Sets of Three

Once again, this will have to be quick. My tours are moving very quickly now, and even though internet is generally available, there just isn't time to write.

We left Aqaba by ferry the day before yesterday. We could see Jordan, Israel and Egypt by simply turning our heads a few degrees, and once we got moving, we could also see Saudi Arabia. It was a very quick and uneventful crossing and clearing customs in Egypt was a cake-walk. We drove to the town of Dahab, which is a diving centre for tourists on the Red Sea. It is very small but really lovely, with a string of beautifully lit little restaurants and bars lining the shoreline. We had a great dinner, during which my headache came back. After dinner a few of us lounged in our hotel's restaurant on the beach and had a drink and some great conversation.

Yesterday we had a quick drive north of town to the Blue Hole, a beautiful reef and dive spot. Actually, there's not much to look at on shore, but the snorkeling was great. The reef is really beautiful and the fish plentiful and colourful. Unfortunately, many of the tourists are total idiots and spend their time walking across the top of the reef, which of course kills it. I expect the reef only has another five or so good years before it's all but dead.

We returned to Dahab and spent a few hours shopping and hanging out around the cute seaside town. We then hopped a bus and rode for a couple of hours to St. Katharine's where we had dinner in our hotel. There's really nothing there except a few hotels - no town to speak of. Our hotel was by far the nicest of the trip and we all pretended that we were travelling in style. We were wakened at 2:30 AM and bundled onto the bus which dropped us at St. Katherine's monastery. We climbed to the top of Mt. Sinai and were huddled at the top for the sunrise. It was a beautiful night for a walk - the sky was clear and the stars were out in full-force. It was quite cold, especially at the summit where the wind was quite strong. There were a couple of tea-houses along the seven kilometre route so we could warm up along the way. Camel blankets were also available for rent at the top, which we all took advantage of. The sunrise was really beautiful and well worth the climb. We descended by the steeper route which is a series of stairs, rather that the gentle camel track that we took up. We were unable to visit the monastery as it was closed to the public, but I understand that the burning bush has been extinguished anyway, so I guess we didn't miss much. Actually, there is still a bush growing on the grounds which is supposed to be a descendant of the original. There is apparently quite a spectacular library there, which would have been nice to see, but after a book was borrowed and subsequently sold, nobody is allowed in anymore.

After breakfast and a very welcome hot shower, we boarded the bus for Cairo. It was a rather drab drive, but it was very cool to take a tunnel under the Suez canal. Once in Cairo I left my tour group and went to join my new group for my tour of the Nile. Speaking of which, I have a meeting with them in 10 minutes so must sign off. I will continue to be very busy over the next week so posts may be sporadic.

Summary: In the last month I swam in the Med, Dead and Red seas, and stayed in Europe, Asia and Africa. How's that for globetrotting?

By the way...am feeling much better but am a little bit sniffly.