On Tuesday morning we made the four hour trip from Cairo to Alexandria. First up we visited the most famous site, the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa (no photos allowed). They were quite interesting, I continue to be amazed at how much effort Egyptians put into burying people.
Upon arrival at our hotel we were upgraded to suites, and I got one of the largest, complete with a balcony overlooking the Mediterranean Sea! We also got the opportunity to sample the local wine and beer, as there are a few bottle shops in Alexandria.
The next morning as we went to leave the hotel, a black suited man, carrying a small automatic rifle hopped on our bus. Turns out he is a tourist security officer who didn't have much to do and we suspect wanted a free lift to Cairo. Disappointingly, for security reasons he wouldn't let us have a photo with him. But at least he provided entertainment as he didn't seen to much except have coffee at each stop and then make sure we got on the bus, so we nicknamed him James Bond.
Our first stop on Wednesday was the Montaza Palace, built in the 1800s, so it seemed very new compared to all the ancient sites.
The new Alexandria Library was an amazing complex, so much more than a library but also home to some amazing ancient manuscripts. It was built on the site of the ancient library, which was once the largest in the world but was destroyed. They have some great online resources as well as a phenomenal on site collection.
We then visited the Citadel, of Qaitbay, (ie Alexandria fort) which was quite interesting despite having been continually rebuilt. The views over the city were great too.
One thing that struck me in Alexandria was the friendliness of the locals. Our guide suggested it was at least partially because there are so few foreigners visiting now that they want us to feel welcome. There are tourist police at all the sites we go, apparently our guide has to submit our itinerary to the tourist police at each city as they are determined to keep tourists safe. Tourist numbers are a small fraction of what they were prior to the revolution in 2011. Our guide last did a tour two months ago and doesn't have another your booked until July. Previously he'd do back to back tours for much of the year. As I write I'm on the first class sleeper train to Luxor and it's the only train tourists are allowed to take.
Upon arrival at our hotel we were upgraded to suites, and I got one of the largest, complete with a balcony overlooking the Mediterranean Sea! We also got the opportunity to sample the local wine and beer, as there are a few bottle shops in Alexandria.
The next morning as we went to leave the hotel, a black suited man, carrying a small automatic rifle hopped on our bus. Turns out he is a tourist security officer who didn't have much to do and we suspect wanted a free lift to Cairo. Disappointingly, for security reasons he wouldn't let us have a photo with him. But at least he provided entertainment as he didn't seen to much except have coffee at each stop and then make sure we got on the bus, so we nicknamed him James Bond.
Our first stop on Wednesday was the Montaza Palace, built in the 1800s, so it seemed very new compared to all the ancient sites.
The new Alexandria Library was an amazing complex, so much more than a library but also home to some amazing ancient manuscripts. It was built on the site of the ancient library, which was once the largest in the world but was destroyed. They have some great online resources as well as a phenomenal on site collection.
We then visited the Citadel, of Qaitbay, (ie Alexandria fort) which was quite interesting despite having been continually rebuilt. The views over the city were great too.
One thing that struck me in Alexandria was the friendliness of the locals. Our guide suggested it was at least partially because there are so few foreigners visiting now that they want us to feel welcome. There are tourist police at all the sites we go, apparently our guide has to submit our itinerary to the tourist police at each city as they are determined to keep tourists safe. Tourist numbers are a small fraction of what they were prior to the revolution in 2011. Our guide last did a tour two months ago and doesn't have another your booked until July. Previously he'd do back to back tours for much of the year. As I write I'm on the first class sleeper train to Luxor and it's the only train tourists are allowed to take.
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