An Egyptian Christmas

Well Christmas has come and gone and I survived. I went to the owner of my school's resort in Marsa Alam to do some diving. It was actually more likebeing in Italy than being in Egypt. The resort was ALL Italian - the people, t

he language, the food. It did mean that on Egypt's Christmas morning while I waited for Christmas morning to come to Canada I got to watch an Italian Santa ride in on a camel and hand out presents to Italian children. Life is strange. I always said I would never spend Christmas somewhere hot - but I did listen to Dean Martin sing about the snow so that did help. I was expecting it to just be a hotel but as it turned out it was my first all inclusive vacation. I can see why people like these: Dive...Eat...Dive....Eat.

Then I would go to sleep, wake up and do it all again. Also it turned out that the ownerof my school was there and so was the principal and assistant principal and their families...so Iwasn't all alone after all.

I was very lucky. I had a strong internet signal where I was staying so I stayed up all night and had a video skype marathon with my whole family (plus some wonderful friends that were at myparents). The connection is not very strongwhere I live so being able to talk to them was a real treat. It was the best present I could ever have asked for. It was almost like being there. I watched them open presents, watched Serena grab food off the table and watched the dance party that broke out as the night went on. It wasperfect. So Idid not really feel like I had missed Christmas at all thanks to the wonders of technology and the miracle of a s

trong internet signal. It was just what I needed. Before I knew it it was morning and time to go diving. The diving in Marsa Alam was amazing! Here are a few highlights (I don't have an underwater camera so these are just pictures I could convince people I was diving with to give me)

This turtle looks like he is just wants to say hello but he istrying his very best to bite me.

Turtles are my favourite thing to watch...they are so lovely and graceful. Amazing.

On one of my dives I was on the bottom peeking under some coral staring at these two baby sharks when I felt my dive master grab my shoulder to turn me around. I remember thinking that she was being silly - they were just babies...... But then I saw the dolphin!! She was lovely and played for awhile, rolling in the sand and showing off for us. Rare....and amazing!

We also went on an ATV safari through the desert. A few times I got stuck in the sand and smiled to myself that at home I would be in my car stuck in the snow, calling my dad to rescue me. We watched the sun set over the sand and then we had tea and hibiscus juice in a Bedouin camp. It was another great day.

We came to a sand and I climbed to the top (not easy)to get a better look. Here I am at the top!

I hope that all is well with all of you. I miss you and think of you all the time.

......Until next time.