Margarita and Luca, book 1. Julia Alex A.

of alcohol! ;)

      Then my students came with a huge lemon cake, made to order for me. Touching… Unfortunately I don’t enjoy sweets, but I like how confectionary look and smell, anyway I always prefer a large piece of pork to them. So the cake was being fed to everyone dropped in on me.

      Then I met with the friends from other cities where I used to live, all of them are close so it was quite convenient. This time they arrived unexpectedly without notification, and I’m grateful to them endless! On occasion only a good kick in my ass can move me from the working desk.

      After the International Women's Day crept quietly… Seas of flowers and drunk men at every corner…

      To sum it up – the hangover was outstanding…”

      Luke’s letter.

      “Me, I’m stuck to a computer all day long, irritating… Thinking it’s high time to change the job. Thanks to this boredom I’m having a “withdrawal syndrome”. I desperately need to escape somewhere for a week! What do you think about Egypt? Turkey?”

      Margot’s letter

      “Ah, I feel so sorry for you! Being tied to one place all day long – that drives crazy, it’s so annoying counting hours waiting for the working day to finish – one can be bored to death! I couldn’t make myself working like that, I remember that managed only 2 months and then quit on the New Year’s Eve. I hope you’ll find something more exciting soon.

      Red Sea is mesmerizing by the set of colorful fishes that swirl curious shoals around you, right close to your face. There is only one problem: while admiring the wonders of the underwater world, you do not notice how time flies, you spend eternity, then for dinner you cannot sit on your bottom because the entire back part of your body has got burnt on the merciless African sun! My friends and I were vacationing in December and experienced the itchy-ass experience first-hand.

      I should warn you: service in Egypt is mostly awful, except for few five-star hotels in Sharm El Sheikh (for example Savoy) and Hurghada (Golden Five), perhaps another one good is in Taba (Radisson Sas). There is nowhere to go if you are outside of your lovely hotel: the desert and frightful white houses without windows. But there is one town – Naama Bay in Sharm El Sheikh where there is also a Duty Free shop. You can stroll along the street lined with stores with bright eastern utensils and rest on sofas, which are all along the street, sipping local cold reddish hibiscus drink. Or go to a cafe with hookahs a bit farther from the mortal coil, where apart from the usual fruit filling someone will whisper in your ear offering opium or something like that …

      In such circumstances, among some jolly friends you can spend time memorably, trust me!

      Turkey is much more civilized: pretty neat towns, big intriguing cities with impressive hotels, discos and restaurants, greenery, the sea is clean and beautiful, but fish is not abundant. Engaging in diving is not very fascinating. Besides, it’s quite chilly there up till the end of May.

      You go to a hotel or …?

      I'm so glad that you’ll tear yourself away from the boring place for a while! : D You’ll feel relieved at once!”

      Margaret sent the letter, took a cherry-coloured bag and headed for a new wardrobe, sanctioned by the American chief company. After she goes to Dubai! And there is a strict dress-code: elbows, knees and everything else should be covered.

      CHAPTER 12

      UAE

      First, I would like to give you, my dear reader, a little historical reference about the United Arab Emirates.

      In the 70s there was a significant jump in prices for oil. In the same year, more precisely on the second of December 1971, six emirates of Trucial Oman, and Ras Al Khaimah joined them a year later, created a federation of the UAE, a dreamlike state was built in the desert in an unprecedented short term.

      So, the United Arab Emirates are in the Middle East, the Arabian peninsula is surrounded by the Persian Gulf in the north and Oman to the east. Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al-Cu-Wayne and Fujairah, along with several islands in the Persian Gulf compose the UAE. The basis of the economy is production and export of oil and gas and a rapidly growing tourism industry.

      The UAE government is worthy of all respect, because it essentially creates a paradise for its citizens. Residents are not burdened with utility payments, the newlyweds receive an apartment and an interest-free loan for the wedding, which is repaid by the State in case of a child’s birth. Just when a toddler appears family gets a villa (the apartment remains theirs, they usually rent it to someone), and the husband gets an increase in the amount of another salary, and so with every child born in the family. Thus the wise government believes that if you have ten children – you need ten salaries! Unique logic, isn’t it?! Children can acquire higher education at any university of the world at the expense of the Treasury. It is said that these Muslims are too rigid, they put a woman into prison for an abortion. But isn’t it a sin in such luxurious living conditions! There are no homeless people as by begging a man sentences himself to imprisonment. No thieves: people leave cars at the parking lot with the ignition key in and go for a leisurely walk to the mall! A seller gives you a diamond necklace to take home without any collateral – to show your husband: "If he likes it – bring the money tomorrow!"

      These people protect themselves from dangerous viral infections and bacteria: every one that applies for a resident visa is required to donate blood for HIV, hepatitis, syphilis. Analyses are verified in the UAE.

      Citizens who have these diseases are denied a visa. On the one hand, it should be considered

      discrimination. On the other – the government’s maternal care of the citizens of the state.

      Conclusion is that people in many countries do not live, they survive in comparison with Emirates. The country lives under Sharia law, which simultaneously seem both fair and cruel.

      The Holy Quran and Sunnah – are read in order to learn how to act in different, sometimes quite controversial situations. They are based on the actions of the Prophet Muhammad and considered as the basis of Sharia. Muslims of different countries deal shortly with applying the law accurately. Thus, for murder, rape and adultery the guilty ones are sometimes sentenced to death, for theft – to amputation of hands.