The Day I Took a Lagoon Trip
A boat trip around the el Gouna Lagoons might not be your wildest adventure, but it will definitely be your best chance at discovering the architectural variety of this town.
My mother and I took the small Zodiac style motorised boat with a local 'driver' from beside the Club House downtown. Four hundred pounds Egyptian gave us a one hour tour from the downtown to Abu Tig Marina back to Steigenberger resort and Paradisio passing by a maze of winding lagoons.
At least for me it was revealing, for I have finally managed to distinguish between buildings belonging to the 5 different phases of development. And I am no expert in architectural styles.
But every new visual piece of information, triggered in me the desire to learn more about who did what in order for Gouna to come to life. And so, I discovered that apart from 3 prominent architects who hail from Egypt (Shehab Mazhar, Ramy El-Dahan and Ahmad Hamdy) El Gouna prides itself on the team efforts of foreign architects who brought in Mediterranean influences, Tuscany touches, Spanish and Yemeni elements, American Golf expertise and so on.
I am still amazed at what I discovered through this relaxing boat trip I took, realizing that a blend of so many different influences can result in such a unitary and traditional town.
If only for this and El Gouna can be considered one of the most cosmopolitan places in Egypt.
After taking this trip, I still can't make up my mind on which villa type I like the most. Be it modern or traditional, Nubian or Mediterranean, white or in earth colors.....all I can tell you for sure is that I fell in love with the mashrabia windows, the layered ceilings, the domes and vaults, the beautiful gardens....
Nothing is out of place, everybody feels at home in this aesthetically unified setting.
My mother and I took the small Zodiac style motorised boat with a local 'driver' from beside the Club House downtown. Four hundred pounds Egyptian gave us a one hour tour from the downtown to Abu Tig Marina back to Steigenberger resort and Paradisio passing by a maze of winding lagoons.
At least for me it was revealing, for I have finally managed to distinguish between buildings belonging to the 5 different phases of development. And I am no expert in architectural styles.
But every new visual piece of information, triggered in me the desire to learn more about who did what in order for Gouna to come to life. And so, I discovered that apart from 3 prominent architects who hail from Egypt (Shehab Mazhar, Ramy El-Dahan and Ahmad Hamdy) El Gouna prides itself on the team efforts of foreign architects who brought in Mediterranean influences, Tuscany touches, Spanish and Yemeni elements, American Golf expertise and so on.
I am still amazed at what I discovered through this relaxing boat trip I took, realizing that a blend of so many different influences can result in such a unitary and traditional town.
If only for this and El Gouna can be considered one of the most cosmopolitan places in Egypt.
After taking this trip, I still can't make up my mind on which villa type I like the most. Be it modern or traditional, Nubian or Mediterranean, white or in earth colors.....all I can tell you for sure is that I fell in love with the mashrabia windows, the layered ceilings, the domes and vaults, the beautiful gardens....
Nothing is out of place, everybody feels at home in this aesthetically unified setting.
contributed by Valentina C.
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