Alexandria - Day 1

My first day of "proper tour(ist)ing" started early after a long but fitful night's sleep. Ray (my guide) arranged for the room I had at the Ramses Hilton to be a "Nile View", which was wonderful for the view, but also meant that the party boats (floating discos, essentially) were right underneath the hotel. They were loud. All night. Seriously, all night. I slept ok, but every time I woke up I could hear them. They were finally quiet at 4am. I was worried that the next thing I'd hear would be the call to prayer, but I didn't hear that.

The first wonderful thing of the day was to sit down to breakfast in the restaurant on the top of the hotel, look out over Giza and as I raised my gaze to the horizon I found I was looking at the pyramids! Well, that was a buzz.

I checked out and Ray collected me from the hotel. We set off on the drive to Alexandria, which was long but interesting. Ray is good company and we talked of many things. The actual trip was interesting too because it showed that Egypt is much like my experiences in Bangladesh, including how drivers will make their own road when conditions deteriorate.

Serfine

We arrived in Alexandria and met the local elements of Emeco Travel at the National Museum of Alexandria. I was introduced to Serfine, a lovely woman who provided a personal tour of the museum, explaining the various highlights before leaving me to browse around on my own.

We then travelled through the streets of Alexandria to the Catacombs. These are some amazing tombs dug into the stone of Alexandria's foundations and discovered by a donkey! That was a fascinating trip. However, both these attractions did not allow photography. I have bought some postcards and a pictorial brochure of Alexandria to make up for that.

Finally, we travelled to a place called the Serapeum (temple of Serapis), where Pompeii's Pillar stands. Two things in particular were of interest there: an example of what the Alexandria Library looked like, as the area has a "Daughter library" of the original. The other was to realise that Serapis was a conjunction of two words: Ser Apis (God Apis). Now, that is only interesting when you know that I worked for Apis Consulting, which was named after a Hindu God, Apis. I'd be interested to know if the two of them are one and the same.

Ser Apis

Daughter Library

Finally, Ray and our driver took me to a restaurant that they recommended called Fish Market for a (late) seafood lunch. It was very nice and had a wonderful view over the East Harbour towards Alexandria. I am still learning some conventions here (of course). In my ignorance, I managed to wave away the salad I had ordered with my meal because it was delivered before and separately, when I was offered dips to accompany the bread I'd been given, that I hadn't ordered. It didn't matter, the fish that was grilled for me and served with rice was lovely.

Alexandria, across East Harbour

Tonight, Ray has offered to walk me around the town a little, find a cafe and drink some coffee. That should be quite fun.