Blogs from Alexandria, Mediterranean, Egypt, Africa

Egyptian series: Ace of Alexandria -Piprey on wheels Alexandria is an ancient port city on the Mediterranean Sea. It is located on the fan like delta of Nile and named after the Macedonian conqueror, Alexander. I caught VIP train (second class) at 8am from Cairo Rameses train station to Alexandria. To tide away time, I bought a 3 LE Pretzel and 5 LE Egyptian tea. The station was as chaotic as any other megapolis with newspaper men, shops selling thin, small baguettes with cheeses and processed meats, a variety of fruits, locks and keys etc. A comfortable journey to Alexandria after 3 hours or so and I was hungry. Ate a falafel sandwich at a local eatery and followed my nose with the sea breeze to the marine promenade. Alas, there was a line of cafes/ ... read more

Geo: 31.2135, 29.9443Alexandria stretches along 12 miles of the Mediterranean coast and is the second largest city in Egypt. It was founded in 332 BC by Alexander the Great and its rich history includes Cleopatra and Anthony and a litany of Roman Emperors. The city grew to be the largest of the known world at the time. Alexandria was sacked and burned during the civil war that followed the takeover by Julius Caesar. For more of it history go to http://www.ancient.eu/alexandria/The city today has the potential to be quite beautiful. Fort Qaitbey still remains as does the Pillar of Pompey but little else of its ancient history remains. The new library is spectacular and also houses several museums of art and antiquities as well as a special Sadat Memorial Exhibit. Fort Quitbey is a fortress built ... read more

In between our time in Lebanon and the excitement of a rendezvous with BV Chef in Cairo, we descended on the coastal city of Alexandria. In all fairness, we didn’t know much about this city, given our somewhat hectic schedule leading up to our departure on this latest journey about the Middle East and Europe. We knew some key points; it is on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and looked like a good place to slow down for a bit. Our subsequent discoveries uncovered a great many things in our abbreviated time here. This is no sleepy seaside town. Alexandria has over four million citizens and is the largest city directly on the Mediterranean Sea, founded by none other than Alexander the Great (which of course, makes sense) in 331 B.C. We chuckle because this ... read more

Friday May 10th, 2013. Alexandria, Egypt Hugging the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, Alexandria is Egypt's largest seaport and second largest city. Known as the 'Pearl of the Mediterranean', Alexandria was originally founded as a small town by Alexander the Great in 331 BC. It was Egypt's capital for almost 1000 years until the Muslim conquest of Egypt in 641 AD. Modern Alexandria is divided into 6 districts. We had previously arranged to meet our (Ex-English now Ozzie) pals from Perth called Alan and Karen at 9.30 am by the gangway. We actually bumped into them earlier in the Lido where we breakfasted. We left the port and met up with another couple from Melbourne called Margaret and Alan who were looking to share a taxi for 6. The four of us agreed to join them. ... read more

Dear All Greetings from Alexandria! City of my name, founded by none other than Al-Iskandar Al-Akbar himself (Alexander the Great), the capital of Cleopatra’s Egypt, and the site of not only the famous Great Library of Alexandria, the greatest collection of scrolls and manuscripts ever at that time, but also the Pharos lighthouse, one of the Ancient Seven Wonders of the World which towered over the ancient city’s harbour. Alas, none of these wonders remain today, as after the Arabs swept through North Africa in the 7th Century, Egypt’s capital was moved to Cairo, and Alexandria was all but abandoned. The Ancient City today sits some 6 metres below modern Alexandria, and much of it is actually now under water. Today the city is as Arabic as they come, a frenetic, heaving metropolis of 4 million ... read more