Mt. Sinai

As I am writing this my entire body aches over the events of the day and poor Lori ended her day with arm in a hard cast and two shots in the rear.

The day started with sleeping in and an elegant buffet breakfast followed by laying out at the pool and going for a dip in the water.  After a relaxing morning we got cleaned up and checked out of the hotel.  We loaded up the van and headed to St. Catherines and Mt. Sinai.




The landscape was breathtaking... a mixture between garden of the gods (Colorado) and desert.  To think that Moses and the Israelite people crossed the Red Sea and then wandered in the wilderness much like this for 40 years was astounding.

After driving about halfway, we stopped on the side of the road for a fish break.  Using leftovers from the night befores dinner, I took half a pita, filled it with rice and fish and it made a very satisfying lunch.


 Finished the 2 and a half hour drive, very quickly checked in our hotel and then headed to St. Catherine's to begin our journey up the mountain.  For 110 Egyptian pounds we hired our bedouin guide, Ahmed. 







After climbing for 2 and a half hours then 750 very narrow rock steps, we made it to the top... just as the sun was setting.  The views and colors were stunning.  The temperature at the top, even with all the hiking required a long sleeve shirt and hoodie.  The hike makes the Kalaupapa trail seem like a stroll in the park... the height... the ledges... the incline...

The way up was slow and steady... the way down was treacherous.  We hiked down by cell phone light!  On more than one occasion sliding on lose rocks with the padding of my dearrie air to break my fall.  After the first slip... I held on to Reda the rest of the way down. 

Which brings me to why Lori's arm is in a cast?  On her way down, gravity took its course and pulled her to it... while falling a rock jumped out and she hit her hand on it.  This caused what is more than likely a hairline fracture.  Immediately it started swelling and by the time we got down the mountain, we were in need of a doctor.




The doctor from St. Catherine's came and put a cast on it and gave Lori some pain meds.  While he was doing this, I took a shower and laid down.  My body aches and my head is feeling warm... I am TIRED!

Next time, I am joining this guy up the mountain!