The Sinai and Sharm el Sheik travel diary, Egypt
From the mountains of coral that rise from the seabed to the low coral reef teeming with fish, from the steep walls that descend underwater at depths unfathomable wreckage of the ship covered with coral, we arrived in the Red Sea, specifically in Sharm el Sheikh, after a trip lasted just over 4 hours.
Just arrived, we notice immediately the difference in climate: we have left behind our 0 ° to 23 ° to find, considering that here are the 22,00 ... The time between Italy and Egypt is one hour ahead and Local currency is the Egyptian pound, the exchange is 1 euro = 7 Egyptian pounds.
About 20 million years ago, Egypt, Sinai and the Arabian peninsula were united in a single block. Then, huge land upheavals led to the separation of land and the southern Sinai peninsula remained isolated, giving rise to two large gulfs: the gulf to the west of Suez, whose maximum depth is just 95 meters to the east and the Gulf of Aqaba, which reaches instead the 1,800 meters deep. This gulf is part of the great rift land called Rift which the chain of Tauro extending up to Kenya. The major seismic activity of the past and the tremendous eruptive phenomena gave the southern Sinai its characteristic imprint, its most important peaks are Mount of Moses, which reaches 2285 meters, and Mount St. Catherine, of 2642 meters, the highest of the whole peninsula.
The shuttle from the airport, brings us directly to the village, located in Sharm el Sheikh, more precisely in Sharm el Maya Bay (the bay of calm).
The next morning, barely awake and curious, let's just take a look at the sea and see the sunrise, which we have ever heard ...
The first two days are dedicated to pure relaxation and the many walks on the bay ... It 's very relaxing, especially thinking of the cold that's in Italy ... Here to 13.00, the temperature is 29 ° show that ... !
Here the snorkelling is a must, but not knowing to swim very well, we decide to take a boat with the bottom glass ... so we enjoy a spectacular view of underwater reef, with its dozens of buildings of coral populated by bright colored fish . The sea below us is an incredible blue endless, intense and bright, with a pristine coral reef, alive with thousands of fish ...
The real trip begins strongly with the first trip to the monastery of St. Catherine and Mount Sinai. We start around 6.00 am and, after spending more than one block, take the road, surrounded by desert, from which you can admire a panorama breathtaking!
To arrive at the monastery, from Sharm, needed 2 hours and a half of travel ...
Between the spurs of the protected areas of Nabq and Ras Abu Gallum and uadì Fayran, this territory of 4300 sq km of high mountains, including the Christian monastery of Santa Caterina, the rocky peak of the holy Mount Sinai, the highest mountain dell ' Egypt, the mountain of St. Catherine and St. Catherine Protectorate, opened in 1996.
The monastery is a greek Orthodox monastery founded in the fourth century and has two particularities: it is the smallest diocese and the oldest active monastery again. The Empress Helena, wife of Constantine, ordered, in 337 BC, the construction of a chapel at the spot where, according to the Bible, Moses had appeared the burning bush (the tree that miraculously it burned but not consumed) . In the seventh century, the prophet Muhammad would have ensured the protection of religious center. Over time, the guards are converted, little by little, to Islam and the monks became less and less numerous, until, it is said, in the eighth century, was discovered intact body of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, was martyred in 395th: C.; the remains of the Saint were laid by the angels on the summit of the mountain that now bears his name. Even the Ottoman Empire chose to protect the monastery, just as did Napoleon Bonaparte. Become a religious self, today the monastery, 22 monks accepted under the authority of an archbishop and a council. Built to 1570 meters in height, in the middle of a narrow valley dominated by vertiginous peaks, this imposing fortress walls high and 10-15 meters wide 2-3, is at first mysterious, if not distressing when darkness falls . Given the influx of visitors, the monks now have limited access to the main church, built around the point where it appeared the burning bush, and the well of Moses (in which, miraculously, there is still water), excluding by visiting the treasure, the museum, library and refectories. Inside the walls is also present the ossuary, where they are stored lugubre bones and skulls of deceased monks, as well as the relic of St. Stephen, protected by a glass display case. The peculiarity of this monastery, which makes it unique in the world, you see a bell tower overhang height of a tower muezzin. Inside the walls, in addition to the Orthodox monastery, there is a mosque, built by the monks to prevent the demolition of the entire monastery, ordered by the Constantine, who wanted the destruction of all Christian places of worship. In this way, the monastery of St. Catherine had become a place of worship not only Christian but also Muslim.
Holy place for both Jews and for Christians and Muslims, Mount Sinai was first climbed by the prophet Moses, who had received the tables of the law (ten commandments). Archaeologists still wonder if the mountain is the Mount Sinai Haube of the Bible. The landscape is very special, especially if you follow the route to the back of dromedary ...
Leaving the monastery and after lunch, we head towards Dahab, also known as "Koh Samui" in the Red Sea. Dahab, which in Arabic means "gold", is located between Sharm el Sheikh and Nuwayba. This pretty town is a favorite resort of divers and all those who love to immerse themselves in an atmosphere steeped in Bedouin culture, easy and relaxing. A real hippy haven, according to the nostalgic. Here they met the culture of the 70s of the twentieth century and the lives of Bedouin. Attention in Dahab water is not drinkable and it seems that each year cause new cases of hepatitis, it is advisable to drink water in bottles.
We stop a couple of hour to relax and do some 'shopping, of course, here the prices are lower than in Na'ama Bay. Along the walk, call Assalah is another Bedouin-style restaurants, diving centers and beaches, where the weary to laze in the outdoor bar on the beach can enjoy a wide variety of activities, water and earth.
After a full day of hiking, a little 'tired, we return to our village to rest and prepare for the next morning for another exciting visit, but not before he had made a girettino all'Hold Old Market in Sharm , to reach which requires only 10 minutes walk from our village ...
The next morning at 6.00 we start off with one of the natural wonders of Sinai, the majestic Canyon colored. To get there it takes 3 hours of travel, of which, the last half-hour, off-road in the desert. Among other things, this is a road with a path to follow because segnalato think there may be unexploded mines. Arrived, the view is spectacular.