Tourist Sites in Alexandria



The Roman Amphitheatre in Alexandria dates to the 2nd Century AD. The reddish area toward the back are later Greek buildings constructed over the theatre. 



Some of our tour members are practicing speeches in the center of the theatre.

These are just a few of the statues that have been found in the waters of the harbor. They were either discarded by subsequent rulers or thrown in to block enemy ships. Excavation is continuing.

This is the entrance to the catacombs of Kom es-Shouqafa, which were tunneled into the bedrock, also in the 2nd Century AD by a single wealthy family, later expanded to hold about 300 tombs. There are three levels, reached by a winding staircase - the bottom level is under water. There is even an area known as a banqueting hall, where family and friends gathered to remember the dead.



We were not allowed to take photos in the catacombs, so I "borrowed" this from the Internet. It shows one of the large tombs, surrounded by columns, statues and inscriptions on the walls. Legend has it that the discovery of these underground tombs was made possible around 1900 by a donkey who fell into it through an opening above.



When we came above ground again, we found our bus had died. Our driver and security guard are puzzling the problem.



Someone located this mechanic, who got us up and running again in about 20 minutes.



This is the royal palace, which was used by the rulers of Egypt up to the end of the reign of King Farouk in 1952, when he was overthrown by revolution. He was the last of the rulers of the Mohammed Ali dynasty.



The grounds in front of the Palace are now a 115-acre park- the Montazah Gardens, on the shore of the Mediterranean.

Alexandria Buildings, Library and People

Typical apartment buildings in Alexandria (also Cairo).  If you look closely, you can see the laundry drying on many of the balconies.

Intersection with traffic and gas station.

A small apartment building on the outskirts, with typical laundry and satellite antennas.

This photo is from the Internet - it's the Bibliotheca Alexandrina - the Alexandria Library, complete in 2002, near the site of the ancient Alexandria library, which was famous throughout the known world from 300 BC to about 400 AD. The architecture is symbolic of the sun disk illuminating the world.

This is a photo I took, through the streaky coach window.

The courtyard of the Library, filled with artworks.

One of the reading/computer rooms.  The latest possible technology is available to the public. The US contributed
200 million dollars to the construction, and many other nations also constributed funds and technology.

We always felt welcomed in Egypt - these schoolboys followed our coach for four blocks, waving and smiling.  

These schoolgirls liked us too.

When the coach stopped at an intersection, this couple waved and gestured for us to take their picture, which I did, showing Egypt's mix of the modern and traditional.

Even these soldiers in riot gear were happy to see us.

Still a middle-eastern tradition - men like to sit at sidewalk cafes and drink coffee.



Another mix of modern and traditional - the ever-present cell phone.



Alexandria

The entrance to our hotel, taken as we arrived in the evening. The Hotel Cecil is one of Egypt's fine historic hotels.

The vintage elevator is just behind the ornate iron stair rails.

The breakfast dining area, with generous choices at the buffet.

The view of the Mediterranean from our hotel room window.

The view from the window in the other direction.

Busy Alexandria street.

Street vendors are everywhere.

You can buy almost anything from a sidewalk vendor.

This woman is selling something from a small table, while a man sweeps the street nearby.

Traffic! No attention is paid to street lanes or stop signs.

And these traffic policemen are not paying much attention either. Just chatting.

Donkey carts are common.

This motorcycle is carting a load of foam panels (I think).

Wadi Natrun and Coptic Monastery

The Wadi Natrun is a 20-mile long depression in the western desert between Cairo and Alexandria. We traveled through it by coach on the way to one of the four Coptic Christian monasteries in the area. The following photos were taken in a town we passed through along the way.

This is the entrance to the Monastery of St. Bishoi, dedicated to a holy monk who lived at this site in solitude. The main church dates to the 9th century AD. The Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria has his pontifical residence here. The current Pope had recently died and was lying in state in the Church until a new Pope is chosen.

    

This is the monk who gave us a tour of the Monastery. He was not really as wild-eyed as he appears in this photo.



These men were praying and chanting before the shrine of St. Bishoi.

Pilgrims touch the relic of St. Bishoi, enclosed in a beautiful painted case.  

On the Road to Alexandria



You're never far from a Nile irrigation ditch between Cairo and Alexandria.



Typical apartment buildings. The rebar on the roof indicates the building isn't finished yet, so the owner doesn't have to pay taxes. A lot of garbage gets thrown into the ditch.



One of the few modern private homes close enough to photograph.



This truck is carrying goats to the city - they are needed for the Holiday meal.



A town marketplace, taken quickly from a bridge over the street. The white vans seen everywhere are individually-owned and travel a set route - more convenient than a bus but lower cost than a taxi. The small three-wheeled cars also seen everywhere are a Chinese make.



Another town street.



Fruits and veggies are sold in outdoor stands like this.



This is a pigeon coop. Pigeons are a delicacy in Egypt, and these coops are commonly seen.



Harvesting dates and trimming the palm trees.

 

Selling dates by the side of the highway.



Most of the farm labor is still manual.