I've just come back from Dahab in Egypt, which was bombed by three suicide bomber explosions on the 24th April. We were about half a mile from the biggest blast and the whole hotel shook. The scenes were absolutely horrific - blood, body parts and flip flops everywhere. I have a feeling that mnore people were injured by vehicles trying to get away than from the bombs themselves.
We decided not to cancel the holiday and stay there, and we were really glad that we did. The day that you let these people scare you away, is the day they have won.
Dahab is a really small town and most locals you met knew at least one of the dead. The damaged shops left all their merchandise in place while repairs were being carried out and nothing was stolen. Shopkeepers gave each other some of their money while their shops were out of action. Unfortunately, many people were horribly injured and their families will struggle to get by now (no welfare in Egypt!)
Walking past the bombing sites last week, glass still crunching underfoot and craters in the ground, I was really touched by the graffitti and messages the Egyptions had draped on the shops, restaurants etc ("5000 years and we are here to stay", "All religions are innocent" etc)
I am not sure what coverage these attacks have had while we have been away, but I thought I would bring it to your attention. Not all arabs are islamic fanatics, just working people struggling to get by.
