Tuesday, October 31, 2006
30/10 This morning we visited St Katherine's Monastary
at the foot of Mt Sinai. This is a Greek Orthadox monastary from approx 500AD. When Islam arrived they built a mosque but allowed the monastary to remain. This is quite a juxtaposition to the Christains who destroyed any earlier competitive religions.
The main church is heavily decorated with icons and mother of pearl inlaid timber work. The main nave is 3 stories high and has about 70 intricately filligreed silver and bronze light holders hanging from the ceiling. The designs seem very influenced by turkish and byzantine art styles - however they may not be original. It was quite dark inside and the light streamed in through small, high windows - the beams of light visible as they caught the dusty interior air.
Funny how small things catch your eye. as I walked out I noticed an ancient timber ladder whose steps were so worn there were two feet treads worn into each step; polished to a high sheen by centuries of feet. The grain of the wood forming patterns on the worn part of the tread.
This monastary holds what the faithful believe is the original burning bush - oldest bush I've ever seen - must be all of 3000 years old! Hope mum can identify the species from my photo.
On the road between Mt Sinai and the beach camp we stopped for a photo opportunity and these urchin trader/ bedouin children appeared from no-where. One little girl tried to give me a small blue beaded bracelet. This is normally a technique to then get you to buy. I refused the offer and she kept insisting it was a gift. I put it back on her trading rug and walked away and she went off her rocker - in arabic to her father - basically a good old-fashioned tanty. Well, she was so insensed that I would walk off she ran after me and gave the bracelet to our local driver insisting it was a gift. It seems I was right about her tactic but she wasn't going to be beaten so she shamed me. And I did feel guilty for about 3 minutes. So now I have a small blue momento of a bedouin girl's strong personality.
at the foot of Mt Sinai. This is a Greek Orthadox monastary from approx 500AD. When Islam arrived they built a mosque but allowed the monastary to remain. This is quite a juxtaposition to the Christains who destroyed any earlier competitive religions.
The main church is heavily decorated with icons and mother of pearl inlaid timber work. The main nave is 3 stories high and has about 70 intricately filligreed silver and bronze light holders hanging from the ceiling. The designs seem very influenced by turkish and byzantine art styles - however they may not be original. It was quite dark inside and the light streamed in through small, high windows - the beams of light visible as they caught the dusty interior air.
Funny how small things catch your eye. as I walked out I noticed an ancient timber ladder whose steps were so worn there were two feet treads worn into each step; polished to a high sheen by centuries of feet. The grain of the wood forming patterns on the worn part of the tread.
This monastary holds what the faithful believe is the original burning bush - oldest bush I've ever seen - must be all of 3000 years old! Hope mum can identify the species from my photo.
On the road between Mt Sinai and the beach camp we stopped for a photo opportunity and these urchin trader/ bedouin children appeared from no-where. One little girl tried to give me a small blue beaded bracelet. This is normally a technique to then get you to buy. I refused the offer and she kept insisting it was a gift. I put it back on her trading rug and walked away and she went off her rocker - in arabic to her father - basically a good old-fashioned tanty. Well, she was so insensed that I would walk off she ran after me and gave the bracelet to our local driver insisting it was a gift. It seems I was right about her tactic but she wasn't going to be beaten so she shamed me. And I did feel guilty for about 3 minutes. So now I have a small blue momento of a bedouin girl's strong personality.
# posted by The Essence of Good Taste @ 12:43 PM 
