The essential seaside guide
NORTH COAST, Alexandria: Beach time is here at last. Everyone is excitedly heading off to the North Coast every weekend, showing off their new swimsuits, swimwear and big beach bags. So what actually goes into that big colorful bag?
Water sprayIn the humid and sunny weather you can’t take a dip every time you get hot. So make sure to get your water atomizer with you to mist yourself regularly.
Sun screen Protect yourself from ultraviolet rays. The minimum sunscreen you should be using is SPF15. Apply it 20 minutes before you are exposed to the sun and keep reapplying it regularly, every two to three hours.
Hair sun screenLike your skin, you need to protect your hair, which is being damaged by not only the sun but also the salt. You can find hair protection at any pharmacy ranging in price between LE 10 for local brands and LE 300 for fancy imported brands.
Big straw hatIf you’re sick of using all these products, a hat is great protection for your face and hair. Plus it has a mysterious, sexy air about it.
Disposable CameraPictures are the best memories, but it is always better to take a disposable camera to the beach, so the sand and humidity don’t ruin your expensive high-tech cameras.
SunglassesOne of the most enjoyable features of the summer is getting to choose a new pair of sunglasses. Ray Ban is still the most popular brand for the second year in a row.
Beach booksWhen on the beach it is time to relax. It s also the perfect opportunity to read for pleasure.
A fun easy read is “Moneypenny Diaries by Kate Westbrook, a fiction based on a James Bond character, who reveals her true role in the build-up to the Cuban missile crisis.
As for those who prefer to read in Arabic, Eerfouh Belhozn (They Knew Him by Melancholy) by Omar Taher is a fun and light book of colloquial poetry. Hassan Abdel Mawgoud’s Ain Al-Qutt (Cat s Eye,) a short novel about magical realism in Upper Egypt, is highly recommended.
Flip flopsYou might not put them in your bag, but having a nice pair of slippers is a necessity worth mentioning. The Havaiana’s (Brazilian rubber slippers) are not only comfortable but are still in this summer. They come in any color you desire and are available in many clothes stores around Egypt.
