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The Citadel
great view of the Med. SeaI made it to Africa!
Yesterday was quite the trip. I caught a bus to Aqaba which is a port city in the south of Jordan at 7:30am, but it left on Middle East time (around 8:30) so we arrived in Aqaba at 10:30 and caught a ferry which also left on Middle East time, and we didn't arrive in Nuweiba (Sinai area of Egypt) until 3pm. I ended up finding a bus to Cairo but it was super slow so I didnt arrive until about 1pm. Luckily I had met a Lebanese guy so I had someone to go with me to the hostel.
Today I got a bus to Alexandria, which took double the amount it should because we were refused at a check point and had to go another way. (I have no idea why.) When I finally arrived in Alexandria I checked on the bus schedule and learned that there was an overnight bus to Siwa Oasis at 10pm, and I decided to spend the day and then head to Siwa.
I was getting some lunch at a cafe beside the Mediterranean Sea, when this young chubby guy asked me to join him and his
The friendly guides
Remy and Ahmed carrying my bags like the perfect gentlemen they were. friend, so I did. They were two college students (Remy and Ahmed, 20) who had just finished an exam and were relaxing. They paid for my lunch and offered to show me around for the day. It was great to have a local perspective and I saw things that I wouldn't have if I didn't meet them- like the Citadel that Alexander the Great had built to protect the area from sea invasions. It was really well preserved and very beautiful right on the seaside.
Afterward, they took me for the Egyptian specialty of umm ali (flour, milk, nuts, sugar). It was good, but very sweet. The insisted on stopping the shared taxi (like a public bus inorder to buy me an Alexandrian ice cream even though I insisted that I was already stuffed. They said that they just wanted me to enjoy my day, and were really genuine. They were really cute in a nerdy way (think Steve Irkal laugh), and super nice to me. They were very dedicated to making sure that I got lots of pictures of myself (they even fought over who took the better picture of me! and would make me rate them..oh my!)
Alexandria coastline
The view from the Citadel Then we checked out the Alexandrian library, had some dinner on the water and watched the sunset before Remy showed me to the bus station for my overnight bus to Siwa. I love meeting locals, it brings so much to the experience.
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Danielle and Ryan
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AMAZING PICTURES!
Hi Erin! Ryan and I are at work (always working diligently, checking out your blogs) and love the pictures, especially of the mummy! We would have loved to see everything in Egypt with you! Of course you're doing an authentic experience unlike those sorry excuse for tourists. I also have to say that I love your garb. You make it look good!! We're thinking of your Erin! Love you! xoxoxo