I doubt that Moses actually climbed to the top of Mount Sinai. It is a really long, steep climb and I'm more inclined to believe that he walked a couple hundred feet up the mountain then hid behind the nearest rock and prayed to God that he didn't have to go any further. Let’s also remember that there were no trails during Biblical times. I doubt a man with Moses' poor navigational skills (remember he kept his people wandering for 40 years) could have figured out how to get to the top of Mount Sinai. All skepticism aside, the climb to the top of Mount Sinai was much harder than I expected. The trail begins as a long winding path and then branches just past St Katherine's Monastery. You can either take the 3,000 steps of repentance or the long "camel path". I know that I probably have a lot to repent for, but I figured not 3,000 steps worth, so I took the camel path.

Although the trip was longer and steeper than I expected, the sunrise over the mountains was spectacular, and made the trip worth it. Just before the sun rose, the entire sky turned shades of blue and pink. Then, within a matter of seconds, the sun appeared over the horizon. Its rays were reflected by the clouds and it reminded me of one of those pictures from an illustrated Bible. Back down at the Monastery, I gazed at the Burning Bush (FYI it wasn't still burning). The monks nodded in approval of my covered arms and head. They were the first men in Egypt who didn't make me feel like I was dressed like a common whore...

The mountains of Egypt at night

Early in the morning

The mountain was crowded with Russian and Australian pilgrims

The sun beginning to rise...

St. Katherine's Monastery

A little hut on the side of the mountain where one monk from the order lives in solitude

The burning bush

Notes left in the wall under the burning bush

The rooms that the monks rent out to tourists