Day 81. Friday, October 22nd. Across the Sinai to Dahab and the Gulf of Aqaba.

The book warns us that terrorists struck here 4 years ago and so we look at the barren stretches of desert with trepidation. The short tunnel under Suez is followed by a nine hour bus ride across the Sinai, through Sharme el Sheik to Dahab. We go through 5 security check points but our US passports seem to make them go easy on us, however, many of the Egyptians are questioned closely it seems. We are met by the hotel driver and taken to the hotel and, as normal, there is an issue with our hotel reservation-they have a single room reserved so we negotiate a room next door for 120 E Pounds (about $25/night) but later discover that the shower and sink water is salt water so we go to bed sticky. Before that we walk the waterfront of this old hippie destination and have beers on the carpets and amongst the pillows of a bar overlooking the Gulf of Aqaba and the sun setting on the coast of Saudi Arabia opposite. Dahab is now a diver’s destination since the snorkeling and the diving here is some of the best in the world.