Monday
WE ARE GOING DEEPER INTO EGYPT NOW. Mount Sinai here we come!
We still do not have internet.
We are going to visit the St Catherine Monastery. This is located at the base of Mount Sinai on the top of this mountain. The church itself dates back to the sixth century.
These are notes that I made while traveling southward into Egypt.
We are in Egypt now moving south along the Gulf Of Aqaba. I am mostly seeing desert sand with large mountains sprinkled on both sides of me. Beautiful mounds that just seem to have been placed here and there. They line the road on both sides. These hills and mountains are made up of many colors. Red, green, yellow, and tan. The sky is blue with just a hint of a cloud here and there. The air is cool, even though we are in the desert. The mountains that I am seeing extend upward several thousand feet. They are rugged and weathered.
Occasionally we see tents and huts along the side of the road as well. These are where people have settled in the desert. We are seeing very few cars on the road now. The large bombing last October in Taba (which is where we stayed last night) has crushed the tourist industry. People from Israel usually come here and visit the beaches and resorts. They no longer come. Our tour guide says that perhaps they will eventually come back. Right now they are concerned about the terrorists and their bombings.
I should stop here and rewind :) and say that the resort we stayed at last night is one of the most beautiful ones I have ever seen. David said the same thing. There were beautiful gardens filled with trees and flowers. The flowers were of many colors. The backdrop was the blue waters of the Red Sea. The air was crisp and just a small breeze blew through the air. It was as close to paradise as you are going to get. Literally. The name of this place was Taba - where the resort was located. One really would think that they had found the Garden of Eden. I will post some photographs below of this location.
We have been on the road now for about 45 minutes. It has been miles since we last saw a car. Occasionally we see a camel here and there. They are actually not called camels if they only have one hump. The name for the ones with one hump would be Dramaden (I hope I spelled that right.). Now there are two of them in the middle of the road in front of us :) See the photograph below! They don't really seem to be in a hurry to move. I think they are in charge here!!!!
I will now make sure that I learn more about the people that live here. I want to know more about their struggles from freedom. I found my freedom - I know how it feels to be held prisoner for many years. Someone one must lose their freedom in order to gain it. Sometimes one must lose their freedom in order to truly know what freedom is. This is what I believe.
I feel as if I have been transported
back in time and space. The world I am used to seeing on CNN or Fox News
has suddenly been placed under my feet.
In the past few days I have stood where Israeli Tanks and soldiers shot at
Arafat's Compound.
I have been at the corner bus stop where suicide bombers blew up civilians and soldiers.
I have been in Tel Aviv near the disco tech that was bombed.
I am now in Egypt where I am constantly reading and seeing the news of the Middle East on the USA Networks. It is all very strange.
Images of a world that we can not understand. We can not comprehend a world that is 6000 miles from our homes. But now - now I am here and taking it all in. I am trying to decide who is right and who is wrong in a battle for freedom (on both sides). It is all so complicated.
Anyway...we are on a road in Egypt and we are moving towards the mountains. I would not trade this adventure for anything. The people that we have met in Egypt have been so nice to us. I am excited to see this mountain. I am excited to talk to new people and perhaps make some new friends!
ONWARD WE GO :)
THESE ARE PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE HOTEL - EARLY MORNING
One of the many hallways of this hotel.
This is part of the hotel in Taba - there are many different
buildings within this resort. This area is located just across the
border from Israel.
On of the thousands of flowers in the gardens that
surround the premises.
The Red Sea - Early Monday Morning. Beautiful.
The hotel with the mountains behind it!
Hotel that we stayed at - day one in Egypt!
LEAVING THE HOTEL NOW. WE ARE
HEADING SOUTH INTO EGYPT. NEXT STOP IS GOING TO BE MOUNT SANAI!
CAMEL CROSSING!!! CAUTION CAUTION
Two hours of nothing but BEAUTIFUL mountains and desert.
Amazing just how beautiful an area can be. Even without trees and
flowers - it is still one of God's Wonders!
A little bit of heaven on earth? We did manage to actually find
a few flowers out there! You would be surprised what can
grow in a dry climate!
St Catherines Monastery - this is directly below Mount Sanai. Again
this is the mountain where Moses was supposed to have received
the Ten Commandments. His people (as many of you know from
Bible Class) stayed below while he was away for forty days and
nights. When he returned he found that the people had turned
away from God and were worshipping a golden calf.
Of the bell towers at the monastery.
Two crosses sit atop of the monastery buildings.
I think Norman would really enjoy this area.
David at the Burning Bush with our guide (Moses).
I tried to get David to light the Bush. He was too
chicken to do it though. (David lives on Burning
Bush Road) lol
David walking up the
rocks. We are going to
try and get a better look
at the entire building complex.
Me with the monastery in the background. This monastery dates back to the sixth
century! Lot of history on this one spot.
This is me sitting on top of the rocks. These are some beautiful
rocks that
we are surrounded by. Takes your breath away to see all of these
huge mountains rising up out of the desert. Amazing!
OF COURSE Cheetah had to come along today (I know Kristy is waiting for this
photo!) Eat your heart out Lucy!
Hopefully my nephew and nieces
will be able to see her!
Cheetah with her camel. Cheetah
actually had a camel that was
much more friendly than mine. As you can see.
Cheetah and her camel - about ready to leave!
This is the second trip to Egypt for Cheetah :) Cheetah went
with Doug a few years ago! I believe there might have been a camel
incident during that trip as well.
OK NOW FOR THE CAMELS :) I know Kristy is going to love this! Please no comments from the peanut gallery!
TURN THE PAGE FOR THE CAMEL RIDE UP THE
MOUNTAIN!
CLICK HERE
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