Alexandria

Alexandria…

Cleopatra’s city…

Founded by Alexander the Great…  

This weekend was a big milestone for me being in Egypt. I have now been here a month and we had our first big weekend excursion, to Alex! A 3-hour bus ride from Cairo (usually ppl take the train but we didn’t want to risk not being able to come back because of the strikes on Saturday!), Alex is located on the Mediterranean Sea.

I LOVE THE SEA! The fresh air, blue skies, blue water. Its almost as good as my mountain air =P

We arrive at the Winsdor Hotel located on the sea =) When my siblings and I were growing up my mom would ask us where we wanted to travel…for my oldest sister it was actually Egypt but for me it was simply a hotel. I love hotels. So much! So as soon as we arrive I’m pretty tired because of my motion sickness medicine but everyone else goes out for dinner. I stay in…and order room service! Curled up on my King sized bed eating room service (and ice cream ;)) I feel so happy =D

A good (hotel) sleep later, Pam (my roomie) and I go up to the roof for breakfast. First I see the scrumptious breakfast buffet that is laid out then I see the breathtaking view! We were on the Mediterranean and on the roof but I was not prepared for the white buildings and giant expanse of blue skies and sea…

Off to explore Alex after a decadent breakfast. The library is closed that morning so we go off to Pompey’s pillar and the catacombs…random pillar sticking out into the sky was actually erected in honor of the first Christian emperor of Rome, Constantine.

Pam and the dead lady...

Lunch. More food! And its off to Catherine’s Cathedral. A catholic church in Egypt. It was interesting. First of all there was a dead lady covered in wax there! Weird! It wasn’t St. Catherine but some other lady whose body was covered in wax to preserve her so she could bring good luck…hmmm lol

Also, we visit a Roman Amphitheater. Cool cool but the best part was the street kitty! While everyone else attempts to get a jump shot =P I go and pet a very friendly adorable street kitty who decides he wants on my lap =D

Then we go to the fort where the Alexandrian Lighthouse (one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world) used to stand. I go up to the wall to see the water crashing against the wall and run into two of the kids on my program surrounded by arabs (mostly women) wanting their pictures taken with my friends! Lol! It was like paparazzi! They made us get of the wall because it was closing time but even going down I got asked for a picture =P 

Oh and I got to pet yet another street kitty! But this one bit me after a little bit =O Don’t worry didn’t break the skin!

Long day and more food then we could handle our trip continues the next day…

Asharaf, one of our Arabic teachers