Going downtown

WEDNESDAY 27th

A hazy start with less wind but not convinced it was warm enough to laze by the pool or sea. So by 10am we began to walk uphill along the route dividing the golf course to the shopping centre and getting a view of the back of our hotel. A sign warning about cars on the road amused us. We kept to the footpath crossing the road by the nearest roundabout to the buildings, each roundabout having a security guard by it, but we never could understand what for as all the roads in and out of the area are security gated.

Keeping to the outside of what we thought was a mosque we had to ask directions from two men working on one of the buildings close by. He pointed us through an archway and following his signs we came to 'The Magic Carpet' to be accosted by a persistant carpet seller! Keith walked on but I had trouble trying to escape. Eventually I caught up with him whilst trying to find the supermarket where we hoped to by water and cheaper beer and wine. Gazing around the area with several empty shops, closed eating places, but it was early, bar and bank we couldn't see the supermarket. We met a couple from London and whilst I was in a conversation with her Keith was hearing about her 78 year old husband being a freeman of London. I would have been interested to hear him speak of his experiences too. (When we all met at the bus stop to take us back to our hotels on the courtesy bus (local name taff taff) we found ourselves sat with them. They love their holidays and at 76 he took his first and last dive in Kenya as it nearly killed him!)

We found the supermarket but not the entrance. We had walked past it when I was taking a photo of old wooden doors by the Bedouin house that lead out of the complex into the desert.

We spent the afternoon lazing by the pool and 'Breeze' restaurant after having lunch there. On our return to our room we did a little more exploring before returning through the 'Palm Court', an area of floor cushions and hubble pipes and where one could take afternoon tea.

We returned to 'Breeze' for our evening meal as the wind had died away but the patio heaters were alight for which we were very grateful. We gave 'On the Rocks' a miss tonight.