TRAVEL THERE: A SECOND LOOK AT DAHAB
Okay, this is where I confess that there is actually nothing wrong with the Dahab Paradise Resort. The real problem was my attitude. I still say we had no business heading off into a desert the US State Department warned us to avoid, but if we were going to be there anyway, this was a nice place to go.
The Bare Necessities
The Dahab Paradise is a lovely resort, but not in the traditional American five-star sense. You’re not going to find stationary in your desk drawer or a terry robe in the closet (what closet?). However, you will find very nice people in a very attractive facility. The open air lobby looks out on the gorgeous pool. Beyond the pool is the Red Sea. Your room will be clean. Our balcony was a small piece of heaven. The furnishings are very appropriate for a hotel in the Sinai Desert. They had a definite Bedouin charm. In other words, if you’re going to Dahab, stay here.
There’s a very nice open air restaurant not far from the pool. We had a fine dinner there and the breakfast was spectacular – especially if you are Egyptian or like Egyptian foods. Personally I love pita, feta and olives for breakfast. They will even fix up whatever eggs you want, but I’m not very eggy.
Now the bathroom facilities are minimal. Don’t drink the water and only one of you will be able to be in there at a time. I couldn’t face the shower and hubby wasn’t crazy about it, but it was functional.
Hanging by the Pool
The Dahab Paradise pool is out of this world. It looks beautiful and our family had a great time in it. There are plenty of chaise lounges and umbrellas for those of us who prefer to stay out of the water. It’s so gorgeous that it’s a little surreal to think, “Here I am in the Sinai Desert and right over there, about 30 miles away is Saudi Arabia.” The only real problem is the radical Islamist who cause so much trouble are probably even closer.
Once I was over my pout I was thrilled to discover my coloring cards and colored pencils had done their trick. My grandnephew climbed up into my lap after his dip in the pool and I thought my heart was going to burst. Even my grandniece, who is a little more stand-offish behaved as though I was on her team. Of course, we’d be heading back to Cairo the next day and then parting ways until our next chance to get together.
Drinks in the Conversation Pit
After everyone was out of the pool we went back to our rooms to get freshened up, but soon we were back outside for the sunset. The hotel has a great sunken conversation pit on the grounds with a wonderful firepit. My nephew Shady moved to the head of the class with a bottle of bourbon. All these guys are scotch drinkers and I’m not. So, time after time the rest of the crew would be sharing a nice buzz and I’d be sober as a judge. This time Shady showed up with a bottle of bourbon and gifted it to me. Thank you Shady!
Awhile later they let us know dinner was served and we enjoyed a delicious moonlit meal. That’s one of the picture postcards from the trip seared into my mind, but no one thought to take a picture. The time in the conversation pit and around the dinner table under the stars were moments words don’t do justice and even a thousand words would not have been able to aptly describe it.
Next up we’re headed back to Cairo after a quiet morning at Dahab Paradise. Come back next week to read about that.
jane sadek 