Word has got round the hotel that I am long staying and occasionally I tip!! Now it seems that every employee of the hotel is being extremely polite.
The laundry man came back again to check that the laundry was to my satisfaction. The housekeeper for the first time came by and asked whether I was happy with all the work he had done.
The concierge makes a point of looking out to find me to see if I need anything. If this isn’t flagrant or rather official begging I’m not sure.
The pool area has been much warmer the last few days and there are many more people around even though most are all in transit. Finally finishing the “Alfarhe”? novel. Not sure about fiction but I seem to question most of its plausibility. Doesn’t seem to hit the spot and have struggled through. It’s a good story line but not written that well and some of the historical references make no sense. Now I’m getting into Genghis Khan, which is written in the present and refers to historical points. This reads much better and has a good flow. The other benefit is that I have a soft spot for old Genghis, especially with his ravaging through Uzbekistan. Even the great Egyptians weren’t able to emulate the great Khan.
There were two (late 50’s and 60’s) women eating last night in one of the restaurants I was in, one with a very squeaky voice. Both extolling the virtues of the fish soup, must give that a go, with other guests. One reminds me of Aunty Betty and I can visualise Hazel and Betty travelling on their famous holidays together. The two women are by the pool today, both at a table, drinking copious amounts of tea whilst reading. They are the epitome of two spinsters on holiday.
We now see a different group of people each day as this is no more than a transit hotel for tourists going to the Pyramids. In a way it’s a bit like the Tahiti Beach Resort, which was a transit for people coming in and going out of Tahiti to the Islands. That was very 70’s and tired, much worse than this.
Then of course there was that disgusting hotel room on Moorea where we were stuck at the back of the complex by the road and the place hadn’t been cleaned properly as it was so worn out.
The wireless card worked fine round the pool and I was at least able to catch up on e-mails etc. The crap that floods in is out of all proportions. Surprisingly even though the Business Centre Manager apologised that I would be unable to use it in my room as it was too far, I did manage to pick up a good signal. It’s still quite odd sitting by the pool in Egypt using wireless technology listening to Chris Tarrant on Radio 2, which was broadcast on Boxing Day!!
The days have melted into one another following the same routine. Wake and shower then head off to the pool for mid morning. Get ‘Showah’ to put two towels out in my spot, which by the last day he has already reserved for me. Coffee by eleven brought to me by ‘Agmar’ and then lunch for 1.30 either in the restaurant by the pool or on the sun bed. Back on to the bed and wait for the afternoon cool breeze.