November 12: 🚢Luxor (Safaga), Egypt
Shore Excursion: Desert Jeep Safari
A totally different day. And what a difference a sleep-in, a soak in the bath and a leisurely breakfast makes. Felt like we had the ship to ourselves and when we rocked up to breakfast in Compass Rose at 9 am (declared this first run in the dining room for breakfast as our best morning meal so far) we were two of about 10! Followed that up with about an hour in total solitude, "owning" the Infinity Pool on deck 5. Even added some exercises to the pool escapade because the knee was "mooing" just a little this morning.
We had plenty of time to just chill - and chomped our way through lobster nachos on the Pool Deck for a "snack" before wandering off ship for the afternoon excursion to a Bedouin village.
Joining the bed-wins
Tuned our heavy-accent ears into @Abdollah on board for our introduction to our jeep safari. This involved a 40-minute drive to the service station pickup point in Hurghada and then a 30-minute bone shaking drive across the rocky, rutted sandy desert, in a convoy of land cruisers, to reach the remote Bedouin village (pronounced bed-win as tutored by @Abdollah.) The first part of the drive was parallel to the coast today, but it was the same stop-start adventure with a combination of checkpoints and speed bump-controlled intersections. Again, accompanied by our own Security Guard with @Abdollah explaining this was a "show" to "make you feel safe."
If you want "experience" - this is it! It is not a "shiny and new", "squeaky clean", "high levels of comfort" sort of adventure but it was definitely an up close and personal experience in what would normally be an inaccessible area.
And @Abdollah was full of chat. Had so much information to share - insights into the landscape, life as a Bedouin and as a Moslem and as an Egyptian. The distortion of the very crackly speaker combined with the heavy accent and speed of delivery did mean that we were missing probably 4 out of 10 words. but we still managed to catch enough to stay tuned in and be fascinated by the insights he shared. I do feel though that I need a bit of a "fact or fiction" checker for some of the info shared - and to be honest, I am not even sure why I have this feeling. @Abdollah was certainly passionate and obviously this wasn't his "first rodeo." In the village, he seemed to know everyone and was warm, effusive and familiar in his interactions.
We loved it. The ride across the desert was a bumpy hang onto whatever you can type of affair. Only three or four people in each vehicle - we were sideways in the backseat in the very capable hands of @Meldat who had little to no English - and of course we have absolutely no Arabic - but we managed to cobble together conversation using gestures and our own version of backseat charades, around the landscape and his family. I can say with certainty, he flew in from Cairo for this job, he has a beautiful wife and 3 children, he enjoys his traditional music, there is a man-made sand dune in our crossing that prevents flooding, the dirt bikes are a dusty ride AND he was strong enough to literally hoist me from the ground into the heights of the back tray of the vehicle.
The village itself was an interesting setup. We arrived and joined about 40 dirt bikers and 3 other convoys - the expanse of desert was like a crowded supermarket carpark on a Saturday morning. We roamed with @Abdullah from structure to structure and he provided an explanation of the who, how, when and why.
First thing though was a camel ride. Definitely not for me but @Mac was quick to take his turn. There were dozens of camels lined up ready for their little stroll. Most of them were handled by the burqa covered women of the tribe. Children were running around bare foot in an out of the camel pathways and the older males were patrolling along the line making sure all was "in order." @Mac looked the part as he leant back into the saddle for the "stand up" and then beamed his way riding his ship of the desert.
We did note that quite a few of the men were communicating with sign language. @Abdollah shared that this deafness was a genetic problem within this particular 1000 strong community.
Did the walk around looking at the structures of the village, the pigeon traps, chickens, goats, tethered camels and donkeys - watched a weaving display (and were invited to make a purchase), moved into the first wife's lodging for a look at the herbal medicines and bead work (and were invited to make a purchase), watched a bread making demo (by the 24 year old mother of 4 who was married at 14) and had a taste test and finally were invited to a tea tasting complete with music and dancing as entertainment.
As the sun started its quick descent, we were hoisted back into the vehicles for the crossing and return home and yes, did make the final bus transit in the dark with the same scenario as yesterday - no lights, check points, speed bumps and lots of traffic to avoid.
Reunited on board
@LoRi had spent another amazing day in Luxor which started with sweeping views of hot air balloons making their early morning flights over the Nile. They visited both the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens and got up close and personal again with the tombs. Added the drive-bys of the same sites that we had visited but added a special treat of lunch on a river boat on the Nile as the conclusion to their two-day escapade before boarding the bus at 1.30 for the four-hour return trip.
Spruced up, they joined us on the balcony for a recap prior to dinner and it was fun to re-live the highlights and some of the funnier "low lights" of our different experiences. Certainly not short on conversation tonight.
Doing the unthinkable in Prime7
Wandered up to the familiar Prime7 and settled into cocktails and breads and then @Keivin took our order. I had been dreaming of the popcorn dessert since week 1 and I just couldn't resist ordering it for my starter! @Keivin loved my bold move and happily took my order even offering encouragement.
When he asked me what I wanted for my main course - his jaw nearly hit the floor when I smiled and requested "The same again." When he composed himself, he looked at me and said "You ARE joking." And yes, I was joking - about the mains - but certainly not the starter - and I enjoyed every tiny morsel of popcorn and every sweet spoon of chocolate ice-cream. I've decided that life is too short not to have the best first! To be honest, I can't even remember what I had for the main course!
Puzzled our way through the puzzles, talked our way through all the courses and somehow found ourselves at the end of another wonderful day. It was unanimous though that the prospect of life on board for sea days was eagerly anticipated.
Ship Insights: The Infinity Pool, Deck 5 through the Spa
Weather: 28 very dry with the horizon shrouded in a layer of dust
Steps: 17 704 - I think this is a mistake - the watch has recorded the bumps on the 4x4 drive as "steps."
#RegentSevenSeasExplorer #RegentSevenSeas #RegentCruise
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