We took a side trip to St. Catherine's Monastery, built at the base of Mt. Sinai, the mountain where Moses is said to have received the Ten Commandments.  Within the walls, we visited the Basilica which contained small art works painted by the monks.  Outside was The Burning Bush, with a fire extinguisher nearby (!).  The fortress-like structure has living quarters for monks, the fountain of Moses, an olive grove and a valuable collection of ancient manuscripts and icons.

Sinai Peninsula was stark, bleak, dry and bare, save for small acacia trees here and there.   Granite mountains were streaked with ribbons of black basalt, and some of the landscape was red with iron.   The wind and sand made interesting textures.   The air was cold and the sky was bright blue.   We saw Bedouin camps ("desert dwellers") and their black goat hair tents, herds of sheep and their few camels.

Our bus stopped at a picturesque spot.   Bedouin herders were making their way down the hillside to their camp, with their camels and black goats.   These children stayed along the road.   When our bus pulled over, the children ran down the hill towards us.   They were dirty and sort of wild-looking, with hair askew and soiled clothing over their brown bodies.   The children tried to sell us jewelry and geodes which they kept in scraps of cloth.   Our hotel had provided us with breakfast sacks.   The remainders got their attention when our guide offered it to them.  One girl grabbed a piece of bread, but another yanked it away.   A fight ensued and the bread ended up on the highway.