid adieu to the land of pharaoh! Meal was served at 10pm. 

This flight did not have individual screens, but common screen which was displaying the Egyptair cabin crew flight video on repeat. I dozed off for half the journey. We landed at the CSMIA at 2am IST on 21st Dec, walked to the immigration counter, got the passport stamped, got the luggage from the belt, waved goodbye at 2:45am. I was waiting with Aboli at the arrivals since it was night. I left the airport by 6am, took an auto and reached the Andheri station, boarded the 6:45 Virar Fast and dozed off. I reached home at 8am. Finally the land of the sun and the sand was explored alongwith the sea and the 13th country ticked on my bucket list.