On Sunday, April 14, 2013 10:56:05 AM UTC+1, David Horne wrote:
Surreyman wrote:



[]

Yep, fair enough. Your thinking is spot on. It's just that isolated beach

resort hotels are the last places we'd choose ourselves, but that's purely

subjective. Must admit we did drop down into them now and then to re-fill

with safe water! :-))



One last thought - it's apparently 'the thing' to overnight at St.

Catherine's (or leave your hotel xxxxxx early a.m.) and to climb Mount

Sinai to see the dawn - not a vicious ascent, I'm told. I haven't done it,

but if it appeals, your local guides will obviously advise.



Whatever, you've a great time ahead.



We'd have to leave from the hotel at 0030 to climb the mount in time- in

the end we opted for a day trip and not climbing the mountain- leaving

at 0700 with a private taxi and back in time for a late lunch. Very

enjoyable visit, and you were right, the scenery on the way was just

unbelievable. When I thought I'd seen the most breathtaking valley

another unfolded. The resort at Taba Heights was wonderful though, you

don't see Eilat or Aqaba, but instead look over to the dramatic scenery

of Saudi Arabia. Fantastic snorkelling, which surprisingly I'd never

done before and got completely hooked on...



Will definitely return to the area. The trip eventually divided itself

like this- 3 nights Tel Aviv, flight to Eilat, border crossing, 4 nights

Taba Heights, two border crossings to Jordan (3 taxis), 3 nights Wadi

Musa (Petra), then Jerusalem via Aqaba crossing (2 taxis, then bus) for

last 4 nights. Israeli Egged buses have free wifi which works very

well... the journey went quicker while listening to R4!



Your advice to spend time at Petra was spot on. We got a 2-day pass, and

could happily have spent another full day there... I like the

government's pricing policy: 50 for a full day, 55 for 2, 60 for 3- but

90 if you aren't spending a night in Jordan.



Didn't go to Wadi Rum, for another time...



D



--

(*) of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate

www.davidhorne.net (email address on website)

"[Do you think the world learned anything from the first

world war?] No. They never learn." -Harry Patch (1898-2009)

Ah - memories!
So glad you enjoyed.