Just back from a week's R & R (rest and recuperation) in El Gounna. As usual everything was just as it should be. It was really nice to see the staff at the Arenna Inn (still my preferred hotel) and the guys at Jobo's.

The strange thing about El Gounna is that it never looks crowded. Wandered around Downtown or the Marina during the day and I was surprised at the lack of people. I guess everyone was at the beach or on trips (mind you, the hotel staff did say the resort was a little quieter than usual).

Ate out all the time (I have an endless hunger for pasta and Sakkara) and I only had one bad experience. There's a new eatery at the marina called Pier 66. Pleasant surroundings (it's a pontoon docked in the marina) and it looks very clean, so I've no complaints there. On the downside, the food is bit pricey by El Gounna standards and I'm sure there's better value for money in other places. I opted for chicken salad and was dismayed at how dry the chicken was. After I ran out of sauce (quite tasty), I had to leave the rest of the chicken. Told the waitress that the fish soup was very nice (actually, the soup was yummy), but I was less than impressed with the chicken.

When I was charged the full amount for the chicken, I told her that I was not paying. In a change from the normal way of handling this, the waitress then became quite rude and told me that other customers had eaten chicken earlier without adverse comment. Ok, that may be so, but it doesn't change the fact that the chicken was inedible.

After a bit of a shouting match, the owner politely conceded defeat, but the waitress refused to give in. By this time, I'd had enough. I gave her what I thought I should pay and left. The police haven't been beating down my door, so I must have won a moral victory.

I'm not saying that you should not eat at Pier 66 (after all folks are just trying to make a living), but be prepared for a battle if you comment on the food.

I'm back to El Gounna on Fri 6th July to see the Marina party. The belly dancers are very easy on the eye............

WG