Return to Egypt
I haven't been to Egypt for 4 years, and finally my dream came true - to take my mother for a walk there, who spent her last vacation abroad before she became a mother.
For many years we traveled at least once a year to Alupka or Yalta. Last year we went to Odessa for a change and comparison. Did not like . This year, prices in Crimea were completely disappointing, as was the opportunity to get there. The Sea of Azov was generally depressing with its offers and lack of nature, as well as strange pricing. So it was decided not to go anywhere. And then an opportunity arose.
We traveled with a small 4 years old, so the requirements for the hotel were specific - not far from the sea, so that there was a normal entry, a mini-club, children's slides in the water park. The budget is limited, but I wanted to relax, whatever - wow! I did not want to entrust such an important matter to travel agents. therefore, she monitored herself - vacations here and for the main operators - tours. Prior to that, I rested in Sharm In Rehan 4 * and Sea Life 4 *. And no matter how much I wanted to go there again to send my mother to Jerusalem, but the hotels that fit into the budget were, well, very sad - either the third line, or poor food, or something else. From Kharkov, a completely inconvenient time of departure - arrival and expensive prices. 2 days of rest were lost - I began to look not at 7, but at 9 nights. It turned out that either 7 or 14, but for 14 the prices are exorbitant. Kyiv beckoned, but it was necessary to adjust the road to Boryspil and back, given that we ourselves would have to pull the suitcases and the child. And they can theoretically reschedule the flight. But let's take a risk. And why are there already 9 nights, when 11 is better! Well, or 12)) The priority was King Tut, based on reviews. I also watched AMC Royal, Panorama Bungalos, Tia hights Makadi and Aqua Park Beach (Charm), but King Tut still won. Koral had the most pleasant prices, but a month and a half before departure, Teza's prices collapsed (the second time I fly so successfully from them). 4 years ago we went for the same money together to Rehana for a week. And now - the three of us and for 2 weeks, however, that was from Kharkov. But we lost 2 days of rest with departures. We talked with a travel agent, they gave a discount. And then she offers instead of 12 - 14 with an adequate surcharge. Hooray, let's go! Now, by the way, Teza's prices generally make you bite your elbows and think - why take more denyuzhek. Prices just whisper!
The transfer to Boryspil was wonderful. bus from the station found immediately. there were 5 people. Registration, passport control, flew out on time, the flight went smoothly. No one imposed visa services, they arrived quickly.
I wrote a separate review about the hotel, so I won't delve into it here.
While we were driving, desolation immediately caught my eye - abandoned construction sites, a lot. And there were few people on the streets - it became so sad... We left the hotel for a walk - it was far to go to Senzo Mall, so we went to Abu-Ashara. I thought it was a chain with fixed prices, which meant a big supermarket. It wasn't there. But still there is some choice and there is no need to bargain. Prices are the same as at home. somewhere cheaper. Nearby, in El-Ezabi, they stocked up on medicines - they are 2-3 times cheaper than in Ukraine. We did not get out into the city, near the hotel all the nonsense cost a van dollar - the most penny magnets. So - here's a cough syrup for you - both from Egypt, and with benefit for the cause in the winter!
Colorful streets, colorful garbage around and flies. Men sit in cafes by the road, smoke hookahs and watch what is happening around. Well, just like our grannies at the entrances! Taxis drive in crowds, everyone beeps and lures, like minibuses - they stop and wait - don't we want to, oh, take a ride? Very cute . We often leave from under our noses when you run to her, and there, oh, how. We stopped a taxi - the price is the same as when traveling from ABC, but it is desirable to know how much it costs. What is the price ? - How much will you pay ? We wanted to go to the fruit market, but no one could really explain to us where it was, but they didn’t find it on the map either. I know that somewhere nearby, that there is still a fish market. Well, okay .
