My Egyptian Experience

Phil drove us to the airport, it was a bit, stop start but we arrived in plenty of time. Unfortunately after checking in I got a text from Phil to say that it had taken him 40 minutes in the road works just to get to the motorway. Anyway, the Easyjet flight was on time and we arrived in Sharm el Sheikh at 6 pm local time.   It was just a shame that it was already dark.   A short transfer and we soon got dropped off at our hotel, The Jolie Royal Peninsular Hotel, http://www.maritim.com/en/hotels/egypt/royal-peninsula-hotel-resort-sharm-el-sheikh/hotel-overview#hotel_content.

Our hotel hadn’t got very good reviews on Trip Advisor so I didn’t have any high expectations but I have to say that I was very pleasantly surprised.  My room was massive; it had a great queen bed with white good quality Egyptian sheets which are my absolute favourite.  I had a massive bathroom, a fridge, a kettle and a good sized television with lots of English channels.   Sue had Ian said their room wasn’t as nice as the room they had the last time they stayed so they paid to upgrade.  They were still in the same block as me but just round the corner.

The resort was quite big and very spaced out but our block was near to the restaurant and bar.  The grounds were green and very well maintained.  It was a good ten minute walk to reception which was okay; I did this trip many times, as it was only place where you could get the free wi-fi.   The pool was massive with lots of free sun beds to choose from.  We were all inclusive; the staff were really friendly but I do think that was because we tipped quite generously.  Overall I thought are hotel was good, not five stars but maybe four stars, of course I have never been to Egypt before so I have nothing to compare it with.

The main slate on Trip Advisor was about the food but actually I thought it was some of best AI food that I have had.  I think this was because the food was prepared on site which I think makes a huge difference.  Okay, some of the dishes were bland and not very hot, but overall there was a selection with lots of good quality meat cooked on the BBQ outside.  That said, and I have to be honest, I had the shits all week with some days worse than others.  Whether this can be attributed to the food alone I don’t know, it could have been ice in the drinks, tap water for cleaning teeth and in the kettle, maybe a change of climate or just too much sun.  From what I have heard and read, this is one of the down sides of visiting Egypt.

One day we took a taxi and went to visit Naama Bay, just 10 minutes from our hotel.  It was a bit of a dump and walking down the main strip was a complete nightmare.  Lots of shops and stalls but we were hassled endlessly, so much so, that we didn’t buy anything.  Sue did buy some tobacco for her son but when she opened it, the packaging was rather dog-eared and the tobacco felt very hard.  We had a beer at a nice roof top terrace bar and then we went back to the hotel.

Sue and Ian did their best to include me (big thank you to both) but I have to say that I missed Phil, actually more than I thought I would.  Phil normally sorts out the luggage, he works out the safe and air conditioning, he also deals with all the money and tipping.  It felt like a part of me was missing.  I think he missed me as well, he was finding his course hard and one day I picked up an email saying that he was thinking of jacking it all in and flying out to join me.  I was half hoping that he would but I knew that Phil wasn’t a quitter so I was happy to pick up another email a couple of days later to say that things were going much better.

It was a short shuttle ride to the private beach which was lovely.  You could only get in the water via steps on a jetty because of the coral but that wasn’t a problem.  The waiters were friendly and helpful and the food at the bar was very good.  We had some nice days there.  Sue and Ian went to Soho Square to have a meal but I decided to opt out.  I spent time by the pool but I admit also to spending a lot of time in my room watching movies.  Some of this was by choice but some times I just had to be near a toilet!

I am not sure if I would go back to Egypt. I think it’s great that the sunshine is guaranteed but the Pharaoph's revenge is not a good experience. I have never been than comfortable in Muslim countries and from what I could see it wasn’t much to see outside of the hotel complex.  Okay I didn’t venture out much but when I could there was just a load of old buildings that I couldn’t work out whether they were has beens or going to be’s.  Certainly not a very pretty landscape.  I am sure the Pyramids are a sight to see and there are many artefacts along the Nile but that’s not really my bag.

