A Windy Day of Reading

While sunbathing and reading by the Red Sea, I can’t help but notice the contrasts: the peace inside the walls of luxurious resorts versus the chaos outside. The little details of local life – from the smell of gasoline on the beaches to shared moments with locals on overcrowded minibuses – all turn into unique experiences. Meanwhile, I’m preparing for Cairo, anticipating a hectic but unforgettable day exploring its historic sights.

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09:57 AM
In Hurghada, there are the resorts, and then there’s the other reality outside their walls where people actually live – two vastly different worlds. Inside the walls, everything is guarded, quiet, and calm. Outside, it’s noisy and chaotic: trash piles in the streets where children play. Some of these kids can beg for money before they can even talk – I saw a toddler, barely walking, already holding out their hand.
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10:15 AM
At the same place, for the same coffee, I’ve paid different prices. The first time it was 45 pounds. Today it was 60 pounds. The coffee was listed as 45 on the menu, the server charged me 58, and then gave me two 20-pound notes as change from a 100.
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11:29 AM
Oh, and sometimes I see women here who are fully veiled, with only their eyes visible. But just now, I saw a woman driving a car who was also completely veiled – only her eyes visible – except she was dressed in white, not black. I know it’s not polite to say, but she looked like a ghost driving a car at a costume party.
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11:44 AM
A faint smell of gasoline mixes with the worn-out sun loungers.

Today, I’m at a beach called Family Beach, about a 40-minute walk south of yesterday’s spot.
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The view here is much nicer. It’s so beautiful that there are many yachts anchored near the beach, one of which is the source of the gasoline smell. It’s quite windy today, so swimming doesn’t seem like the best idea, but sunbathing, reading, and simply doing nothing but enjoying life – this place is more than perfect for that.
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2:59 PM
I’ve seen kids around 10 years old working before – maybe they’re just helping their families.

Also, I’ve noticed that the police force here mostly consists of 18-to-20-year-old guys. Every few kilometers, there’s a police car with armed young men in military-style uniforms.

What happened to the older generation? Did they vanish?
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3:10 PM
I’m now using the local public transportation. I hop into a beat-up minivan like I’ve been doing it all my life.

I wouldn’t say I feel entirely safe, but the nine locals around me seem unconcerned, so I guess I shouldn’t worry either.

Still, I feel as out of place as a cockatoo in a church service.
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3:57 PM
I’m used to Aldi cashiers back home, not these sweet, meticulous clerks who examine each item one by one. You can tell by their movements that they’re still getting used to the job.

By the way, if chocolate-covered dates were available back home, I’d definitely be addicted.
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9:47 PM
I’m starting to really enjoy Arabic music.

It feels like their synth-pop era skipped them entirely. They still use authentic instruments today, though much of their musical style has been adopted from the West.

They have pop, rock, rap, and hip-hop – all the usual genres – but with a different choice of instruments.

10:19 PM
In Europe, a romantic music video would typically end with a kiss. Here, it doesn’t, and I found it even more expressive: instead of looking into each other’s eyes and kissing against a sunset backdrop, they just leaned close and gazed at the romantic scenery together.

10:04 PM
Maybe it’s not so bad that I booked a tour to Cairo instead of Luxor.

I’ve realized that one day wouldn’t be enough for me to explore all the sights in Luxor. I like to take my time in museums and read everything in detail.

Luxor would feel rushed, and Cairo definitely will too, given the greater distance. If I’m going to be hurried through the day, it might as well be for a spectacular experience.
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Hurghada, Wednesday, January 8, 2025