Sharm el Sheik |
| Monday, 27 October 2008 14:12 |
 Sharm el Sheikh is one of the most famous Egyptian resorts on the Red Sea. The town lies at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula on the coastal strip between the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba with the mountains of Sinai in the back. The always blue skies and high temperatures are the norm here, so sunbathers will love it here. Sharm el Sheikh used to be a small fishing village that ended up in the world spotlight in 1967 during the Six - Day War between Egypt and Israel. The Israelis occupied Sharm el Sheikh, but in 1979 it was given back to Egypt because of the peace treaty. After that tourists from around the world appreciated the wonderfully clear water and the beautiful sandy beaches. Then the place became a booming tourist destination. No wonder, since Sharm el Sheikh doesn’t leave any wishes open. Scuba diving and snorkeling is a pleasure in the enchanting underwater world that is like a paradise. Countless coral reefs, particularly in the Ras Mohammed National Park, are home to a variety of colorful fish and some shipwrecks and offer enough opportunities for an underwater adventure. Many renowned diving bases offer their services and you can book day trip or longer excursions. Those that don’t want to miss seeing this beautiful underwater world, but don’t want to get wet, will like the glass bottom boats or the trips with the submarine. With the submarine you are quickly face to face with the underwater creatures, but from a safe distance. Of course there are some other water sports, such as, for example, water skiing, jet skiing, sailing or surfing. There are really enough water activities to participate in here. However, on land there is also a log going on, like golf, tennis, squash and the obligatory ride on the horse or camelback riding along the beautiful sandy beaches. At night you can recuperate by eating Arabic or international meals in one of the many good restaurants. Highly recommended is the Egyptian regional cuisine with delicious lamb or chicken dishes. Among the most popular side dishes are Tahina, a rich sesame paste, and hummus, a chickpea puree and Baba Ghannoug, sesame sauce with eggplant. Then it's out into the varied nightlife of Sharm el-Sheikh. Bars and clubs with different music styles await anyone wanting to party. Recommended is a visit to Naama Bay to the north. Naama Bay is also called the small Las Vegas of Egypt and has plenty of celebrities and international jet-set crowds. As you can imagine, in the casinos and nightclubs people are active and party. During the day you can go shopping in Sharm el Sheikh, whether in the bazaar for a few typical souvenirs or in the sophisticated boutiques. You will find everything that your heart desires. Of course a rental car is waiting for you and with it you can go on a tour through the countryside. There are many sights to see right in the vicinity. There is, for example, the St. Catherine monastery in the mountains at approx. 4921 feet high. This is supposedly the location of the burning bush where God revealed himself to Moses. The monastery itself dates back to the 6th century and it played a big role in church history. The Islamic prophet Mohammed was a guest there many times before becoming a prophet. The monastery is very much worth seeing, even for the not so spiritually predisposed people. It is certainly wonderful to travel through the amazing landscape by car. |
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