The Ferry to Jordan

Our trip to the Middle East was never dull and we had to learn and relearn the lesson of patience and flexibility. We left Dahab for Nuweiba expecting to take the ferry to Jordan a couple of hours later. Well, that was before the sand storm and high winds from hell. We sat around all day as we waited for them to bring the ferry into port, but alas the wind was just too strong. At first there were several cafes open, we all drank about 6 cups of Turkish kahve before the wind started breaking out the glass windows of the little restaurant. They boarded up and we had to move into the van. Nuweiba was a ghost town as everyone tried to patiently wait out the storm. While we were reading, playing cards and listening to Ipods in the van, suddenly the back window of the van busted out and we were left exposed to the multitude of sand that gathered on our luggage, in our hair, shoes and clothes. Well, loopy from the caffeine and sitting around all day, Allana, Mollie and I decided that the open back window made a perfect stage for a puppet show. We entertained the others with our comic routines until we found a place to stay for the night.

Shortly after this we checked into a hotel and were greeted by a hotel staff that was bordering on giddy to have guests. Basically, there is nothing in Nuweiba except the ferry and the hotel depends on stranded passengers to pay the bills. They prepared a special 5 course meal special for us while we drank wine and shook the sand out of our clothes. Once the meal came, the food didn't stop... all night. We had salad, soup, a main course, desert, then tea, then special Egyptian fruits, more tea, more desert. After we could barely move due to our expanded bellies, the manager came out and ushered us to the "disco". At first we were all incredulous, but followed him outside to a disco that Ali Baba and his 40 thieves would be proud of. The dining staff suddenly transformed the place into a hopping disco--our waiter spinning records and getting the disco ball moving. Wind whipping through the disco we all felt a little wild as we danced away the stresses of the day.

When we got tired of dancing the staff brought out more food--roasted sweet potatoes and corn, mezes and of course the nargile. Then, on of our waiters came out dressed in drag and did the funniest, but also most impressive belly dance I've ever seen a man do! Completely full, I laughed so hard that I thought I might throw up.
The night ended as we literally passed out from food and dancing. I will never forget our little desert disco oasis.