I meet a Swiss, Mauro, aged 27. Over the past 14 months he has traveled from Italy to Spain to Moracco to Egypt on his bicycle. He invites me to travel a days worth with him--I accept. We leave the next morning towards St. Katherina, a small town (home to Mt. Sinai) on his way to Israel, Jordan, Turkey, etc. Early enough to witness the sun rise!
We make a split decision to take a 'short-cut' through a wadi. Our new route is halved--however, it is not paved.
About 4 hours in, we take a break under an Acacia. I'm beginning to regret my decision to join Mauro, especially after realizing I forgot 80% of the food. It's something to laugh about at this point.
In the wadi, we come across a small Bedouin community and help a family pump water from a nearby well. Soon after, we ride by two large opium fields. The colors are beautiful--purples, greens, and whites set against the deserts' beiges.
Arrive in St. Katherina at sunset; our journey lasts 12.5 hours. We choose a camp close to the base of Mt. Sinai (7,497ft), and plan our hike up the next morning.
Wake at 2:45AM to start the climb. The Egyptian government requires foreigners have a guide up the mount, so we quickly hire one and go. Our first stop during the hike is in a small shelter built into the face of the mountain.
The last ones to leave, the first ones to summit, and the first ones down.
At the top, we watch the sunrise. On the way down, the light brings a sea of colors, shapes, and lines--beautiful.
Monastery of St. Katherina at the base--housing artifacts such as the 'Burning Bush.'
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