Aqaba to Dahab

After a stroll down the sea-front at Aqaba for a quick look at the castle (not much to see but shown round what was there by a helpful - or bored - bloke, Showed me the execution room with its two gibbets for when hanging people one at a time is just too-o-o tiresome.), set off at midday on the ferry to Egypt.

This was our only sea border crossing and it wasn't fun. We found, only by virtue of a young waiter at the restaurant, that we were supposed to gather together our passports and hand them into the immigration official, pushing ahead of the huge line of local men queuing it seems for work visas. Worryingly, we didn't get our passports back, but rather a receipt, which we could use to reclaim our passports back on the mainland once we had paid for our visas. Although the journey across the Red Sea was little more than an hour, the whole process including loading and unloading took more like three.

Luckily our guide met us at the other end and could steer us through the chaos to a grotty little office where we handed over our 15US dollars visa fee and got a little sticker in exchange. Then off to another grotty little office to hand over our stickers to the bloke with the passports, who duly stuck them in, stamped the passports and at last we were free, apart from security and customs. So we had to darg our bags to another shed and load them on to the scanner. Luckily our stash of high explosives would have escaped attention since the bloke with the scanner was actually texting on his mobil ephone rather than examining the screen. And finally an exhaustive serch at customs. "Hello. Have you any alcohol?" "No" we lied. "Welcome to Egypt" said the man and at last we could get back on the bus, my blueberry wine from Turkey escaping all scrutiny. Clearly the Egyptians feel no need to impress visitors from Aqaba!

Fortunately our guides are great, and we were soon off through the granite mountains of the Sinai to the coastal resort of Dahab. We felt much better on arrival. By far the best hotel of the trip (and the one in Aqaba had been the best before that, so things are looking up). And on a personal front, my room mate Mike and I have been put in different tour groups, although staying in the same places, because he is going on to Luxor while I end the journey in Cairo. As a result of which we are technically two odd males in the two groups and we get our own rooms. Result!

Dahab is officially a Bedouin village, although one that has about a hundred dive centres. Great place for diving or snorkelling which some of our group have opted for. But for me, a day by the hotel pool. Last night we had a great meal at one of the huge number of restaurants here. Its very much a tourist spot, but in an honest way. The whole sea-front is devoted to restaurants looking out onto the sea, with the street behind devoted to shops, banks and internet cafes. And that's pretty much it. Restaurants specialise in seafood, and last night I was full to bursting. If I had realised the seafood soup was a meal in itself I wouldn't have bothered with a main course. Managed to waddle back to my room, and a very peaceful night's sleep.

Ideal spot this for some winter sun. Very sunny and I guess about 30C, BUT very strong breeze so actually feels very refreshing. Probably could get very burnt quickly, but after the amount of travelling I have done I am pretty much inured to it. Doubt I will ever get as much of a tan as this again!