Leaving the beach, we drove to the interior of the Sinai Peninsula to St Katherine, where we visited the monastery. In the afternoon, we made the long climb up Mount Sinai to the summit to watch the sunset. Exhausted and famished by the time we returned, we hungrily had our dinner and rested our aching feet.

Mount Sinai is the mountain where Moses is traditionally believed to have received the Ten Commandments from God, though the actual location of the Biblical Mount is disputed. St Katherine's monastery is built upon the location where Moses is believed to have discovered the Burning Bush. It is the oldest functioning Christian monastery in the world.

This morning we began another long drive from St Katherine, through Suez, and finally returning to Cairo. Following a bit of free time, we joined for dinner on a Nile cruise ship, where we were entertained by singers, a tanoura dancer, and a belly dancer.

Our morning visit to the monastery of St Simon took us through the poverty-stricken City of the Dead and Garbage City. We then visited an Intrepid-sponsored recycling project, which aims to improve the quality of life of many of the poor in Cairo. Our next stop was to the Saladin Citadel and Mosque of Mohammed Ali. Following lunch, we enjoyed free time to wander the chaotic Khan el-Kalini market. In the evening, we joined once again for our final group meal.

The monastery of St Simon the Tanner was carved out of the side of the Mokattam Moutain, where the Miracle of the Moving Mountain took place. Near the end of the 10th century, Caliph Al-Muizz challenged the Coptic Pope Abraam the Syrian to prove his religion by challenging him with the Biblical verse "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to the mountain, 'Move from here to there', and it will move, nothing will be impossible for you". Three days later, a group of Christians including St Simon prayed by the mountain, and an earthquake shattered it, causing the Sun to be visible through the other side.

Leaving very early in the morning, I took a transfer to the airport where I departed Egypt. I arrived in Amsterdam in the morning, where I had a couple of hours to briefly explore the old city. Going airborne once again, I returned home to the True North strong and free.

The Dutch capital of Amsterdam is well-known for its canals, Red Light District, and liberal coffee shops. During its Golde Age in the 17th century, Amsterdam was one of the most important ports in the world, becoming the leading centre for finance and the diamon trade. The city is incredibly bicycle-friendly, providing numerous bike paths and racks, and discourages the use of cars downtown.