Dozey Dahab Days

Dahab does exactly as it says on the tin, it's a very beautiful spot spread out around a beach lined with really cute outdoor seaside bars and cafes complete with, at times a little too pushy, staff trying to entice you to eat at their establishments.



Most of our time in Dahab was dedicated to relaxing which we're very good at and recovering from our generally busy itinerary. There's something very satisfying about lying on a beach on a monday afternoon with nothing else to do except maybe popping into the sea for a spot of snorkelling on the reef or maybe having a look in some really pretty little seaside market shops. The snorkelling here is fantastic! Such a perfect reef right by the shore and the locals as well as the tourists seem to offer it the respect it so deserves.



One of the highlights of the trip so far has to be our overnight excursion to Mount Sinai(yes Helena we know you've done it before). We left Dahab at 11 pm and travelled by minibus to the foot of the mountain where we met with a guide to help us along in the dark. The sky was awash with what must have been millions of stars. The climb was along a camel path which was lined with camels and their owners offering rides to the top. Opting to go on foot instead we climbed for three hours, with some breaks at rest stops along the way offering teas and coffees to some very tired climbers. On arrival at the final pit stop before the top we were also offered some bedouin blankets for hire to ward off the icy cold. 750 steps and we were there, very cold and very tired. We sat in wait, all huddled up in blankets, for sunrise. Gradually the light started to expose the landscape, it was the most humbling experience, you felt so small in the face of all this. When the sun rose over the horizon it was magic, can't even begin to describe it, so glad we were together to see this, it was amazing.



On our way back down we thought it a good idea to give our feet a break and avail of the camel rides on offer, big huge mistake! It was utter agony, being thrown around on a hump most high and clinging on so hard that blisters were formed on top of blisters. To arrive at the monastery at the bottom was such a relief. We were so sore and wrecked that we didn't even bother going to see the burning bush! We read our guide book later which clearly states that you should opt to take a camel on the way up rather than down for reasons of comfort, we learned this the hard way.

Another highlight from the Dahab days was bumping into the one and only Magdalenka Parajkova aka Mrs Poopy Pants on the street. Had no idea she was going to be in Dahab so it was a joy to behold when I saw her bounding towards me. We had lots of drinks before parting ways by the red sea sometime in the early morning. I hope you're not too upset to be back in Dublin Mrs Poopy Pants, it was so great to see you xx