Elena Kozodaeva - Journey to the East

Five-star hotels here also have, but they are not located in the Central part of the city and on its outskirts. And the city itself is full of local color, to which one must get used to and love. Lazily wandering through the streets of the camels, returning home and their own herd of goats sleeping in the shade – a calling card of the city. The entire Dahab is like one big family – small town, and everyone here knows each other. My week goes out to greet all my friends, to inquire about the news, leisurely talk over a Cup of tea, and another week to kiss everybody goodbye until we meet again.

Goats lazily doze in the shade.

Divers well-known sites in the region of Dahab – White Canyon, Blue hole, Ras Abu Galum. Next you will see photos taken underwater at some of these sites. To get from Dahab to them by jeep or by camels.

Photo of coral (underwater).

St. Catherine’s monastery, situated on the highest mountains of the Sinai, has long been a place of pilgrimage not only believers, but also poets, artists and all those interested in the history and sights of Egypt. People from all over the world travel thousands of miles, to climb to the top of Sinai and to touch the Holy walls.

View of the monastery of St. Catherine from above.

The monastery developed a lot of legends. So, the name of the monastery is connected with the legend of the Holy Martyr Catherine (296 ad) in Alexandria. Catherine are unable to renounce their faith even by order of the Emperor, and was executed. After the death, as legend has it, her body was lifted up to the highest point of the Sinai mountains, and after three century a few monks found her body and buried it in a sarcophagus.

Now the Monastery of St. Catherine – this is the smallest diocese in the world, headed by the Archbishop of Sinai. Sinai Archbishop wears full Episcopal vestments with miter, scepter and a Golden cross. The monastery belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church. Most of the monks are Greeks and the monks of the cult of Saint Basil the Great, Bishop of Caesarea, representative Kappadokiyskoy school of Orthodox theology, who lived here in 329—379.

High rise in the sky the impregnable walls of the monastery.

The monastery, around which towering red walls with a height of 12 to 15 meters with watchtowers at the corners, covering the area of the square wrong. But outside the monastery is a whole town with architecture from different eras and styles.

Well-preserved bell tower of the monastery. The bells were donated to the monastery of the Russian Imperial surname.

The bell tower of the monastery of St. Catherine.

The main temple in the monastery is the Church of the Transfiguration, however, during holidays, to visitors open their doors 12 chapels dedicated to the virgin Mary and patron saints. One of them is the chapel of the Burning Bush, which is located near the Church of the Transfiguration. In the monastery there are several wells of Holy water. The most interesting is the well of Moses, about which there was the legendary meeting of Moses and Jethro’s daughters, one of whom became his wife.

The monastery of St. Catherine are not only the chapel and temple, but other rooms, which were regarded as the wound service, though are no less artistic and historical value. For example, the refectory in the Church, decorated with Gothic arches and illuminated by a single window.

The monastery has its own library, the size of only 15 x 10 meters, but how precious books are stored here – it is second in importance after the Vatican library. In this room holds about six million volumes and manuscripts in Greek, Arabic, Armenian, Coptic, Georgian, Syriac languages on theological, historical and scientific topics.

Continue our journey across the Sinai.

In the region of the monastery. Catherine preserved the remains of dwellings of the Bedouins. Many years ago there emerged the first settlements? Who were the first settlers? Scientists speculated. The severe nature of this region demanded extraordinary courage and endurance from the people who settled here. We managed to find also millstones for grinding grains, various vessels and utensils. Ancient legends say that once in the mountains of Sinai was a lot of water – it rained regularly. If you get a lot farther into the mountains, one can find abandoned wells and tanks in which the inhabitants kept the water. Some of the wells are used to this day. The gorges stretch of pipe that runs water from the tops, in some places there are even waterfalls. Now in the mountains still live people (see photo), the kids easily climb on the most inaccessible slopes, not inferior to them in neatness and adults.

Remains of dwellings of the Bedouins. The entrance was filled up inside with a large stone.

Remains of dwellings of the Bedouins, South Sinai.

Even fifty years ago the girls before the wedding, ran away from their suitors and were hiding in the mountains. The task of the groom was to find and catch up with his bride, only then were married. Now customs have changed slightly, but still the groom’s parents choose the bride for him.

The harsh climate of Sinai demanded from the indigenous inhabitants of endurance and great adaptability. Grueling summer heat gives way to winter chilling cold. If in summer the stones are heated to 50—60 degrees, in winter the temperature drops to minus 2—3 degrees Celsius, and can even snow. It is widely believed that mount Sinai is completely devoid of water and therefore little wildlife. This is not so. High in the mountains you can find the whole of the lake of rain water and even waterfalls. One of them is the waterfall of Ashuk is within the vicinity of Dahab.

The waterfall Ashuk in vicinity of Dahab

In the winter in Sinai may be heavy rains. The water is stored in natural reservoirs, and the locals are happy to use it for household needs. Of course, this is not drinking water, but to water the garden or wash-wash something is quite good. From the reservoir a system of rubber pipes allows you to hold precious moisture almost to the housing.

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