We are now in the town of Dahab which is also on the coast of the Red Sea. On the way from Hurghada (15 hour drive) we stopped at Mt. Sinai to hike to the top. We arrived at the bottom at 2 a.m. and started up the mountain by 2:30. It was almost a full moon so we didn't even need flashlights. Our guide did not speak more than 15 words of English. We had the option of riding camels to the top, but we all decided we wanted to accomplish the hike on our own. It was somewhat creepy hiking at night. And the weirder thing was the fact that there were no trees, no plants, no dead leaves, not animals, not even insects. It was ALL rock and dust. About half way up the wind started up, blowing dust and sand into our eyes. I was hiking at night we my sunglasses on! We reached the summit aroun 5 a.m. The purpose of hiking at this hour to to be at the top for sunrise. Sunrise wasn't until 6:30! We were told to bring our sleeping bags or a blanket to the top. Two of the other girls and I curled up behind some rocks, completely sealed in our sleeping bags. It was so cold and so windy and dust was going everywhere! At one point the ground was shaking!
Finally, around 6 a.m. we emerged from our sleeping bags to get a spot to see the sunrise. There was lots of people on the top by now so it was hard to get a good shot of the sunrise without people in it. At about 7 a.m. we started back down the mountain, all of us miserable from lack of sleep, being tired of hiking, and having dust in our eyes. The trek back took about 1 and a half hours, but it seems like weeks. At the bottom we got to see St. Catherine's Monestery. I was so tired I just took pictures from the outside and went straight to the bus to start snoozing.
After some breakfast we headed out to Dahab. We are staying in a really nice waterfront hotel. The only thing that sucks is that all the tap water in this town is salt water! I had to shower with salt water and I feel gross. We are now about to get some dinner and get to bed early for a day of snorkeling on the Red Sea! Can't wait!
Finally, around 6 a.m. we emerged from our sleeping bags to get a spot to see the sunrise. There was lots of people on the top by now so it was hard to get a good shot of the sunrise without people in it. At about 7 a.m. we started back down the mountain, all of us miserable from lack of sleep, being tired of hiking, and having dust in our eyes. The trek back took about 1 and a half hours, but it seems like weeks. At the bottom we got to see St. Catherine's Monestery. I was so tired I just took pictures from the outside and went straight to the bus to start snoozing.
After some breakfast we headed out to Dahab. We are staying in a really nice waterfront hotel. The only thing that sucks is that all the tap water in this town is salt water! I had to shower with salt water and I feel gross. We are now about to get some dinner and get to bed early for a day of snorkeling on the Red Sea! Can't wait!
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