From Cairo to Jerusalem

MOUNT SINAI, June 24, 2009 — -- Our adventure began in front of the pyramids in Cairo, Egypt. Five of us were trying to figure out how to get to Jerusalem, our next stop on our mini- tour of Egpyt and Israel.

Of course, we could have taken a plane and been there in a couple of hours, but we found out there was a bus route that goes to Israel with a stop at historic Mount Sinai.

I was not sure how this would work out, but we all agreed it would be a fun ride, so off we went.

Many tourists go to Mount Sinai, a holy place for both Jews and Christians, but apparently most don't get there the way we went.

The passengers on board our bus were mostly locals. Some of them worked in Cairo and were going back to their homes in the Sinai desert's towns.

After an hour of rough riding on the busy and bustling roads of Cairo, we reached the desert - it was flat and white during the first miles, and then became hilly with shades of black and brown.

At our first stop, I bumped into what has to be the dirtiest sink in the Middle East. It was covered in so much black grease and dust, that one could barely imagine that it had once been white.

Our driver, non- talkative at first, finally told us that although he drove in the Sinai desert road everyday, he was still moved by the beauty of the long stretches of rocks and sand.

Religious tradition has it that the Hebrews fled Egypt to Israel through the Sinai desert, with their children, animals and all the belongings they could carry along. It is difficult to imagine entire families and tribes walking across the scorching sun of the Sinai desert.

It was hard enough going the 195 miles from Cairo to Mount Sinai in a bus.

But we made it in time for some sleep, and were up at 2:30 a.m. to hike to the summit of Mount Sinai in time for sunrise.

Along the way, people offered to rent us camels, but I was up for the real experience - a three-hour hike in the mountain wearing flip flops! Which by the way, I do not recommend.