Alexandria

We visited the modern city of Alexandria, located on the Mediterranean, today.  It is the second biggest city in Egypt with 12,000,000 people.  Alexandria was named for Alexander the Great of Macedonia who at 25 conquered Egypt in 332 BC.  We visited the Catacombs of Kom as-Shuqafah which from the Roman period in Egypt (2nd century AD).  There was one central tomb where the fantastic stine carvings and decorations are well preserved.  (No cameras allowed, so no pictures for you). 

Modern Alexandria was famous for establishing the worlds cotton industry which created great wealth.  A revolution in 1952 changed all that confiscating land and nationalizing businesses.  The Arab Spring has caused even more deterioration to the country.  Garbage does not get picked up because the government was so corrupt the garbage companies refused to do the job.  To this day there is still no garbage pick up.

When the Romans occupied Egypt they built a magnificent Council Chamber and baths.  It was uncovered when excavating for mass transit. No mass transit but great example of Roman architecture.

In 2002 the Bibliotheka Alexandrina was completed.  This will give library lovers a thrill. It will hold 10,000,000 volumes and 50,000 rare manuscripts.  It is very modern in design with lots of natural lighting.  It was commissioned by Mrs. Mubarak.  It cost $100,000,000 but she requested $1billion.  Educators were not paid for four years in order to build this library.  You do the math.

The picture above shows two floating comminity/meeting rooms.  

It was a long day.  We were up and out by 6:30am and didn't get back until 5:30pm  Sunday is our Monday so traffic was wild.  Again, lane markings mean nothing.  Six cars drive abreast in what we would consider three lanes.  They dart in and out of traffic, beeping their horns.  Left hand turns are often made from the extreme right hand lane.  

Today we had a police escort blaring their horn to get traffic moving which was standing still in some places.  It screams "I am protecting Americans". Yikes!  The US pays for this service.  As I mentioned earlier the US Embassy knows where we are at all times.  An armed policeman travels on the bus carrying a glock.  He is your personal body guard.  When you are off the bus, he is between the group and anyone else.  But to tell you the truth, these people love Americans and we feel very secure.  Just have to avoid the crazies.

Off to Luxor tomorrow.  Up and out by 4am so good night.