We got picked up from the hotel just before 5 pm on Thursday and were all checked in for our flight by 6 pm.  Sharm airport was mad, we had a slice of pizza and a glass of red wine for a rip off price and then it was time to board.  The down side of flying to Egypt is the flight time, some 5 and half hours which seemed to drag.  I was quite lucky because I had a spare seat next to me which gave me extra room and the opportunity to sleep, which I did for 2 whole hours.  We arrived back in Luton at 5 past midnight; the pre-ordered taxi picked us up with no problems and I was back at the flat for quarter past one.  Of course in Egyptian time this was quarter past two.

Not surprisingly Phil was fast asleep in bed; it was quite comforting to hear his snoring from the bedroom. Yep I had a lovely time in the sunshine but I was glad to be home.  I think in some ways the time apart did us some good; Phil and I have known each for over 30 years and have been living together for 15 years. I think you do take each for granted sometimes and can get complacent.  Ten days apart has taught us that we do need each other, not in a lovey dovey way but it’s a bit like the feeling you get when you sink in to your favourite chair or sofa, it’s safe, comfy and familiar.  I don’t to liken by husband to a piece of old furniture but hopefully you all get my drift.

Phil was a very good boy whilst I was gone, he had done all his washing and ironing so I came back to an empty wash basket.  We have a very cheap crap washing machine so I had to laugh when he told me the cycle that he used took 2 and half hours. I had already left it on the speedy setting by the way.  Our tumble dryer on the other hand is very efficient and Phil put his washing in for way too long so it was over dry when it came out which made is difficult for him to iron.  He had also cleaned the toilet and washed the towels.  I also had a chuckle to see that the fridge was almost completely empty, obviously he hadn’t gotten round to doing a food shop. I had left Phil 5 ready meals and lots of snacks; he said he had 3 takeaways so I am guessing that he didn’t do any cooking.   Yes I think it can be safely said that my husband did miss me, if only for my domestic skills, lol.

Phil went to Cranfield on Friday giving me the whole day to sort myself out.  Lack of sleep and a different time zone left me feeling a bit zoned out but I slowly got throw my jobs.  Unpacking and then 6 loads of washing followed by drying and a huge pile of ironing.  I changed my bed and then went to Asda to do a huge food drop.  I went to DW for a work out but felt too knackered so just had a shower. I did visit the gym a few times whilst on holiday and with my dodgy tummy I did think I would have lost weight but nah, I weigh the same.  Diet starts tomorrow.

It felt good to fill my fridge and the cupboards again.  I made a corn beef hash which was Phil’s choice of homecoming meal and I was surprised and pleased when he got home early.  He said that he was going to take a night off from study, so we ate supper and then settled in to watch all of the recordings that he hadn’t watched whilst I was gone.  Not the soaps of course, I already caught up with these whilst doing the ironing.  Phil and I have recently started watching Goggle Box and on Friday night we watched the Celebrity Goggle Box.  This couple, Steph and Dom Parker are my favourites.

Yesterday Phil wanted the flat to himself so he could study so I took myself out just after 8 am. First up a quick trip to Asda and then Primark and then the gym.  I had a good workout and it didn’t hurt which surprised me.  I did go home to make us a quick lunch, quiche, salad and new potatoes and then it was straight back out to visit Harriet and Billy.  There new sofas arrived during the week and they look very nice.  They didn’t pick the cheapest but you tell the quality and they were very comfortable.  A comfy sofa/chair is a must in life!  

Their house is coming along and they are gradually adding bits of furniture, the house just needs a bit more colour and some soft furnishings. I have agreed to meet Harriet after work on Thursday and we are going to look for curtains.  They do have a few jobs for Phil to do but I have told them these will have to wait until Phil finishes his exam in a couple of week’s time.

I picked up some bits and pieces in Newport and got home for 3 pm as I couldn’t think of anywhere else to go.  Phil was still studying but luckily I had a few phone calls to make and then my sister called so this killed some time.  Last night was a Ploughman’s for tea followed by catching up with X-Factor.  My time zone is all out and I got up at half four this morning.  Having been up for a couple of hours, feel tired now and am tempted to go to bed but I am afraid of waking up Phil.  I will probably catch up with paperwork and then get ready to drive to Melton to see Phil’s mum.  I think she has missed my weekly visits.  She is making me roast lamb with all the trimmings, my absolute favourite.  Good job the diet is staring tomorrow.