AN OLD LADY AND A CROOK

Yesterday was a quiet exciting day ! It started when Nicole stood naked in her bathroom just stepping out of the shower, when she saw an elderly lady who stood there and looked around.

She wasn't bothered at all seeing a naked woman. She studied the things in the bathroom and said that her brush was missing. Nicole who didn't understand a word because the lady was German, quickly wrapped herself into a bath towel, made a sign to the woman and then she knocked at our door to ask for help.

The woman told me that her son had a lot of girlfriends and that's why she had chosen another room. I tried to explain her that she couldn't go like that into another room and how could she use her card and it had worked on Nicole's door. It turned out that Nicole hadn't closed the door properly, that's why the woman got in and declared that it is now  her room.

There was something wrong with her. I asked where her son's room was and that I would bring her there, but she said there were so many girls and she didn't want to disturb him. What a comprehensive mother ! Then I tried to find out her room number but nothing to do, she always told me another number ! Finally we took her to the reception, where an employee took care of her. She thanked us several times, kissing and hugging us and then she asked if we also belonged to the girls her son had taken into his room.

Nicole and I once away laughed that much that we were crying ! What a compliment, for us old girls ! Now I would like to see the son ! He must be at least a copy of George Clooney !

In the evening we took a taxi to Hurghada's city center. Of course we had to haggle for the price. Finally the guy agreed to take us there for 1.50 € (1.30$). He prefered to have Egyptian pounds. Dominique had Egyptian pounds but only a big banknote. The guy said that he would change her the money into smaller banknotes, which he did. I still insisted that he should take the Euros but Dominique said it doesn't matter. So she payed and came out of the taxi with a big pile of banknotes.

I didn't pay attention, but then when she wanted to pay her shopping and mine, the shop owner told her that instead of giving her Egyptian pounds he had given her Piaster notes ! That would be the same as if instead of a Dollar note you would get a 1 cent note ! With this kind of "exchange" she had lost 50 € (65$ ) ! Disgusting ! the shop owner was disgusted too, especially because it had been a taxi company and not a private car taxi driver.

He told us to watch if the guy returns to our hotel take the taxi number and then he would go with us to the police and catch the guy. We don't have a lot of hope, but this morning Dominique at 10 am sat  outside the hotel and watched with eagle eyes trying to catch the crook's taxi.

So be very careful if ever you go to Egypt there are Egyptian Pounds notes and Piaster notes (which have no value at all, but looks very much like an Egyptian Pounds note ! 



This had spoiled our walk through the city and after a last drink we took a taxi back, this time I haggled and insisted to pay in Euros and we got back for just one Euro ! Fortunately I love to haggle and with me they don't do any business !



Yesterday afternoon I had this beautiful waterpipe sitting on my table ! For a Cyber Café it looks very romantic !