TOURISM NEWS – AT 9:32 A.M. ET:  Former U.S. ambassador to Egypt Dan Kurtzer, appearing on CNN, has confirmed that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has fled Cairo and is now in Sharem a-Sheikh (often spelled Sharm el-Sheikh.) 

Kurtzer reports that Mubarak has checked into a hotel, where he often stays.  Sharm is a well-known Egyptian resort, and often the scene of international conferences.  We understand the hotel has fine food, a decent gym, and colossal room service.  The beds are too soft, though. 

Please note that Sharm is southeast of Cairo, near the Red Sea.  It is a very close flying distance to Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.  The Saudis are particularly close to Mubarak, and the Saudi king is a personal friend. 

At the same time, The New York Times is reporting the impression – and we have to be careful about going too far, considering the way we were misled yesterday – but the impression that there is a transfer of power to the army underway.  That is tentative.

February 11, 2011