Quite An Interesting Day
Today was a half day rest with varied activities and then a tour of the Tabernacle at Timna Park. Or that was the schedule. But it turned out to be much more than this.
We scattered in the morning for various activities or for rest. Some stayed by the pool and read. Some went snorkeling in the aquatic nature preserve near our hotel. Two of our ladies went on an hour and a half camel ride into the desert with the bedouins. They enjoyed a light lunch/snacks cooked over a fire. They said it was a great adventure. Others rested and were treating themselves to some sun. And three of us went diving. This was an extra special event.
Our plan intended that we would all be back to the hotel to leave for Timna Park by 2:00. We finished our second dive and time was short. Our dive master suggested we take what we needed in a sealed box and swim to the shore from the boat (100 yards) and walk to our hotel nearby to save time. We agreed. But as we swam we found ourselves in a protected coral area. We were yelled at to get to the nearby buoyed area and once ashore were met by a member of the National Park Service. He let us know our crime (standing on the coral) and that this was a felony and he was going to have to charge us. 😳😳
We talked briefly and he said he was willing to just give us a warning, but we would have to give them our passport numbers so they could write up the warning. None of us had them with us. While the other two (unnamed at this point to protect them 😉) went back to the hotel to retrieve the passports, I (Pat) was detained. In fact, my feet were cut on the coral (incriminating evidence) and they treated my scrapes while we waited. We found the group had left for Timna already and passports or access to them was not possible. The two returned and I suggested they allow me to return to the hotel because I had everyone’s number. They did, they wrote our warnings, and we returned to the hotel to await the group’s return. Meanwhile, initial communication with the group caused them to think we were somehow detained by Egyptians because we were diving about a quarter to half mile north of the border. Once they understood we were simply detained by the Park Service they enjoyed their visit to Timna.
It was quite an interesting day. Here are some pictures provided by those who participated in other activities. No mug shots are being provided!!
We scattered in the morning for various activities or for rest. Some stayed by the pool and read. Some went snorkeling in the aquatic nature preserve near our hotel. Two of our ladies went on an hour and a half camel ride into the desert with the bedouins. They enjoyed a light lunch/snacks cooked over a fire. They said it was a great adventure. Others rested and were treating themselves to some sun. And three of us went diving. This was an extra special event.
Our plan intended that we would all be back to the hotel to leave for Timna Park by 2:00. We finished our second dive and time was short. Our dive master suggested we take what we needed in a sealed box and swim to the shore from the boat (100 yards) and walk to our hotel nearby to save time. We agreed. But as we swam we found ourselves in a protected coral area. We were yelled at to get to the nearby buoyed area and once ashore were met by a member of the National Park Service. He let us know our crime (standing on the coral) and that this was a felony and he was going to have to charge us. 😳😳
We talked briefly and he said he was willing to just give us a warning, but we would have to give them our passport numbers so they could write up the warning. None of us had them with us. While the other two (unnamed at this point to protect them 😉) went back to the hotel to retrieve the passports, I (Pat) was detained. In fact, my feet were cut on the coral (incriminating evidence) and they treated my scrapes while we waited. We found the group had left for Timna already and passports or access to them was not possible. The two returned and I suggested they allow me to return to the hotel because I had everyone’s number. They did, they wrote our warnings, and we returned to the hotel to await the group’s return. Meanwhile, initial communication with the group caused them to think we were somehow detained by Egyptians because we were diving about a quarter to half mile north of the border. Once they understood we were simply detained by the Park Service they enjoyed their visit to Timna.
It was quite an interesting day. Here are some pictures provided by those who participated in other activities. No mug shots are being provided!!
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