Going to learn to Dive in The Red Sea

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Time to get ready

Woke up this morning to snow, ice and 32°
Sharm el Sheikh is Sunny and 75° ................... (not much diference)
Thankfully we leave for Egypt on Monday 9th so now its time to start getting ready.
Its going to be odd sorting out summer clothes in this weather.

• Passport & tickets
• clothes
• currency
• travel insurance
• post card list
• Book PADI course

Very early Sunday morning

Another cold day in Scotland,(didnt check the temp in Sharm but I know its warmer than here) but this trip is getting closer. Everything is packed and after a few phone calls to Travel Republic we eventually got our etickets, the previous ones they sent must be floating around in cyberspace somewhere, or worse someone else might be in my seat.

Bought the PADI manual for some light airport/plane reading in the hope that it will all help come Tuesday morning when we turn up at Camel Dive for our course. Have been really impressed with Camel so far, no secure site for sending cc details for booking, but they called me everything for the dive part of the trip has arrived safely on my laptop, which I am unfortunately leaving at home, how will I cope without my best friend, will soon find out.

Mike has fed the snakes, will they miss us, I dont think. Out motorbikes are away to a secure garage for their holiday, only leaves Mutley who will head along to Jackie & Helen's tomorrow. He loves going there and this time Helen has crocheted him a new blanket. I am sure no I know we miss him more than he ever misses us.

Monday 9th February

After a night at The Erskine Bridge Hotel we headed to the airport, NO snow on the runway, thats a good sign.
Check in, duty free shopping, breakfast & picnic bought for the plane we are ready to go. Everyone onto the plane, then sit for an hour and a half while they defrost the wings.
Was way too mean to purchase the headphones for the entertainment, however we had plenty to watch with an ever increasingly drunk passanger 2 rows in front of us, just our luck if he ends up in our hotel. The drinks trolley did a roaring trade, then the food trolley bypassed all us in the back of the plane think the majority of us had opted for Greggs catering from the departure lounge.
Did a bit more reading in the PADI manual with luck tomorrow it will all make some sort of sense. Next thing we were touching down in Sharm el Sheikh.

Passed thru immigration no problems, waited an age for the bags to arrive then out into the heat for the transfer minibus. What a change in 3 the years since I last visited, then it was just chaotic, now it was reasonably relaxing entering Egypt. Bypassed the visa aisle, we wont have time to leave Sharm.

Always a good thing to arrive at your hotel in the dark, you dont see how run down and shabby it looks on the outside. Never mind the outside, the room was big enough, with a shower that has hot water, what more do you need. Well maybe a comfy bed, it was like sleeping on a board. Long day, opted to eat at the hotel, is it a bad omen when there are only 6 other diners, no doubt we will find out in the fullness of time if it was a good idea.
The Halomy Hotel is cheap n cheerful and in an excellent position overlooking the bay and a 7 minute walk down a rather long flight of steps and you are in Namma Bay.

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Photos

Halomy hotel
3 star in Sharm el Sheikh

Hotel Rooms
Think they need some grass seed here