On the Road with Brent & Erika

We have spent the last three days in Dahab, Egypt on the Red Sea. The only things to do in this sleepy beach town are relax or check out the beautiful corral reefs off the coast, and we have done plenty of both. It has been incredible!





We contemplated getting scuba certified, but because of time and money, we decided to do what is called an "introductory dive." This is where an instructor swims on top of our tanks and controls the air instruments, therefore you don't have to be certified. Before we set out, he gave us a mini lesson on what to do if you get water in your mask down underwater or if your breathing apparatus comes out of your mouth underwater. These possible scenarios made me very nervous, and I was determined to not let that happen no matter what the cost!

Luckily it didn't! In fact, the whole experience was very cool other than not liking the feeling of pressure as you go deeper. We were underwater about 40 minutes and went to about 35 feet deep. Thanks to Brent's new toy (underwater casing for our digital camera), we were able to take tons of shots.


Me getting our mini lesson before we donned our tanks and gear








Sometimes just the variety and color of corral amazed us!


After the dive

In addition to the introductory dive, we also rode horseback on the beach at sunset. This sounds very romantic, and it was at times, but we were also being guided by a 14-year-old boy who only wanted our horses to "go fast." Unfortunately my horseback riding lessons at age 10 did not prepare me for these advanced conditions. On top of that, our horses were mortal enemies and would buck and snap teeth at each other when they got too close. The scariest event occurred when Brent's restless horse broke into a gallop on the beach, and Brent had to duck to narrowly miss a wooden beach umbrella. It came close to his head, and despite his deft maneuvering, he still got banged hard on his shoulder. Sooo, the horseback riding was probably more dangerous for us than the diving!


Brent's horse (probably going way too fast)


In a moment of stillness

We went snorkeling three times total, but our favorite location was the Blue Hole. Muhammed, our driver, blasted Arabic techno as we dodged camels on the way up the coast. Once in the water, we were met with sea life that exceeded our expectations. It was a wonderland of color, fish and corral!


These guys greeted us on the way to the Blue Hole


Going in for a closer look




A little hard to see, but notice the long pointy fish (name unresearched)








Brent surfacing for a breather (you might be able to notice Brent's horseback riding shoulder injury)






One side of the road was water and the other side desert

Our hotel (for a mere $20.00 a night) sits right on the water's edge. There's an outdoor restaurant with excellent food full of pillows and mats so you can just lounge and recline as you stare at the brilliant blue water. I think one of our favorite features of this hotel is the multitude of roaming cats. There is a mother with four kittens that lives here, and we have spent many moments just admiring their cuteness! Some restaurant patrons are given squirt bottles to shew the kitties away, but we lure them over instead and give them pets as well as tasty morsels.


Many hours we spent relaxing at this restaurant on the water's edge


Mother sleeping while one of the four nurses


Since it was 4th of July, Brent had to get a cheeseburger and fries


Here is an Egyptian kitty on the mats ready to pounce on any dropped tidbit

We leave tomorrow to visit Mount Sinai. Should be amazing...we have been reading Exodus gearing up for this.

--Erika