Egypt: like an amazon princess between sea and desert
We are in April and the need and desire for a holiday is boundless, to break the working period while waiting for summer holidays.
After following in Facebook the exploits of Mido of the equestrian center “Horseriding Hurgada at the Sunny Horse Stable”, I started to ask for more information. The photos I saw were really amazing; to tell the truth it seemed a bit strange that they were made with tourists and not with riders found on the beach and fascinated by their wonderful horses.
Wow, all true!
Mido is a 22-year-old boy, very nice, sweet and prepared; the equestrian club belongs to his family. They are three brothers, who run 50 Arab horses of extraordinary beauty.
After asking for a thousand information and having it “studded” with messages and questions, I booked my short holiday at Hurghada in Egypt, choosing a hotel close to the place where Mido stays with some horse of the stable.
At the end of April is the perfect time for Hurgada. The whether, the sea, the sun, the coral reef, and the horses, nothing was missing to get away from everyday life and fly in a “magical” world.
Finally, the day of departure has arrived; I am always happy when I have the suitcase in my hand, the travel bag with my riding cap and boots … and my passport ready to be exhibited.
It could only be a trip a bit ‘”daring escape”; No, that’s not me otherwise. I arrived in Cairo a little’ late, with a very tight coincidence time for the flight to Hurgada. I get off the plane and run from the international to the national terminal. What a show! Italian retirees, who have a house in Hurgada took me by the hand and helped me find the right way, to buy a visa and stick it in the passport, all in a record time … Thanks wonderful villagers for having me get to the boarding gate without losing a second, while the boarding was already open for Hurgada.
I would never have succeeded by my own, although traveling is part of my life for me!
I’m on a plane, calm, and happy to get to the dreamed place and meet Mido with the horses.
Reservation in an “all inclusive” hotel on the beach. Meeting Mido. He recognizes me immediately and, since the hotel was right nearby, he brings me to the horses for a first acquaintance.
Contentedness, amazement for the beauty of these horses, and the kindness of Mido, all in a magical setting. Horses, sea, beach, desert …
My four days in Hurgada were organized with outings on horseback, both in the morning and in the afternoon, with the possibility to choose between desert and beach, alone or with other people.
At sunset on the beach, between a ride in the desert and another, I lived in contact with the sea, the sun, a good food and many friendly and nice people intrigued by this “strange woman” who came out from the hotel room already dressed for riding, crossing the beach where the other guests are in a swimsuit and sunbathe, then pass among the tourists on the horseback to disappear on the beautiful beach perceiving the splashes of brackish water while the horse passes on the water’s edge.
Some more detailed info about what you can do on horseback in this beautiful place.
I went out of the hotel, I walk to the horses (200 meters) where folks at the riding school waiting for me. I got into the saddle and went for the desert. We crossed fields, roads with cars passing at unheard-of speed and using the horn like it was always a party there, and then we finally entered into desert.
Being on a wonderful horse, never seen and known, and being told “Trust Your Horse, trust it, you do not have to worry”, generates in me an unexpected calmness. Arrived with the horse on the road, the horse has stopped, got the cars pass while it remains very calm, and after it crossed, as everything were normal. For these it has become a habit, thanks to the hard work of the three brothers, who with so much patience, as soon as a new horse arrives from Cairo, they saddle it every day and teach it to live the place with its “noises” in the most peaceful way possible.
First of all, we began to trot in the desert. A very sweet horse, trot super rhythmic, and Mido who suggest me to do what I want, what I feel. “Do you want to slow down and get back? No problem! Do you want to lengthen the trot? Do you want to start galloping? Do you want to lengthen the gallop and the speed^ … Stay calm, we are not competing with anyone, we are here for your and our fun.” When near you there is a person so responsible, good and calm, and with so much experience, despite the young age, you cannot do anything but stay calm.
Inadvertently because of the trot, I started galloping in this incredibly vast space, with many colors that surrounded me. The desert seems of a single color, but it is not so; actually, it is full of nuances, which arise in front of me. And not only that: it caress me. The temperature is still mild. I looked up and saw the sun going down. Is it magic? No, pure reality. My feeling of freedom breaks out just as it gallops in the desert, with a wonderful guide nearby that makes me laugh and feel the joy and the most pure carefree.
