We are back in Jordan after an amazing trip to Sharm al Sheikh and Egypt’s Sinai Desert. We had such a good time that we even considered extending our vacation.

We chilled by the beach, saw Moses’ burning bush, toured the Sinai Desert and burned some cash at the slots in Sharm’s Grand Casino. We really had one of those memorable experiences we will cherish forever.

I was particularly impressed by Sharm, a now fully developed resort on the Red Sea. With its wide range of marine-based activities, international restaurants, tourist shops and of course its wild night life, the place really does bring in the tourists from all over the globe.

One of the highlights of our trip was taking a one-day trip to St. Catherine’s Cathedral; one of early Christianity’s only surviving churches. It is a place of pilgrimage, with a chapel built beside what is believed to be THE burning bush through which God spoke to Moses.

We enjoyed the trip to St. Catherine’s, driving through the Sinai Desert. We also got a peek at Moses Mountain (though we didn’t take the "penance" hike) where he received the Ten Commandments.

One our way back to Sharm we stopped in at Dahab, a coastal city on the Gulf of Aqaba. Dahab was really unique. It is filled with hippie trippy European (and perhaps some American) backpackers and divers who are there mainly to chill and perhaps "expand their minds."

After a short walk through Dahab, it was back to Sharm. We were really surprised to see it is such an Italian-ville! The place is so filled with Italians that the locals have completely mastered the language. For some reason, all during the trip I was mistaken for Italian. I guess my presence with Jeff confused those curious about the nationality of Sharm’s visitors.

On a different note, all during the trip I couldn’t help but compare Sharm with Aqaba — the coastal city on the Jordanian side of the Red Sea. Sadly enough, Aqaba doesn’t compare as there is virtually nothing beyond the boundaries of its five-star hotels. Lots of work needs to be done in this city to be at least half as attractive as Sharm. I still remain hopeful.

All in all, we really had a phenomenal time and we’d love to go back there again. A few more pictures can be found below, the left is the entrance to the chapel at St. Catherine’s, the other is the front entrance to the Casino.