The plan sounded great! "Going Fishing on Yacht" moored at El Gouna Marina.
It all started innocently at our ACE Club watering hole, when some of the regular noon time consumers where aboard. One of our younger single members ( I will call him Pacmon to protect the guilty) asked the question if I would like to go fishing, as his Dad was part owner of boat (whom I know) and also know the 2nd part owner. I said he best catch a El Gouna Bus.
Later at home wifey said she thought it was a great opportunity to have access to yacht and go fishing, and enjoy some boys days out (not sure what she really meant by that?). Anyway I phoned Pacmon and said "let's go" and would pick him up next day at 12 pm. In mean time wifey prepared some survival food and I loaded up with important beverages from ACE Club. (Club has offsales for members at regular brewery prices)
The journey was flawless with little traffic. But as I knew most people got speeding tickets I stayed at posted limits, so the journey was 5 hours to the marina and parked right opposite the very impressive looking boat.
Waiting for boatman - Pacmon was told boat man was told to be there - but no Ahmed and I was was feeling hot and bit bothered. Anyway got message he was in Hurghada shopping and would be there soon. So, across the road way was Peanuts Bar and was cool. Happy hour was on so to be sure we could take advantage we ordered each our 2 beers and with one free. So now we have 3 beer in front of each of us. And as Ahmed did not show for another 4 hours I am not sure what the beer consumption was. ( beer was 25 LE).
First problem - Ahmed the boatman speaks little if any English (an by this time I am not sure if he could have spoken English he could have understood our slurrying version of the language) but he set to work opening boat, plugging in AC - but lights came on at small candle strength. He then informed the batteries are not good but later will be OK. Few more phone calls to owners to learn the generator is not working but batteries will charge in time. It was now about midnight so I opted to get cool hotel room - Pacmon chose to stay with boat and peanuts bar.
Getting room - Across street from boat is also Ocean View Hotel. I had stayed here before and found it was quite pleasant. But, no rooms as they were full of tourists. What are all these tourists doing in hot El Gouna in middle of summer? Anyway they phoned and told me Ali Pasha had room and they were located just up the Marina roadway. Off I went and checked in and had a delightful clean, cool room, with very comfortable king sized bed, Cable TV, on ground floor with small little garden outside. (3 stars hotel), but no fridge and room on small size, and price was excellent at 225 LE per night. I could recommend for budget travelers for sure. Here is site for El Gouna and I can say all hotels maintain there star rating I think because Orascom the owners and developers have a great reputation, huge company. Check out their site here El Gouna
Boat Saga continues - Well the batteries did charge, fridge finally got cool, but AC was pathetic and it was cooler outside in breeze, than on boat (Temperature in 37-40 C range). Pacmon was suffering a bit as to keep cooler, stayed till closing at Peanuts bar sharing tequila shooters with some new found friends of opposite sex. However there was no Egyptian Captain available to take the boat out till next day. But beer had cooled off so we were OK and toured a bit. Next day would be fishing day!!!
Where is the Captain - I continued to have cool room as heat was still too much for me. Pacmon stayed on with hot boat and Peanuts option. But after contacts to 2 captains one said he was on his way - that was about 9:30 am. We waited and waited and during this time the boatman was in the loop, also talking to same captain we guessed. Finally about 12 noon we got final message "Captain would not take boat out as no generator and battery problems". So - end of fishing ideas. Well we finished the day best we could (I spent few hours at Smugglers Bar at Marina backside, and about size of large closet, but friendly service and clientèle).
The above experiences of waiting for Egyptians, getting conflicting messages, no shows, poor excuses, or even huge fibs, is not unusual.
Anyway we got back to Cairo, and our homes in one piece with a story to tell but feeling disappointed the ending was not better - like telling about the fish that got away.
El Gouna continues to impress me and likely yacht owner's would think about this marina if indeed there is any room left. Most of the yachts, or some cases ship size, moored there are gorgeous. Wish now I had bought an apartment off plan as prices have increased 5 fold in just few years. But I find it a bit far for family travel, but for others it seems fine The highway is very good in most part, and for tourists there are flights, and it is only 30 Km from Hurghada airport.
For tourists they have an excellent get around systems with free buses on routes, water taxi's on
lagoon routes, and now tok toks (3 wheelers like far east) which you can phone for or just find one available. And if you want to explore further there are taxi's from Hurghada.
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