I was pleasantly surprised that at the meeting the guide did not bother with excursions - we had a nice conversation. He unobtrusively tried to offer us at least something, but we said that 2 weeks is too short to get out somewhere. And let's go for free shopping. As expected, these were shops with exorbitant prices and an unnecessary assortment (oils and clothes), but I wanted to get some air. I also planned excursions before leaving, so it turned out cheaper than the cheap ones. When I had already roughly decided and started to negotiate with someone, a local citizen found me at Top Hotels and outbid me. We went with him at our own peril and risk, because. he didn’t have a website or a VK page, so it was impossible to read reviews or leave your own later. Well, nothing. True, I didn’t receive the promised SIM card, as well as a personal meeting, but the price still blocked everything.
Safari from 13 to 19.15 dollars per person, the child is free (everywhere payment starts from 2-4 years old, but if you agree, you can do it for free). They came for us to the minute, surprised. They took 2 more pairs in a jeep, brought them to the ATV parking lot and drove off. For us it was the first time. I didn't expect at all! I thought these tarantais were slowly traveling in a column. And they drive at breakneck speed for me! . And almost 2 hours in the desert! I'm with a small one, she just came to her senses - for 4 days, the traditional high temperature on vacation. I'm stressed that her ears will puff up again or we'll roll over on the road. But then she calmed down. Mom drove with pleasure. An hour later we arrived at the Bedouin camp. There we were taken for 15 minutes on camels and given a tiny cup of tea. The camel-breeders were poorly dressed, their shoes were leaky, and they were given local money each. Moreover, they are very good-natured, they didn’t hint at baksheesh, but on the contrary, they took pictures of us all skating. Then we climbed to look at the mounds, very beautiful, I love the desert. I hoped that they would take us from there by car , but that was not the case ! On your own again. On the move, she was already putting on a hat to the child with one hand and catching up with the others. It's good that in addition to the leader, we also had the trailers - local teenagers, dissecting along the column. We drove 35 - 40 km per hour back. Again I was glad that the units were stable and would not overturn, as right in front of me the ATV turned over and covered the lady sitting on it. I thought there would be a wrinkle. But no, she got up, brushed herself off and went again. And what are the other options? There was no car nearby. I would have moved too - the small one shook, my stomach ached and the wind rose strong. But nothing , somehow reached the base . There we were transferred to a jeep and went to have lunch, or rather dinner. The food is ordinary - a plate of vegetables, kebab and cola. There were belly dances on the stage, and then a fakir show. But we have this in our hotel. And tomorrow we are going to Luxor, at 4 am we should already be downstairs. So sleep, sleep.
Luxor . From 4 to 22.30 dollars per person, the child is free.
I wanted to go to Luxor 6 years ago, during my first trip to Egypt, but from Sharm it is problematic. On the eve of the safari, dust was blown into my eyes, although my face was completely covered, and my glasses covered my eyes. All night my eyes were watering, they were red and I was afraid that conjunctivitis would not start, this was still not enough. I wear lenses, so it was not clear how I would go for a whole day with such a problem. We were picked up again on time, our hotel was one of the first and the bus was empty. The bus is big, it says Planet tour. All the way with us, the Teza bus drove in parallel. so the program is the same. The contingent was very different - Russian-speaking, an Arab family, a lot of Chinese and either Danes, or someone else. There were 3 guides, each spoke to his group in their language. At night in the desert, around the mountains - lovely! There were almost no cars, neither oncoming nor parallel. Dawn is beautiful too. At the first stop after leaving Hurghada there was a cafe and shops. In the same place, local children who take pictures for baksheesh, well, tourists just gave them their lunch boxes. Too bad we didn't take it. The Russian-speaking guide Mohammed told everything very interestingly, with humor. Like - Come on our funny karaoke, beautiful children for free, ugly 20 rubles)) However, over time, the line between reality and fiction began to blur, like - If an accident happens, then the police are not called, because they will take money from everyone. Or - if someone is crushed, then no one will be punished, because there are too many people living here anyway. Interesting about the economy and local features. Standard tour, like everyone else offers - Colossi, Karnak, Hatshepsut, Valley of the Pharaohs. Lunch is quite decent, like in a hotel, a buffet with desserts, no drinks. We saw a monitor lizard on the banks of the Nile. There are a dozen or two carriages with horses on Luxor Square, which brought back wonderful memories of the adventures of Koli Oro Yegor in Tunisia in search of some water)) The streets are full of carts with donkeys and, again, local flavor. In shops with purchases, they didn’t bother, the guide said so - there is a free toilet and hibiscus. Several people are sitting in front of the souvenir shop and most likely pretend that they do everything themselves, by hand. We sang a song, the seller presented the products. this family around in unison said "Wow! " and "Wow! " Yes, there was also a dry closet on the bus.
