Charming Sharm

Snorkeling in Sharm al-Sheikh: Had a great few days at Sharm al-Sheikh near the Red Sea. Located at the tip of the Sinai, Sharm and the area has the warmest water in the world and is famous for its coral reefs and marine life. I went snorkeling off the hotel's jetty and was amazed at the fish and coral gardens visible right there. The weather is perfect at Sharm this time of year. I saw more species of fish swimming off the jetty than I did in a glass-bottomed boat here last year. Enjoyed flying over the Red Sea, the rugged mountains of the Sinai, and the Straits of Tiran (on return). Wonderful respite: What a great break from the troubles of the region such as the train wreck in Assyut, Egypt, and the hostilities that broke out between Israel and Hamas over a week ago (Nov. 21 marks day #8). The Assyut wreck cost the lives of 50 schoolchildren. Mike and I took the train to and and from Luxor. We were well aware of the system's dilapidated condition, even though we took a foreigners', first class overnight sleeping car. Egypt's railway system is the world's second oldest, constructed by an English engineer in the 2nd half of the 19th century. It needs fundamental reforms in infrastructure and safety measures to stop recurring train accidents. Even though the conditions of trains are deplorable, Egyptians use the railways, since they are considered safer than microbuses in which road accidents lead to many deaths. The whole system needs overhauling.

Tower above hotel lobby.

Hotel lounge lantern.

Lantern on hotel grounds.

Tiran Island as seen from hotel. It was captured by Israel during the Suez Crisis of 1956 and restored to Egypt in 1957. A United Nations peacekeeping force was subsequently stationed there until the 1967 Six-Day War when it was recaptured by Israel. Sharm al-Sheikh remained under Israeli control until the Sinai peninsula was restored again to Egypt in 1982 after the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty of 1979.

Fountains on one of hotel's terraces. Hotel reminded me a bit of the Alhambra in Granada, Spain, but with a lot less character and minus its Arabic inscriptions, and arabesque geometrical patterns.

Fountain in front of room.

Most have their own flower photos; but who can resist a pretty blossom?

Another.

Another.

Breakfast visitor.

Hawk on well-watered hotel grounds. Not many places of green in the Sinai.

Poster at baggage retrieval at Cairo airport.