El Andalous - Seeing What's New

New Installation on the Boardwalk

It’s always interesting to see what’s changed when I come back; there’s usually a tinge of sadness for the businesses that didn’t make it and curiosity about the new ones that have just started up. Many of the shops are offered rent-free premises for the first year or two in Sahl Hasheesh and then after that, they have to pay. The result is that most aren’t able to establish themselves sufficiently well within those first two years and disappear after the rent-free period.

However, it all seemed a bit different this time round. Sahl Hasheesh was a hive of building activity. A whole new complex of apartments is just starting to be built behind the BestWay supermarket along to the Sunrise Romance hotel extension (which used to be called Premier Romance so has obviously now been taken over by a new chain). The villa district further behind El Andalous is progressing with some very nice buildings being constructed there. The Sunrise Romance hotel extension at the back has swimming pools installed, the entrance hallway is being decorated, and the windows all have glass. It's almost there! Further along the coastline a whole complex is under construction which is allegedly supposed to be three 5-star hotels, a golf course, an acqua park, and a theatre (really?). It’s progressing really fast.

Rumours are around that Egypt is supposed to be a top ten tourist destination next year and the top destination by 2020; this has no doubt inspired the rush to build.

The resort company for Sahl Hasheesh has installed a funky thing along the boardwalk, which is in the photo since it will save me the alleged 1000 words. See-saws (!) have been placed opposite Bus Stop, there’s a lighted sign saying “Old Town”, there are two swinging benches along the boardwalk, plus some blue benches too.

Everywhere I went, something had changed! Il Gusto was no longer there, but had become Sailors Beach Club. This was quite a shock, since Il Gusto has been there for years. However, the new place has pretty much the same facilities (café, restaurant, beach bar, beach) but a different menu and more expensive prices. That’s not so surprising because prices for everything have risen (including electricity and water).

Chez Paul (cafe/restaurant) had gone quite a while ago, but that’s now been replaced by Café Coffee Day, which is also a restaurant. It does good coffee, but I think with its name people don’t realize that it also serves proper food, so it’s seeming quite empty. The Sunrise Romance has added Indian and Lebanese restaurants to its offerings. An art shop has opened up, so it’s good to see something that’s not clothes or food for a change.

There’s even a free minibus now that will take you round the resort and bus stops have been placed by all the major hotels and residences. As is usual here, it’s in its preliminary launch phase, which means they’re not advertising it, the bus stops aren’t finished, and there isn’t any timetable, but you can use the minibus if you see it or if you ask a security guard. This is OK, but it just makes you wonder if it really is working or not. Most people have no idea that it's there and when people see it, they don't know what it is. Communication isn't a strong point in Egypt. The idea of a free bus is good, though, since once it's established, it should encourage people to explore beyond their all-inclusive hotels and maybe spend some money in the shops. It also gives the hotels something else to advertise.

It’s all very encouraging, but the half-built buildings are still standing empty and don’t seem to be progressing, so we can only hope that all these new activities will complete and not end up as yet other monuments to ideas that went stale. However it does look as if Egypt is finally gearing up to be a prime tourist destination again, at long last. Come and join the party!