Suez to Nuweiba

It’s an expensive hassle getting out of Suez to Nuweiba.

I had been told that the main bus station doesn’t have direct buses to Nuweiba, but there are microbuses. I pick up a taxi outside the Arafat hotel and the taxi-driver takes me to the microbus centre. Only to be told that there is only a “Special Taxi” to Nuweiba – for E£400. Finding someone who speaks English is tricky in Suez at the best of times, and it takes some 30 minutes to find someone who can help me. I am told i can head to “Tunnel” in a taxi (E£30) and there is a microbus hanging out by the slip road into Sinai. We wait for almost 2 hours before the drive tells us if we pay E£50 (usual fare is about E£40) we can leave immediately. Twenty minutes later we hit the road.

There is a heavy military presence across the Sinai desert and we stop regularly to show passports/id cards. The desert is flat and barren almost all the way through to Taba. Taba is the border crossing through to Israel. From here the desert changes with grey rocky outcrops close the Red Sea. Having not seen an ocean since Tanzania, it’s great to view the sparkling blue waters. Massive tourist development scatters the shoreline – most half-completed shells of swish chalets and up-market hotels. Clearly it’s been earmarked as the new Sharm El – Sheikh. And pretty it is too.

Finally arriving in Nuweiba, four hours from departing Suez i take a further taxi to Soft Beach Camp where there are a few elderly fat Europeans (predominantly German) and a smattering of backpackers. At E$40 for a small, very basic beach-hut it’ll do for a few days before i take the ferry across to South Jordan. Just not convinced it’s the right South Jordan i should be visiting at the moment.

More on Nuweiba to follow.

Suez

There are a few direct buses travelling from Alex to Suez daily. I opt for the Mid/West Delta bus departing at 9am. It takes just under five hours and costs E£30.

To be honest, i simply want to break up my journey as i head toward Jordan via the daily ferry from Nuweiba, and Lonely Planet says Suez is a great place to watch large tankers journey through the 190kms passage, with more than 20,000 vessels passing through each year, amounting to 14% of all world trade. Constructed between 1859 – 1869, its surface width is 280-345m and has a depth of 22.5m.

Whether it is the recent uprisings in Egypt or simply slow traffic, the waterway remains very quiet and i only get a chance to witness one large cargo vessel slide through. Army officers and tanks are everywhere, and around the docks and concourse i am forbidden to take any photographs. Even when i park up by a canal-side cafe!

The town is divided into Suez and Port Tawfiq, and both seem to have little to offer the passing travellist.

There is only one budget hotel to be found – the poorly Arafat Hotel which charges E£75 self contained room. Seriously over-priced for its condition.

One night and i am pleased to continue onwards.

Onwards to Suez

Off to investigate - will report back soon i hope