Growing uncertainty in Egypt has forced a Vernon resident to abandon his dream vacation.
Dan Martel, a 56-year-old developer, is expected home today after fleeing Cairo because of the growing protest against President Hosni Mubark.
“We had been nagging him to go on a trip and he finally booked one,” said daughter Leah Riley.
Martel had left the Okanagan Friday and by the time he arrived in Cairo, his scheduled tour had been cancelled because of the civil unrest.
He had to remain in the airport until an evacuation flight was organized by the Canadian government.
“We hadn’t heard anything from him since Friday,” said daughter Christie Martel.
“The only way we knew he was OK was because we saw him standing in front of a plane on CBC.”
The sisters contacted the Canadian embassy in an attempt to find out about their father.
“We were wanting answers and to hear things,” said Riley.
Martel phoned home early Tuesday morning to say he was in Frankfurt, Germany.
“He sounded really good on the phone,” said Riley.
“It’s been a long few days for him.”
While the conversation was brief, Martel described some of the tension underway in Cairo.
“There were guns pointed at him and fighter planes overhead,” said Christie, who was thankful for the phone call.
“It’s been very stressful waiting to hear from him.”
