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| ZURICH AIRPORT - BRRRR |
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| HYATT REGENCY RESORT, SHARM EL SHEIKH |
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| OUR ROOM IS ON THE 2ND LEVEL - 2ND TO THE END. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT HIGH HEDGE IS THE "ROYAL VILLA" - IT COULD BE YOURS FOR A COOL $7,000/DAY!! BUT I'M SURE THAT COMES WITH BREAKFAST!! |
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| ALONG THE SOUTHERN COAST OF THE SINAI PENINSULA THERE IS RESORT AFTER RESORT. ONCE THE WHOLE AREA LOOKED LIKE THE DESERT ABOVE. |
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| "SHARM" STARTED TO BE BUILT UP AS A TOURIST AREA AROUND 40 YEARS AGO DURING THE ISREALI OCCUPATION OF THE AREA POST 1967; ONCE THE AREA WAS RESTORED TO EGYPT IN 1982 DEVELOPMENT REALLY TOOK OFF AND NOW THE AREA IS BUILT UP AND HAS AN AVERAGE LOCAL POPULATION OF 38,000 PEOPLE. |
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| 3 POOLS TO CHOOSE FROM |
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| VIEW FROM OUR BALCONY |
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| THE HYATT IS LOCATED AT "MIDDLE GARDEN" WHICH IS AN ATTRACTIVE SPOT FOR GUESTS TO EXPERIENCE SNORKELING AND DIVING FROM THE BEACH AND PIER. IT'S ALSO A VERY POPULAR SPOT FOR OTHER DIVING TOURS TO STOP AND VISIT BECAUSE IT'S USUALLY A CALM AREA EVEN WHEN OTHER DIVE SPOTS CAN BE CHOPPY AND DIFFICULT TO USE. |
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| THIS IS ONE OF THE 8 SHOPS LOCATED AT THE HYATT. THEY ARE OWNED BY LOCALS AND I'M SURE THEY JACK THE PRICE UP A LOT FOR SUCKERS LIKE ME! BUT FOR ME IT WAS CONVENIENT SINCE I DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WANDERING INTO "OLD TOWN" ON THE HOTEL SHUTTLE. I HEAR OLD TOWN CAN BE QUITE DIFFICULT TO MANAGE BECAUSE THE SHOP OWNERS ARE REALLY PUSHY WITH TOURIST DOLLARS NOT SO AMPLE. IT'S BEST TO GO WITH A GOOD SIZE GROUP IF YOU ARE GOING TO GO INTO THE OLD TOWN FOR SOME BARGAIN HUNTING. |
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| HERE IS THE SHOP OWNER - EVEN HE WAS PUSHY ABOUT GETTING ME TO BUY SOMETHING. I CAN IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE IN OLD TOWN WHEN YOU HAVE 25 SHOPS ALL LINED UP VYING FOR YOUR BUSINESS! |
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| MARK AND I SPENT LOTS OF TIME ON THE BEACH. THERE WAS ALWAYS A BREEZE AND THE WATER WAS PRACTICALLY THE SAME TEMPERATURE AS THE AIR. |
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| VIEW FROM OUR FAVORITE SPOT TO EAT LUNCH. |
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| SNORKELERS AND DIVERS FROM THE BOATS. MARK AND I RENTED SOME SNORKELING EQUIPMENT. WE DIDN'T EXPECT TO SEE THAT MUCH BUT WE WERE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED! IT FELT LIKE WE WERE IN A TROPICAL TANK IN AN AQUARIUM. PLUS MARK SPOTTED AN "EAGLE RAY" SWIMMING ALONG THE BOTTOM. I CAN DEFINITELY SEE WHY PEOPLE GET INTERESTED IN DIVING. MIGHT HAVE TO LOOK INTO GETTING CERTIFIED SO I'M READY TO GO NEXT TIME. |
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| YOU CAN SEE THE END OF THE SLIDE TOWARD THE BOTTOM OF THIS PICTURE. THE BEGINNING OF THE SLIDE IS WAY UP AT THE TOP OF ALL THAT GREENERY. |
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| MY FAVORITE SPOT |
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| I DIDN'T HAVE AN UNDERWATER CAMERA SO I JUST TOOK SOME PICTURES OF THE CORAL FROM THE PIER. IT DOESN'T DO IT JUSTICE, OF COURSE. |
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| ONE OF THE 5 RESTAURANTS AT THE RESORT. THIS ONE IS MODELED AFTER A "SOUK" WHICH IS A TRADITIONAL ARABIC OPEN-AIR MARKETPLACE. YOU ARE GIVEN 30 "COINS" IN A LITTLE CLOTH BAG WORTH 10 POINTS A PIECE. YOU THEN TAKE THEM TO ONE OF 6 KITCHENS (ITALIAN, SNACK, CHINESE, MEXICAN, FISH AND A SWEET SHOP) AND YOU BUY YOU DINNER AND BRING IT BACK TO YOUR TABLE. SO I GOT SOME DUCK FOR 12 COINS THEN A SUPER-SIZED SHRIMP FOR ANOTHER 8 AND I HAD PLENTY LEFTOVER FOR SOME CHOCOLATE DESERT! |
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| DURING YOUR MEAL YOU ARE ENTERTAINED BY A VARIETY OF ACTS. |
HERE IS A LINK TO A VIDEO WE TOOK OF THE FLAME HANDLERS!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfohsbQOCeY&feature=youtu.be
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| I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER IF THIS GUY IS THINKING..... "YOU SLEPT WITH MY SISTER???? I KILL YOU!!!" |
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| I THOUGHT IT WAS CUTE HOW THESE TWO LITTLE GIRLS WERE MESMERIZED BY THE BELLY DANCER. I'M SURE THERE WERE SOME OTHERS IN THE CROWD ALSO MESMERIZED! |
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| ENJOYING THE SUN BUT SAD THAT IT WAS OUR LAST DAY |
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| RUSHING TO CATCH OUR TIGHT CONNECTION IN ZURICH ONLY TO FIND IT WAS DELAYED BY NEARLY AN HOUR. |
BACK TO GREY, COLD, AND DRIZZLY BELGIUM. OH WELL! NEXT ADVENTURE AT THE END OF MARCH. AMSTERDAM TO SEE THE TULIPS!
