Sharm el Sheik and St. Catherine’s Monastery, Egypt

By Glen Bruels
This is part of a series called Seabourn Half-World cruise
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Sharm el Sheik is at the tip of the Sinai Peninsula.  It was a sleepy little town for many years, but now has become a huge resort area boasting some of the best diving in the world.  While I was very tempted to take advantage of that opportunity, I also wanted to visit St. Catherine’s Monastery, located almost exactly in the middle of the Sinai.

You may have never heard of St. Catherine’s.  It is the oldest Christian monastery in the world and sits at the base of Mt. Sinai, where Moses received the Ten Commandments.  This Greek Orthodox monastery was started in the 4th Century A.D. to preserve the holy site that includes the burning bush and the well where Moses first met his wife.  It was dedicated to St. Catherine, a martyr from Alexandria, Egypt.  The monastery is still in operation and it has a collection of texts and icons dating back to the 4th Century that is second only to the Vatican’s collection.  It was truly amazing to look at these works, which were all displayed in glass cases.  One funny story though – I went to the gift shop to get a book and started talking with the monk who ran it.  He noticed my GoPro camera and seemed to know more about it than I did.  So much for the monastic life!

One other note about the town where St. Catherine’s is located – it turns out that this was a secret meeting place where Anwar Sadat and Menachim Begin met on-and-off over several months to put together the Egyptian/Israeli peace treaty that was ultimately signed with President Carter in the US.

While this trip involved yet another 3+ hour bus ride, it was actually enjoyable.  It seemed that the terrain changed every few miles – from granite mountains, to red rock formations and sand, to white sandstone and powder white sand, and back to granite mountain formations.  We also passed our fair share of Army/Police security stops, as well as two multi-national force bases that continue to monitor the peace between Egypt and Israel.  By the way, I guess I should mention that our buses always went in caravan, with armed security guys onboard, a police escort (sometimes), and a spare empty bus in the event one should be needed.  It seemed like overkill, but who knows??!!

One of the frequent police and/or army checkpoints along the road.
One of the frequent police and/or army checkpoints along the road.
The landscape along the drive was amazing -- from granite mountains and red rock canyons...
The landscape along the drive was amazing — from granite mountains and red rock canyons…
... to white sandstone and drifting white sands. Amazing!
… to white sandstone and drifting white sands. Amazing!

Nearing the entrance to the monastery. We were driven up the hill in these old school Peugeots -- including a 504 just like my old one. Talk about nostalgia!Nearing the entrance to the monastery. We were driven up the hill in these old school Peugeots — including a 504 just like my old one. Talk about nostalgia!

 

Approaching the entrance

Approaching the entrance

If the gates were closed, you had to be hauled up by rope and pulley to the block house above. Some think this monastery was the inspiration for Eco's "The Name of the Rose."
If the gates were closed, you had to be hauled up by rope and pulley to the block house above. Some think this monastery was the inspiration for Eco’s “The Name of the Rose.”
The monastery church. The icons on the inside were amazing. One of the passengers was Greek Orthodox and got to see the relics of St. Catherine (including what is supposed to be her hand!).
The monastery church. The icons on the inside were amazing. One of the passengers was Greek Orthodox and got to see the relics of St. Catherine (including what is supposed to be her hand!).
The burning bush. Well, it's not actually burning anymore. It's actually quite healthy!
The burning bush. Well, it’s not actually burning anymore. It’s actually quite healthy!
A view of the monastery from the opposite hill. The mountain behind it is actually just in front of Mt. Sinai (where Moses got the Ten Commandments).
A view of the monastery from the opposite hill. The mountain behind it is actually just in front of Mt. Sinai (where Moses got the Ten Commandments).
The path up to Mt. Sinai. You can still climb it, but we didn't have the time...
The path up to Mt. Sinai. You can still climb it, but we didn’t have the time…
One of the resident monks.
One of the resident monks.
Farewell Sharm-el-Sheik!
Farewell Sharm-el-Sheik!

 

This entry was posted in Cruising, Egypt, Travel
Glen Bruels

I am a traveler and sometimes clay sculptor, following a long career working in consulting. My work allowed me to travel the world extensively and I was hooked. Today, I travel with my wife/best friend to explore new places, meet new people, and learn new things.

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