General Chit Chat

[wayne_harris]

hi dawn

just wanted to say hello and ask if you have been over to egypt i enjoy some of the things you say, how was it for you?

nubianqueen

Hi Nubianqueen

Dont know if you have read my previous posts. We got to Gatwick Airport to find our flights cancelled!! We were on XL. Wayne said may as well go home, I of course said no way!! We qued for a couple of hours for alternative flights, they then came down the row and said no flights left for Egypt go home!! I still refused to go home, then one of the helpers said wait until it dies down, may be able to get a flight. We then phoned our son in law, whilst still queing. He found us some flights with Air Egypt via cairo. We had finally got to the desk whilst on phone to son in law, the people at the desk also had flights to Cairo, but not offering to go on to Hurghada, so told son in law to book the flights. They were very expensive, but I was determined to go!! We had met Rod & Ann (pentaxman)at the airport they were booked on same flights, so son in law booked theirs aswell. But we then had to get to heathrow and both cars were parked at Gatwick. Lucky for us Rod was able to transfer their car to Heathrow parking, so they kindly gave us a lift! This is such a long story!! Wayne got interviewed by camera crew about cancelled flights, plus we talked to the papers and radio. (Thats out claim to fame for 2 minutes!!!) Anyway our flight wasn't leaving until 6pm, so went for something to eat etc. We finally boarded the plane!! Horray!! It was a long journey, we had already stayed in a hotel for the night ar original flight was at 8.55am. We arrived Hurghada 6am Saturday morning!! We hadn't had any sleep for 24 hours!!

Our apartment is lovely, but all we wanted was our bed!! Anyway we spent most of the week in our apartment, trying to get the snagging done. We went out a couple of days during the day to buy some items for the apartment and for a walk. We met some other owners and Lyndsay. We went out in the evenings and met other people. We also went out with Lyndsay and Glenn a couple of evenings. I really like the apartment and the location, we are in a good position. Every thing is close by, so you can walk. It was very hot and I was able to at least get one swim in the pool on the last day!! Wayne was up early most mornings for a swim in the pool. But we had a real nightmare on the way back!! To be continued: Lol

Dawn

[wayne_harris]

Hi Again Nubian,
When we arrived at the airport in Hurghada to go home, they wouldn't let us in the airport, because we had no tickets just a ref number. So no matter what we said they would not let us in the airport. Wayne and I was very stressed and didn't know what to do. We phoned Rod, to see if they had arrived and was able to get in the airport, but Rod's phone was off. Found out later they were in the airport already. Whilst we were standing there, a coach pulled up with lots of people and an egyptian rep, lucky for us he over heard what was happening with us, he kindly took our passports and got them checked inside the airport, came out and said let them through. The guys that wouldn't let us through told us to pay the rep for helping us, we really didn't mind that, he wouldn't eccept it though. When we got in to departure lounge we then saw Rod & Ann, they had no trouble getting in!! All 4 of us got the same problem when we got to Cairo, they did not want to let us in again to get flight to uk!! Another guy took our passports and we had to follow him to get them checked again. By this time I was so stressed and just wanted to cry. When we got to Cairo we were waiting for our bags to come off, only to find they had been transferd to the connecting flight, we had no idea where to go, so we ended up paying a guy to show us the way, which was a godsend! Whilst you are queing to go through to get checked in at the desk, Egyptian guys and a woman, were pushing people to the front of the que with their bags, because they paid to jump the que!! When we finally got on the plane to the uk, I finally relaxed!! I was so happy to be on the plane home!!

I forgot to mention, when we arrived in Cairo and went to departures for Hurghada, they opened Waynes big case and started taking out shampoo & conditioner saying its 500ml each and not allowed, I was so tired by this time I was not in a good mood at all!! I said you cannot do that because they are not in our handluggage, but they kept argueing and then taking out my deodrants, I then said 'your winding me up, you can't do that'!! Meanwhile un beknown to me, they were asking Wayne for money!!, he refused and I was just getting irrate!!. They finally put them back and let us go!! I told Wayne I really don't want to go via Cairo again!! It was such a horrible experience. There is one thing though at least we know what to expect in future. Getting back to our apartment: when we got home one night I was passing the bathroom and suddenly screamed, made Wayne jump!! There was a cockroach sitting in our bath!! We got our insect killer out and zapped him!! Thats the first thing we rushed out to buy when we got there!! lol. One evening when we were looking to buy some T Shirts for the kids, we walked in a shop and in the corner of my eye I noticed some towels that were hung at the tops of some windows, and something was moving rather quickly behind them, I screamed! It was a rat! I turned to run out the shop and the guy said 'don't worry it's only a rat!! We did end up buying in there. All I can say it was a bad experence for the first time round. We are going out on December 8th for a week, and are really looking forward to it, because it will be a holiday this time round. We then go again in the feb half term with our children. Our flights are direct to Hurghada!! Take care. Speak soon.

