Trip to Ein El Sokhna Saturday 27th May2006

Me by the sea just after the first swim

Esin and I














The Ein Sokhna beach














Angela rolling in the sand














Daniel entertaining us with his guitar
















Sea level has gone down


After organizing with Peter and Angela we decided that we needed to get out from Cairo for the day so after a suggestion of Mohamed Saadany (colleague from work) we decided to go to Ein El Sokhna.

Peter picked me up at home and then we were off to meet the rest of the guys at 0830 in front of Star capital 3 (work yuuuuuuck) which is close to City stars Mall.When we got there i found Simona, Esin and Angela waiting and after the short introductions we still has to wait for Angela's friend Daniel which was running a tinny bit late. After a few Min's he arrived and we were ready to head out to Ein El Khan.

Took the road and we got lost a bit when we were around Maadi, not because we could drive but because of the typical Egyptian directions and signs, which Toledos us to go right and then suddenly it was not that way ........... hahahahahaha.
We stopped and asked a guy on the side of the road and he told us we had to do a U-turn and follow the signs of the road to Hurghada (which is another amazing beach in the Red sea but a bit too far for a day trip( over km away). We found our way and the road was sooooo amazing, it was almost new, almost no cars at all which gave us total freedom to push the car a bit into the 120-130Kmph.

In no time( i should say about 1,5hrs max) we arrived in Eon El Sohna and after a bit of local shock as its located in the Gulf of Suez (Suez canal) there are allot of factories and oil refineries.But our destination was not the visit to the Oil Refinery, we were heading towards Stella DE Mare which is like a village complex created with tons of villas and a few hotels. One of my little dreams to buy a small villa so you guys ( my friends) can come and chill with me or by yourselves whenever you want.After a few wrongs turns and getting a bit lost inside (yes it was kind of a big place) we finally were given directions by Peter's friend Albert.We arrived on the beach!!!!!!!

Finally we were going to swim and feel that bloody hot blinking sand in between my toes ( not a nice thing at 1200 o'clock) Anyway !!!!We didn't know that we had to have like a sort of card to get on the beach ( yes unfortunately in Egypt most beaches have an " I Own You" kind of thing and you can still find some spots which aren't "bought".After Peter managed to solve the issue we went in, found ourselves a nice spot under the huge umbrella, then Angela and Daniel were starving so they were off to breaker (breakfast).

We all got out beach gear (swimming costumes) out and we were ready to chill and rest.Sunbathing was a condition that even using children's factor 30 with extra protection the sun was "cooking" my skin, so we all moved to the shade.Simona decided to have a snooze and Esin was the first to adventure on the water which was like 2-3 meters away from our beach umbrella. She came back so happy and was cheering as the water had a wonderfully warmth and the whole sea bed was sandy (apart from some areas full of mud). Yes natural Mud from the algae.

Then it was our turn to go to the water, i dont quite remember if Simona went after or if me and Peter went later, anyway it doesn't matter as its was not a beach competition.We just stayed by the sea and sunbathing and swimming.Then Simona decided to stay behind resting so Esin, Daniel, Peter, Angela and I decided to have a water fight, played so long and getting on top of each others shoulders (can you believe that Peter was able to carry me?) I was shocked and worried about his back as I'm sooooooooo overweight.

Esin finally succumbed to the idea of giving it a go and getting on my shoulders for a water fight with Angela on Daniels shoulders. After a bit of wrestling Angela finally fell in the water and we scored points but we were so tired by then we decided to have some rest and dry up.Later me Peter, Simona and Esin took a peddle boat and we were off taking photos and 45 Min's we called it enough as we were supposed to take it only for Min's as the sea levels were going lower and lower and we could see all the small puddles forming around us so we couldn't peddle anymore.

Back to the towels for some sun and Daniel was playing guitar. Peter and I decided to go and search for food which was a blessing as the Pizza sausage was a delight to our stomachs, but then we got tired and decided to go and rest hehehehhehehe.Nothing better than a snooze after eating.Daniel was still playing guitar and it was sooooooooo amazing to sit there listening to him playing all those different chords and hearing the sea becoming rougher through the distance and all the silence surrounding us, apart from the odd loud pitch or rough Egyptian slang being spoken around us, or the tourists around us. There were lots of Italians and a few French people around.

Angela and I after a while became bored so we decided to dig a sand hole and bury our selfs which with Esin and Peter's help was a truly sweaty experience, specially when we were trying to come out and all the sand had become so heavy on us and we couldn't move, that was funny. Peter and Daniel also wanted to experiment so we helped them to get under that soft sand (what hard work digging those holes). I say that cause its early morning and I'm sitting by my laptop making this trip an immortal one with my words and my shoulders are killing me.

We had to start getting ready to leave as it was already PM and we all didn't want to get back to Cairo too late so it was time for the last swim. After I convinced Peter, Esin & Angela to have a face mask done right there by the sea with that algae mask i found allover the sea bed. They all looked at me really weird but i managed to convinced them that it was gona be good. Our skins looked so clean and amazingly bright even though that some people didn't believe that till today..... what it matters is that i had a free mud mask by the sea, and i swear next time I'm going there i will be collecting some and rubbing my whole body with it cause my face skin today, even though after all that sun, and without any cream looks so fresh and clean....... lets see if the guys agree.

Then it was the time to get ready and pack the car and leave as the sun was going down and it became dark Peter let me drive his car. Gosh it has been so long since I last drove. all was going well till I saw this bloody van coming into my lane, and thats when i panicked and after a few minutes i was ready to give Peter back his car as it all became too much.We dropped the guys in Heliopolis and then me and Peter waited for a cab who would take them home.He dropped me off home and it was the end of a glorious day.

Yes it was lovely to come home and Sherif (my flatmate) to tell me he had fixed the air con in my bedroom.Guys you have no idea how cool it is to just be able to sit in your bedroom without sweating.

It was almost AM when i finally gave up being awake and decided to go to sleep with a cold bedroom where i didn't have to sweat all night (problem being every time it got too warm i had to get my ass of bed and switch on the air con).

Now i just have to wait for the photos, which should be on their way pretty soon I hope ( Peter and Esin please hurryyyyyyyy).

Its now AM and i have been awake since AM. I think its time to go for a nap.

Cant wait for a new adventure.

Watch this space and thank you for reading.

Love rules! Peace makes the World shine!

P.S. I have now been here for 4 months, time flies when you are having fun.