Alexandria, Egypt - April 26th

We docked yesterday in Alexandria and Hilary and Ricardo went on the long bus ride to Cairo and to the Pyramids. Once again, the tourist count was waaaay down and they said the only buses in the usual parking area there were the ones from Silver Seas.  Carl and I went on the ship shuttle bus into town in Alexandria and then walked to the new Library of Alexandria.  It is a rather modern looking building (Norwegian team won the competition for the design) with touches of local flavor such as what appear to be hieroglyphics but are just meaningless symbols.  Once inside, after paying a very modest ticket fee, we were entitled to take a guided tour. These tours run every 45 minutes and they ask your nationality so they know what language in which to schedule the tour. 

We were with one other couple from the ship and we had an excellent guide who spoke perfect English and was knowledgeable and interesting. 

As we entered the area overlooking the main reading room we were almost stunned at the WOW! Factor.  I don’t think the pictures I took did it justice.  The building is on 9 levels (slanted) and has many exhibition halls, a planetarium, and lecture facilities.  It also has a printing press which can print, collate and bind a book in minutes.  There are art works and memorabilia of earlier printing systems and a vast level of computer interaction for anyone in the world, and connecting with the library is free.

The traffic in Alexandria is just about the worst we have seen and life as a pedestrian is beyond hazardous.  This was the first port where our shuttle bus could not run on a schedule because even allowing extra time for the trip, it was always behind. One of the reasons for the horrible traffic may well be that cars double park any and everywhere, goods for sale are laid out well into the street and people weave in and out of the traffic because this is the only way they can cross or move up the block. 

Last night we had our Arabian dress up dinner.  Picture of Carl will be attached, I hope.  Lately the ship’s internet has not wanted to send any of my pictures.  I am going to try today to send the second set of Safaga photos as well as those from Petra.  (Ed Note: Added to Petra posting.)

 And so, we are down to our final two sea days, then one day in Sorrento and c’est fini.  I will try and write one more time after our farewell dinner.  Thanks to all who have had the patience and kindness to follow our travels.  We will bore you even more with verbal tales when next we meet.

Love and kisses,

ME