The Blue Hole

Most of the group went snorkeling today, including me. The location is called The Blue Hole. It's very beautiful and very popular. There was variety of very colorful fish and other sea life to be viewed. Unfortunately, I had problems creating a seal around my mask, I think because of my facial hair, and I ended up breathing in a lot of salt water. Ick! There was a second round available, but I opted out to sit on the shore in a caffe' and drink overpriced beverages (about 3 times the price being asked in Dahab).

The place was very busy, and most of the divers around seemed to be Russians with a lot of money and very little taste. In fact, there seem to be many Russians around the Sinai from what we've seen so far.

The Jeep drivers took us back into the city in three different vehicles. Our driver chatted with us. He seemed like a very likable guy. Driving Jeep is is second job. He is also a school teacher. He told us that his state salary is about 400 Egyptian pounds per month, which works out to about US$20. Many people in the group seem put off by the Egyptians who are constantly trying to make money by charging for things such as rest-room use etc, but I don't blame these people. I somehow doubt that anyone is getting rich by charging two Egyptian pounds to use the loo.

Tomorrow Jenn and I go on a Jeep ride to the two canyons mentioned earlier. If the ride out there is anything like the ride we experienced today, which was a cross between a drag race and obstacle course adventure, I will probably have sore knuckles from gripping tight to the "oh shit" handles, if the Jeep has those.