EUROPEAN RELOCATION: SHARM EL SHEIKH, EGYPT

MARK AND I DECIDED THAT WE WANTED TO BE IN WARMTH AND SUNSHINE DURING HIS FEBRUARY BREAK FROM SCHOOL. I THOUGH SHARM EL SHEIKH, EGYPT WAS A GOOD CHOICE BECAUSE IT WAS WARM AND DRY THIS TIME OF YEAR AND NOT A 10 HOUR PLANE RIDE LIKE MOST OF THE WARM WEATHER DESTINATIONS. NOT EVERYONE WAS TOO HAPPY WITH MY CHOICE AND I UNDERSTAND THEIR CONCERN. BUT WE STAYED ON THE RESORT PROPERTY THE WHOLE TIME - RELAXING BY THE POOL AND BEACH, ENJOYING THE MULTIPLE FOOD CHOICES AND TRYING OUR HAND AT SNORKELING FOR THE FIRST TIME.

ZURICH AIRPORT - BRRRR

HYATT REGENCY RESORT, SHARM EL SHEIKH

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!!

ALONG THE SOUTHERN COAST OF THE SINAI PENINSULA THERE IS RESORT AFTER RESORT. ONCE THE WHOLE AREA LOOKED LIKE THE DESERT ABOVE.

"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.

3 POOLS TO CHOOSE FROM

VIEW FROM OUR BALCONY

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.

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.

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!

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.

VIEW FROM OUR FAVORITE SPOT TO EAT LUNCH.

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.

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.

MY FAVORITE SPOT

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.

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!