After some breakfast, we took a walk along the tourist mile to look for an official tourist office. We found what we thought was the right place, but it turned out to be a guy trying to sell tours. We needed to find a bus to Aswan and the prices suggested were well above what we had expected to pay.
We returned and after a latish lunch (you can see that by now we were in relax mode!) we went down to the beach where Lauren and Guy tried out some new flippers that we had bought earlier. The wind was cold so Fiona and I huddled on the loungers and covered ourselves in the hotel swimming towels. After a swim in the hotel pool, we came back to our room to prepare for the evening out (being Christmas eve we wanted to make it special).
We left fairly early (just after the sun went down at 5.30pm) as we wanted to by a bus ticket in the main part of town. Hurgharda is separated into 3 areas – each about 3 kms apart so it is a long way from the main town to the tourist mile. Following the advice we’d been given the night before, we took a minibus taxi. Initially we were the only occupants (apart from the driver) but before long it was up to the full complement of 15 people and we were headed towards the Marina (in the middle area of Hurgharda). If our hotel was a tourist trap, this was far worse. We approached from a back street but before long we arrived in a large marina filled with very large boats and restaurant upon restaurant each offering a special Christmas menu. We found one where the band would be playing at 10pm and checked outh the menus of almost all of the others. Armed with this information, we went outh fo the marina towards town. After passing a couple of other places, we found a seafood restaurant offering a platter for the family at 295LE. We decided that we would return later.
After that, we took a long walk along the main street that turned out to be full of tourist shops. Guy managed to find film for his new underwater camera and I broke down and bought a small stringed instrument called a Raka.
We returned to the restaurant and had a somewhat un-chrismassy Christmas eve dinner. The platter was impressive – starting with salad, Egyptian flat bread and 3 bowls of humus and two others. The main meal arrived. First a fish plate and then the platter which consisted of 4 small crayfish, two large crabs, prawns, cockles, calamarin and various types of fish. This was served on a bed of rice and chips.
We returned to the restaurant and had a somewhat un-chrismassy Christmas eve dinner. The platter was impressive – starting with salad, Egyptian flat bread and 3 bowls of humus and two others. The main meal arrived. First a fish plate and then the platter which consisted of 4 small crayfish, two large crabs, prawns, cockles, calamarin and various types of fish. This was served on a bed of rice and chips.
Our family takes part in competitive eating so there is no possibility of relaxing to enjoy your meal, as the likelihood s that you’ll end up with nothing or very little. Guy (as our current dust bin) is the master of this method of eating and it was fortunate that Fiona wasn’t too hungry. In spite of this, we all enjoyed the meal and came out well satisfied and well fed – if a little poorer!By this stage is was only around 8.30pm so we took the long trek along the main road to look at some shoes that Guy was interested in. It turned out that the La Cross label put the price of the shoes well above his budget so the walk was wasted. On the way back, we took a side street that we thought would lead to the marina. As the streets did not run parallel, we eventually realized that we were lost (again) and had to be put back on the right track by a hotel guard.
When we arrived at ‘the Shade Bar’ it was still fairly empty.
There was good, loud music playing and we were seated round a low table surrounded by bean bags. Next to us most of the table were smoking shishas and a couple of people smoking cigarettes. Lauren looked unhappy and I agreed to swap with her. The beer was good and cold selling a 20LE a quart- which I thought was OK for a place like this with live music and no entrance. Cool drinks and water wer 15LE and 10LE. I was enjoying myself, but Lauren was looking less and less charmed. 10pm came and went with no sign of the band. I was worried that we would have to leave before tey started. Eventually at 10.30, they came on stage.
There was good, loud music playing and we were seated round a low table surrounded by bean bags. Next to us most of the table were smoking shishas and a couple of people smoking cigarettes. Lauren looked unhappy and I agreed to swap with her. The beer was good and cold selling a 20LE a quart- which I thought was OK for a place like this with live music and no entrance. Cool drinks and water wer 15LE and 10LE. I was enjoying myself, but Lauren was looking less and less charmed. 10pm came and went with no sign of the band. I was worried that we would have to leave before tey started. Eventually at 10.30, they came on stage.
The band was called 13daze. Guy so he was able cheer her up and soon we wer e all enjoying the music. To cut a long story short , we stayed until about 1am and had a great time. Bill was 160LE + 20LE tip – and we had to walk back to the main street to find a minicab back to the hotel. Tired and happy, we wished each other a last Merry Christmas and went to bed.
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