8 April ’04 Thursday. Our climb really showed on us this morning. Our legs just didn’t want to take a step up or down ANY stairs, pure jelly!!! It was really tough. It was decided that possibly the best medicine was to get out and walk, so that’s what we did…. Louise’s step counter showed 23,300 steps. It all started with a trip to the “Old Market” in Sharm el Sheikh. A little “shopping” wont hurt? Well, as we left the hotel (our second since arriving) we had to head out for “The Stairs”. This is a “shortcut” to the market and it includes a series of 65 stairs (I counted them). Now for those who have been in Cabo San Lucas and walked the “streets” of the Pedregal know what stone stairs are like… uneven as they can possibly make them, then there are those were the stone step is completely gone leaving a hole to step in. Shopping our way through the morning we decided to have lunch at one of the many little restaurants around. While sitting there enjoying our beverage of choice a man walked down the stairs into this little restaurant swinging a basket full of smoking coals. He disappeared into the kitchen area for awhile and curiosity got us. It seems that this man goes from business to business every morning with his coals and incense to bring good luck and much business. Well, the waiter stopped him and he came over to our table, swung the coals all around our heads, set the basket to the table spreading hot ash coals over our clothes (and quickly brushing them off) bid us good luck (for a small pittance). I guess this is a good time to put in a little word about the CAT’S…. Cat’s are everywhere !!! Some are very cute and look in good health and then there is the other side. They pretty much stay to themselves and run off except when there is food around and then they just wait to see if there is a handout. Following lunch we slowly made our way back to the hotel for a little pool time and rest before going to Naama Bay to look for our 3rd hotel needed because we were being evicted after Thursday. It seems that Easter has become a “holiday” here for all to come to the beach resorts and smell the flowers (something like “Spring Break”). We needed one more night and felt lucky to find a room. It did cost us $80US but we were able to stay in town and it was a resort on the beach…NICE! Now a quick cab ride to the bus station to get our tickets for our trip back to Cairo on Saturday. As luck would have it, you can’t buy your tickets until the day prior. Well, a quick walk over to the “Old City” for a sea food dinner, back to “The Stairs”, around the corner and back for our last night in the Sunset Hotel which we had to be out by 10am.