Mohammed warned from the very beginning not to buy anything from the locals, because they are deceivers. Well, I think it’s clear, if you’re lucky, then paid for in your stores. It was like this in Israel, the guide was generally arrogant - everything was running, they couldn’t even buy anything on the go. But it was not there . It turned out that he did not deceive. Merchants - like gypsies, everything is like he said - Buy a dollar for a van, no, not a dollar, but pounds. No , not one , but something there . In short, they chatter, and you can get caught in the turmoil. Or buy 2 for $5. Not ? Then 3 for 10! buy for 8! That's how they saved)) In a place, I don't remember the name - where they found the treasures of the pharaohs, 2 rooms. You can't take pictures. And there, in local clothes, he opened a fence in front of us, lured him in, told something, chirped. shows a hole in the floor - there is like a mummy, shine a flashlight! Of course, we didn’t see anything, and of course there was nothing there. Thank you for your attention. And he runs and pulls his hand for baksheesh - give, give. In brazen! I'm ticking, mom is following me))
Then Muhammad invited everyone for $10 to Banana Island. It was unnecessarily for us, they refused. He then came up and called us for $12 for three. Well, for such a price, why not. On a boat on the Nile, the farm is of course interesting and unusual for us - a forest of banana palms, beautiful. We walked there for half an hour, then a fruit table - bananas, pomegranates, grapes and one mango per person, very tasty. We drove back tired, but happy. And a day later - El Gouna.
El Gouna . from 8:30 a. m. to 4:00 p. m. Mustafa left the discount for the number of excursions in the end, so this one cost us $ 13, the small one is again free. This time the transfer was delayed by 20 minutes, our hotel was the last on the list, we went by minibus. This time I didn't like that we were the only Russian speakers among all of us. The instruction was in English and some other. Of course, I can explain myself, but you never know what can happen - you won’t find out from your neighbors, you won’t exchange impressions. What if something happens? In short, at the very least they explained everything to me, they found someone. who knew a little Russian. I knew about the program in general terms. It turned out that it was not necessary to drag fins and a mask - they give it free of charge, as well as a life jacket. Vests were also for children. First we sailed on a yacht, when we saw dolphins - everyone was jumping on the go, I didn’t dare, you never know... Then we made 2 stops for snorkeling. There were almost no fish, and the reef - from the word - at all! Free ride once on a banana and a tablet, who wished. Then lunch - quite tasty, drinks were also included, all the way. Then they took everyone back, reloaded them on a boat and sent them through the channels, beautifully. Then, before the way back, they hung up in a cafe, the guide treated the little one to ice cream. Yes, children are loved here, it's nice)) Half an hour - and we are at home. They did not dare to go to Cairo, 3 days left for a vegetable holiday.
In general, the trip turned out to be excellent, the rest - varied, the impressions - amazing.
I didn't want to leave at all. At the reception they wanted to cut off the bracelets, although we were already waiting for the transfer with our suitcases - what's the point? She said we won't. At the airport, the suitcases were not wrapped in foil for free, as they wrote in the reviews, but they simply fixed the snakes with plugs, which we could only cut off at home. Queues, unshoes, probing... Egyptian duty free - there are no prices, but they promise big discounts)) Personal loading of suitcases. The flight went well, everything was on time. From there on Skybus to the station for 60 UAH per adult. And I found train tickets to Kharkov - a month ago it was not there. Filled with a maximum of half, silence, twilight and the price of a reserved seat is about 90 UAH. Practically free! Nobody smoked, there was no smell from the toilet - for the first time in several years I slept on the train. And now - the morning greets us with coolness... We go home to share memories and impressions with each other...