Cheers Dawn -x-

[M Butler]

Originally Posted by Georgina

I always buy my multi entry visa in Hurghada. Again you need copies of your passport and the stamp from your last entry into egypt. It is hard to explain where but I will try:

Go on the coast road from El Gouna to Hurghada and when you get to the junction with the petrol station bear left. It is along this road on the right hand side before you get to the turn for the traffic office. Look for a large sandy area with concrete shading and cars parked under. Turn right after this and then right again at the T Junction. This is a dead end and the building is on the right at the end with a security guard outside. go up the the first floor and queue at the first window. If they ask for more photocopies there is a tiny shop if you come out of the building and walk straight along the road to the main road to the traffic office. One of the little shops on the left does photocopying. Maybe take a photo because I can't remember if you need one for the entry exit visa.

Get there around 9.30 and she will probably tell you to return at 1pm. After a few years she does recognise you and you may get a smile

Thanks Georgina,

I think we will try to find it the next time we go into Hurghada, although given our recent experiences of trying to find things in Hurghada, I don't hold out much hope!!!!

Do you usually go on the expiry date to renew or can you go earlier?

Thanks,
Margaret
PS. Fancy meeting up for a coffee some time?

[Georgina]

Originally Posted by M Butler

Thanks Georgina,

I think we will try to find it the next time we go into Hurghada, although given our recent experiences of trying to find things in Hurghada, I don't hold out much hope!!!!

Do you usually go on the expiry date to renew or can you go earlier?

Thanks,
Margaret
PS. Fancy meeting up for a coffee some time?

Before, on or after the expiry date.

Would love to meet for coffee. My extension is 37448 or send me a pm.

[wellheld]

Originally Posted by wayne_harris

Hi CMChris, I agree with you. And some Egyptians told us exactly what they thought of them too. Wayne went to night school years ago to learn spanish, but he only lasted 3 sessions, he said they went too much into it, and his tutor said it would be easier to learn if you lived their with them. An Egyptian guy whom works in the winking frog has offered to give arabic lessons, he wants to start his own business teaching Arabic. So I have said I would like to learn some when I go out again in December.

Dawn

Lessons have started, every tuesday,1pm. We are in the Frog practising now,contact me for further info.
Helen.

[wellheld]

Originally Posted by Georgina

Before, on or after the expiry date.

Would love to meet for coffee. My extension is 37448 or send me a pm.

I found that all the taxi drivers I used knew where it was, amazing. It was a lot easier than expected, I went on my own too. No hassle whatsoever. I have a cover on my passport, pink suede, so I recognised it and pointed when it came back from signing, so the non smiling lady just passed it to me. I will get my multi entry there end Nov. I have been advised to go 10 or 11ish to hand in docs, walk to beach/cafe/library, to pass time, then return at 1pm to collect.

[wayne_harris]

Lessons have started, every tuesday,1pm. We are in the Frog practising now,contact me for further info.
Helen.

Hi Helen,
Thats really good. Can you pm me the details. Thanks.

Dawn

[CMChris]

Originally Posted by wellheld

Lessons have started, every tuesday,1pm. We are in the Frog practising now,contact me for further info.
Helen.

And I bet the 1st thing to learn is how to order a round of drinks in! lol

[paddywin]

hi suzanne..thanks for the welcome note..we are from dublin but living in wexford so a bit away from westport.....cant wait to get back over to egypt for the hols, its such a fab place and find the locals are so good and everything is so cheap...hurghada is especially nice although there is still a long way to go with all the building and infrastructure thats being carried out at the moment but still a great place as is....we bought a villa, well actually its 2 villa's on paper but to look at its a detached house ( 2 semi det villa's) devided into 4 apartments(2x100 +2x120 sq mtrs)....it is situated on the same road to the titanic water park/ hotel beside the go-cart track and not too far from the airport....to get to the esplanade we just have to take a short stroll through the new pyramisa hotel which is just down the road a little. really we should have it finished by now as we bought it over a year ago but just hav'nt had time this year to get over, but think we have everything organised to start work in january...the contractor has given us a 3month finish time but think i'll allow at least another 3 months as they are all so laid back over there lol...we are planning to have a party there on completion and would love to invite a few "new locals" lol...maybe you and your hubby will drop in?......

[paddywin]

...should have ended that with....thanks...paddy and angela..lol....and yes, as soon as it will let me i will post pics