Today we left Journey at 8:00 on a tour of the landmarks of Alexandria. Alexander the Great founded this city early in the fourth century. Our first stop was the Roman catacombs. This three-level funerary was dug in the bedrock in the second century AD. Today it is in the city surrounded by apartments and shops. Access is via a circular staircase that follows a shaft that was used to lower the remains to the entombment levels. The tour description said there were 100 stairs. We were concerned that Alice might not be able to go down due to her injured foot. As it turned out there were about a hundred stairs. Fortunately, they were shallow. Alice decided that she would be able to negotiate them. She did this not without pain, but with much joy.
The network of burial sites was extensive. Some were used by the poor to be shared with others. Some were for single use, and some were family plots. They look a lot like today’s mausoleums. The tombs for the wealthy were elaborately decorated. The opulence was surprising. Even more surprising is that after all these years they were found.
Now we were off to the new library. The architecture of this modern structure is awesome. The interior is functional, beautiful, and very modern. The facilities are impressive. There is a substantial number of computers for public use. Of course, the selection of books is huge. Alice and I used our free time to visit the children’s library. It is wonderful. There are play areas, creative areas, game areas, and even a music-listening room. The teen area appears to be well outfitted also, but we did not have the credentials necessary to enter it. Outside again we managed to get some pictures of the building before returning to the coach.
Now we headed to the waterfront. There is a lovely beach area with resort hotels along a nice stretch of waterfront. This abruptly turns into much less attractive housing. The contrast is remarkable. Also remarkable is the amount of trash everywhere. Our guide explained that this is a cultural thing. People believe they are not getting the necessary services from the government. In return, they do nothing to assist the government. An example of this is the disregard for keeping the exteriors and streets clean.
Passing the resorts we headed to the old harbor. This was the site of the Egyptian lighthouse of Alexander the Great until earthquakes destroyed it in the 1700s. vendors populate the break-wall. Souvenirs abound. Euros and dollars are accepted. From this position, it is difficult to photograph the fort and lighthouse. It would be better to stop along the resort strip and use a zoom lens for pictures.
On the way back to the ship we passed the Roman column. It is one of the few intact roman objects. Tall and Stately.
We were back onboard at 1:30 for lunch. At 5:15 we went to the Living Room on deck 10 forward for our pre-dinner cocktail. now it was go to dinner, enjoy the show and get to bed. Tomorrow we have a 9 hour tour to Jerusalem from the port of Ashdod.
This was a very nice day.
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