Feb. 8, 2009 - Our first night aboard the Monet is comfortable and very relaxed. My cabin is very cozy with a private bathroom. The shower is just over the toilet aimed at the side wall so one can easily take care of all needs at the same time. We arrive Sharm El Sheik, the most southern tip of the Sinai Desert. We were reminded that it was part of the Camp David Agreement in the 1970’s that this region would be turned over to Egypt by Israel. Although 90% of the region is dry, barren desert, the southern coast is slowly becoming popular among sun worshippers and divers. Our morning is spent at Ras Mohammed – a national marine park. Interesting it is the only place that mango trees grow from the salt water. Our destination is one of the many beaches and about a dozen of us are taken to an area for snorkeling. It was suggested we wear wet suits because the water can be chilly. I turn blue at the thought of cold water so I quickly put my order in the night before. As luck would have it, my wet suit has yellow trim and I'm now color coordinated with my snorkel equipment brought from home. This is the first time trying to get one of these on. I walked away from the group to an area where I could sit on a rock. I realize these need to be snug and are like another layer of skin but I didn't realize how tight this was. I did the wiggles and jumps and more wiggles and little by little got the suit on. Feeling very accomplished, I returned back to my friends to get some fins. One by one they looked at me then at each other. "Should we tell her?" "oh but she looks so cute." and they were all smiling. "Joyce, you have it on backwards." - UGH. More wiggles and jumps and finally it was on properly.
What amazing colors in the water. Just the water is a gorgeous blue because of the white, white sand on the bottom. Walking distance from shore is a reef that continues for miles along the coast. Our guides help us navigate through what looks like passageways under water so not to disturb the coral. I saw shades of purple, blue, orange and yellow With various kinds of coral and reef life. Parrot fish that were a quilt of colors, small white fish with poke-a-dots and lots of blue and yellow fish that were curious about us too. Later in the day we stopped in downtown Sharm El Sheik to do a little shopping. There were lots of vendors but frankly there was nothing that shouted my name.

Feb. 9, 2009 Today is an early departure from Sharm El Sheik as we drive through the mountains to visit St. Catherine’s Monastery. It’s in the middle of the Sinai Desert and I’m amazed how anyone ever got the inspiration to build anything out here. The church is open until Noon, and it’s a 3 hour drive, we have to hurry. We drive through what is known as the area Mosses wondered before climbing up Gebel Musa (Mt Sinai) to receive the Ten Commandments. In 337, Empress Helena ordered the building of a chapel on the site what believed to be the Burning Bush. Today the Bush grows from a wall and covers a huge area. People have taken shoots to grow elsewhere without success. Not once has this bush taken root anywhere in the world. The Church of St Catherine built around the Chapel started around 542. There are nearly 2000 icons, 5,000 books and 3,000 religious manuscripts. Our lunch was just outside the monastery before continuing our 3-hour ride back to Sharm El Sheik. . I'm on a mission to find some over the counter medicine called antinal used for what is known as Pharaoh’s revenge. Not that I need it, but I want to be ready – just in case. Some in our group are already suffering. And tonight we are going to a Bedouin camp to dine under the stars. We will ride camels into the camp, sit on cushions, drink tea and eat bar-b-que. I'm sure there will be a story to tell later.