Mt. Sinai Part II

It's hard to walk after riding a camel for almost two hours believe me. And the "saddles" they have at the pyramids are roomy unlike the ones at Mr. Sinai which have horns that are snug up against you in front and back. My lower back still has a tender spot where the horn in back rubbed. Don't you hate when that happens?

Anyway - we were on our own from the time we got off the camel. We knew the rest of the group was a ways behind so we decide to head up the rest of the way on our own - myself -T. and M.. I know there are a lot of people on this mountain but it does not feel crowded. We see some folks ahead and behind and can hear the voices of people speaking around us. Camels are along the path still waiting to go back down later. Even though it is still very dark we can see how far we have come by looking below and seeing the lights from flashlights marching along in little lines.

We walk quietly along the path. Now we have to concentrate and use our flashlights to make our way over the rocks in the path and around the turns. The time for star gazing is over except for little rests. We go inside one of the huts and sit for a cup of coffee and some warmth. It feels goooood! The chill of the night is starting to get to us an I am wondering how I am going to do for the rest of the evening. People come in to the hut speaking all sorts of languages but all of us feeling pretty excited about nearing the top now. We all forget that it is 3in the morning and we should be sleeping.

We head out of the hut and begin the direct ascent up a path/stairway made of rocks stacked on top of one another. I am glad it is dark and that I cannot see how truly frightening this is (I see it on the way down in a few hours). We are very very out of breath and need to stop every 10 steps or so. As we go up we pass our fellow climbers resting on the sides - a kind of hiking leap frog. I am astounded that there is more and more to climb every time we take a turn. More little huts and more path to climb! We notice animal droppings on the steps. No camel could come here so we surmise that little donkeys must bring the supplies up the stairs. Finally, we get to what they promise us is the very last group of huts. I look up and see the flashlights of those ahead of us snaking up very high in a single file. We continue.

Finally - we make it to the top - there is a small structure there - I was not expecting it to be built on! A cement balcony type structure. Everyone looks for places to sit or stand. And of course there are Bedouin selling things and renting blankets and small pads for sitting on. They are relentless in their hawking! I imagine a good joke - to wait until we are heading down and going up to one of them saying, "You had blankets for rent?!! Why didn't you TELL us??" But it is just a thought and everyone tolerates their noise quite well.

Russell and the rest of the group arrive just as the sky turns from pitch black to dark gray lined with dusty rose.It is quiet. Singing begins and I recognize one of the songs - "How Great Thou Art" but the words are different. Then I realize it is in English and French and the little nuns are singing in their language and maybe even another one or two languages. All simultaneously. Beautiful! Everyone claps and cheers at the end! Amazing Grace is sung and a few others.

  The sky turns red, orange, blue and the shadows of the mountain stretch out in back of us.

I am looking forward to the warmth! There are about 300 of us all facing East and waiting for the marvelous gift of a new day. Something we all take for granted every day. A cheer goes up when the first ray reaches out from around the corner of a peak in the distance. The day has begun and we all start it together on top of Mt. Sinai.