We took a ferry across the Gulf of Aqaba to the Sinai Peninsula, where we saw St. Catherine's Monastery, climbed Mt. Sinai, and rested in Sharm El-Sheikh.
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As we approach Aqaba, Jordan, you can see the wide buffer zone that separates it from Eilat, Israel.
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Our travel agent had made us think we had first-class tickets on the ferry from Aqaba to Nuweiba, so we insisted in staying in the Distinguished Passengers room even though someone tried to hit us up for extra money for the privilege.
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At St. Catherine's Monastery at the foot of Mt. Sinai. This well is called the Fountain of Moses, or on some web pages, Jethro's Well. We called the thing behind it the Pump of Moses.
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It is claimed that this bush is a direct descendant of the Burning Bush that Moses saw. The flame has gone out, as you see.
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The Steps of Penitence up to the top of Mt. Sinai.
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Looking back at the monastery.
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A chapel at the top of Mt. Sinai.
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A hopeful message on the way back down.
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When we arrived in Sharm El-Sheikh, there were hundreds of go-karts on the road. This caused the taxi driver to slow to less than 140 kph.
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Sharm El-Sheikh was the vacation in our trip -- it was a few days to just relax by the side of the sea, and perhaps float on the surface and look at the pretty fish.
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We went on a snorkeling trip to a nearby national park. There were lots of tropical fish, but there were almost as many just by the hotel. Unfortunately, most of the coral was dead.
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The highlight of the snorkel trip for many was swimming with a dolphin -- there were pretty graphic descriptions of his genitalia once they got back on board.
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It was fun watching this English kid and this Russian kid who weren't snorkeling and couldn't really speak to each other enjoy hanging out with each other on the boat.
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On to Luxor