When I stopped I felt a sensation that is still emblazoned inside of me, a feeling of peace, serenity, the horse, proud and at quiet step, gave me serenity … then we stopped and Mido made me feel the thrill of standing on the horses … “Trust them!” .. (You have to have full confidence in them). I had it and the photos are a great test.
Riding, talking, laughing, joking … How could I return to the hotel after an afternoon like that? … I walked around a meter off the ground smiling and with a serenity palpable even for those who had never seen me before.
It is just an example of what you can do and try, but dear friends that you follow me, we are only at the beginning! We just tried what it could mean, a little holiday without any expectations…
In the morning of the following day, I reached my beloved horses. I had a different horse from the day before. We move towards the road. I always have a little anxiety to hear the horns of cars whizzing like it was the racetrack of Monza. Yet, my faithful companion I’m riding is imperturbable, calm. Surprisingly we go in the opposite direction towards the desert, we cross various fields, until arrive on the free beach. We touch the water’s edge and start a beautiful gallop … gallop on the water’s edge … It’s always a bit of a little dream … When I look at the photos of the others riding on the beach, I do not know why, but there is always a bit of envy in me, with an uncontrollable desire to take their place – now it’s up to me and not just to gallop on the beach …. Follow me that you will see other wonderful things.
In the afternoon, the owner of the riding club picks me up and takes me to visit the stable; my horse ride starts there. Very nice place, horses kept very well and exudes their love for these wonderful animals.
I was talking with the owner, the elder brother of the three, who created all this.
He tells me the story of his life, shortly but intense since he has only 30 years old: since he was child all the work he has done it is this, his love for his family, his values, his experiences in other horse racing clubs, his passion for horses and the desire to see them groomed and trained in a sweet way. All this struck me.
We described Egypt, in general, political problems, the cost of living, of a house, the decrease in tourism and their desire to make tourists feel good, because it is their “daily bread” – At Hurgada, Italian tourists fell drastically, for example, in the very large hotel where I stayed, there are only Germans and Russians; I was the only Italian in the whole hotel.
I told him about my approach to horses and my love for this animal that gives me joy every time.
After our pleasant conversations and a minimum of familiarity, he accompanied me on my way out with the horse. From the stables, we went right in the middle of the desert, up to a point where I did not see the end … he told me: “Well, do what you want, I am here, you go gallop and go as fast as the wind and then come back” … Ha ha ha … Then he gave me his horse telling me to take it with me, as I would have found it in the middle of the desert and had to take it home with mine. What experiences!!!! What horses!!!
Let’s say, I felt like a real Amazon princess, alone in the wide desert with two beautiful horses. These are feelings that remain, I assure you.
My all days took place in the name of novelty and new knowledge both with people and with horses.
My evenings are wonderful, in this hotel, dinner buffet, some chat around here and there and then a stroll to the beach bar, to sip a drink accompanied by the sound of the waves and a pleasant background of sea music.
The woman of horses … I like it!
I do not know what I can expect the next day, but I’m ready to face it and anything was told me, only the time of the meeting: 11 a.m. I sleep a few more hours, a bit ‘of beach, a nice breakfast and then I get ready. Actually, I do not prepare myself, they tell me to go dressed as for the beach with a swimsuit because … you will be riding bareback.
The idea of getting on the horse without a saddle is truthfully incomparable, I tried it in South Africa and when you ride bareback, you feel really connected with the horse, a real rider!!
I go towards the back of the hotel, where the horses are and I saw Mido. He had a horse in mind for me. There is another guide on horseback, all in swimsuit.
I climb proudly on my horse and all together go to the sea, passing among tourists who sunbathe. It’s always a great show and you feel a protagonist even if you’re not doing anything. They look at you, envy you a little, they photograph you. Always great to do it.
Surprisingly we do not stop on the water’s edge, but we entered the water and furthermore, we proceed till where the horses no longer touched the soil and started to swim.
NO COMMENT JUST WATCH THE PHOTOS …………………….
Another great day. Can I ask for more?
Beautiful people, kind, smiling, always ready to meet your requests.
Possibility of organizing trekking weeks in the desert. It could be very interesting.
Just to end my little holiday with a flourish and to live in my little dream …. Here they make me feel…
like an Amazon Princess in the Desert
Thanks to Mido, ………………………..at Hurgada sunny stable
I hope to get back to you as soon as I can… Bye-bye, folks!
