Climbing Mount Moses
Meeting the dawn on Mount Moses in the tourist brochures is listed as an excursion. But it can be called a tour with a stretch - rather, it is a person’s opportunity to be alone with his thoughts, of course, if this person does not drag a tired child by the hand))) In any case, this trip has little in common with a pleasure walk. This summer I went up there, dragging my 9-year-old son behind me))). The legend says that whoever climbs to the top of Mount Moses and meets the sunrise there, all sins are forgiven. I decided that it was simply vital for me to part with all my evil deeds and thoughts. But first things first. After boarding the minibus and driving for almost three hours, we got off at the foot of Mount Moses. The first thing that struck me was the stars, myriads of stars and constellations, the Milky Way, which seems to be within reach. The guide distracted me from romantic thoughts,
who took our international group of not quite adequate tourists to the guide. The latter was a rather tall stately Bedouin in national white clothes. Whether this outfit is his work uniform, which he takes off in the evenings (oh no, in his case in the mornings) and goes to lunch in a business suit, I do not know. So we were given a flashlight and the ascent began. Since I am a fairly athletic person (but not to be confused with a professional athlete), the climb did not constitute any inconvenience for me. Unless the camels, and not even them, but their owners, dragging on their never-ending - Kamel, madam, a good camel is only 10 dollars. It was necessary to go, being careful, so as not to fall under the camels, of which a great many crowded on a rather narrow path. In addition to the unpleasant smell and waste products right under their feet, they made quite frightening snorting sounds,
However, this did not frighten anyone. There were 3 or 4 stops along the way at Bedouin shops where you could sit or buy a bottle of water for triple the price. But since we were supplied with plenty of water from the hotel, we proudly walked past the mining merchants. Business along the trail flourished everywhere. The Bedouin businessmen can be divided into 4 groups. The first one is guides to the top to the absolution of sins, the second one is camel drivers (camel, madam, camel), the third one – oh, more than one sentence should be devoted to this group for ingenuity and effort to materialize banknotes out of thin air. At the beginning of the steps, of which there are many, about seven hundred, stood the proud inhabitants of the Sinai Mountains, who had not heard of the great strategist Ostap Bender, but did not lag behind him in ingenuity. They offered exhausted tourists for 50 euros to hold them and "help" crawl to the top of the coveted mountain.
Help consisted of a handshake and a few invigorating phrases in bad English, which I did not fail to point out to my third-grader son, who has stubbornly asserted for the past three years that he lives peacefully without the language of world communication. In any case, a similar offer of moral support was received by my friend from one son of the mountains, to which he was immediately told that for 50 euros she was happy to deliver him herself and, moreover, quickly))) The Bedouin immediately lost interest in us. Because of my child, we got to the top 10 minutes before dawn. But it was worth it. The sun came up suddenly and flooded the mountains with a pink radiant light. In my opinion, even if those who met the dawn at this holy place are not forgiven, it is worth going up there at least once to see the beauty of the morning Sinai. And to hell with him, that you want to sleep, that you are all sweaty, all shrouded in dust,
tired and you still have to go down. Speaking of him. When you climb stairs, your main desire is to reach the top of the mountain. And you think - here I will climb and that's it, class, the hardest will be behind !! ! But it wasn't there. Anyway, for me. I easily (I'm not afraid of this flattering comparison, ))) of a mountain goitered gazelle or a camel, which is more suitable for the area) can be said to have taken off almost running upstairs. And if it weren’t for the remorse that I’m a bad crazy mother who dragged an unfortunate child (as a lyrical digression - a month before the trip, the baby just howled that she wants to make an ascent), then I would enjoy the hike and expect an offer to work as a guide ))) Although most likely I would have been swallowed up by Bedouin competitors))) At the same time, to the reasonable remarks of my elderly mother about the need to squat 100 times a day in order to prepare for the ascent,
with enviable constancy, it was proudly declared to me: I am a hockey player and I am not afraid of any loads! It turned out that our hockey players are rather weak for lifting))) So, I got a little distracted. After admiring the dawn, admiring, taking numerous photos, we had to begin the descent from the mountain to the monastery of St. Catherine, located at the foot of Mount Moses.
I looked down and…. . and realized that I would rather stay at the top and drink tea with the Bedouins. My dreams of a career as a conductor went to dust))) It became really scary. But there was nowhere to go - other lovers of extreme night walks under the light of flashlights propped up behind, among which the Japanese were especially picturesque all as one in respirators - I think because of the dust, and I decided to take the first step down. My son, who by this time had completely recovered, and as it turned out, was full of strength (where they came from - for me it remained one of the incomprehensible secrets of the world.
For example, like the erection of the Colossus of Rhodes or, in order not to deviate strongly even geographically, the construction of pyramids with primitive mechanisms), merrily and quickly began to jump through 1-2 steps (! ) Down. I hasten to note that these steps, hollowed out by the monks, are somewhat different from your steps in the entrance, erected even by very not sober builders of the Soviet era. In addition, there is sand on them, that is, stepping on them your foot slips and you risk falling down. But my son turned out to be a true gentleman, and when he saw his elderly mother, striving to break on sharp stones, taking a couple of tourists from the countries of the European Commonwealth with her, he returned and gallantly extended his hand to me. Somehow we reached a fork, from which there were two paths - one along the stairs and it is called short, the other "along the path" as our valiant guide put it. It was necessary to make a choice, which is always a rather difficult task.
. But since before the trip I had collected all possible information about Mount Moses and having already met the steps with my own eyes, I immediately said that we were personally walking “along the path”. So we went. In daylight, it was a truly bewitching landscape: bizarrely shaped rocks, abysses (looking at which, it became completely incomprehensible how we even climbed to such a height along such a road, dragging children behind us). My friend commented on our rise with the words - "We were not ourselves. " Not in himself - so not in himself, but we got up at night, with two children small enough for such trials, and we are already taking confident steps, bringing us closer to the end of a campaign that is historical in all respects! The descent along the path was gentle and if it were not for the scorching sun, which shone brighter every minute and the Bedouins, begging and offering their handicrafts,
which, of course, had to be purchased in order to keep our sons in a joyful state, it could also be called comfortable. Finally we went down to the monastery and took refuge in the shadow of its ancient walls. Most surprisingly, part of our group of thrill-seekers under the stars, who took the short staggered route, returned later than us. Thus ended our ascent to Mount Moses. The only desire was to get under the shower or plunge into the sea, but we were still waiting for the Monastery of St. Catherine.
The impressions of the tour of the monastery were somewhat erased by the mountain of Moses, general fatigue and the desire to quickly get to the coveted hotel room. Therefore, I will not dwell on the history of its creation.
Advice to those who decide to climb Mount Moses.
We made, I'm not afraid of this loud word, the ascent in July. I,
having heard and read a lot of information about the piercing wind and freezing cold, I got a large number of warm clothes and even a baby blanket))). We didn't need any of the above. We need water, lots of water. But calculate your strength, you will have to drag this water on your own hump. Comfortable shoes - slippers and stilettos say your resolute no))) Small money - what if you want to buy a couple of Bedouin souvenirs? And of course, a camera to capture yourself beloved and documentary evidence of your stay at the top.