Hurghada (Egypt)

Hurghada was first established on the Red Sea coast about 100 years ago as a community of fishermen and workers in the oil industry. In the past few years, the city has grown into the largest tourist resort in Egypt.

Hurghada was first established on the Red Sea coast about 100 years ago as a community of fishermen and workers in the oil industry. In the past few years, the city has grown into the largest tourist resort in Egypt.
The colourful coral reefs off the beaches are a holiday paradise meaning that it is not only divers and snorkellers but also water sports enthusiasts who will find everything they could ever wish for along the long, fine sand beaches. It is possible to bathe in the sea throughout the year and the excellent service in the modern hotel complexes mean that no holiday wish remains unfulfilled.
One will feel like one has gone back in time when on a visit to the Oriental bazaar in Dahar, Hurghada's new city centre. The colourful stalls draw in visitors with their intensely scented spices, hand-worked leather wares, shiny copper and brass goods and traditional jewellery. One will soon chance upon some or other pleasant souvenir for which one must then barter with the stallholder as haggling for the best sales price is part of the bazaar experience.
Equally deeply embedded in the Egyptian mentality is the balanced attitude for life that leads to the famous IBM formula: insha'allah, bukra, malesh! Insha'allah means "as God wishes", bukra is "tomorrow" although it is an elastic concept of time and malesh stands for "what the heck". Hence when something doesn't work: What the heck, maybe it will work tomorrow, as God wishes.