Right after our trip in Cairo, we were headed towards Alexandria by car. The distance is close to 230 km so it was a pleasant journey by all means. Alexandria is by far the best and the coolest destination in Egypt. It doesn't hesitate to showcase the rich diversity it possesses and is also the favorite destination in Egypt for the tourists. The main reason being the weather. Unlike the weather in other parts of the country, It's chilly and windy creating a lovable environment. Having reached the destination at dawn, it was totally a rest day, and we begin to explore the city the next morning.Streets of Alexandria
A re-imagining of Alexandria's ancient Great Library, this gorgeously designed the cultural center contains a host of museums, as well as one of the modern world's most ambitious libraries. Its architecture - a giant sun disk - presides over the waterfront Corniche, while inside, a huge reading room can hold eight million volumes. Below the main library, visitors can explore a range of beautifully curated exhibitions. The Manuscript Museum, with its magnificent collection of ancient texts and scrolls, and the Antiquities The museum, with its Greco-Roman antiquities and statuary, found during underwater exploration in the harbor, are the two prime attractions. But there are also rotating art exhibitions, a permanent Egyptian folk art collection, and a Science Museum and Planetarium that are aimed squarely at children.
Walk the long shore-front Corniche road heading west, and you'll finally arrive at Fort Qaitbey. It may be a poor substitute for what was once the site of the mighty Pharos Lighthouse - one of the seven wonders of the ancient world - but this squat and dinky fort has been standing guard over Alexandria's eastern harbor since 1480. The Pharos itself said adieu to Alexandria in 1303 when it was toppled by a violent earthquake. Fort Qaitbey was built by Mamluke Sultan Qaitbey in an effort to fortify this important Egyptian port from attack, and rubble from the toppled lighthouse was used in its construction. Inside, you can explore the series of stone-walled chambers and climb up to the roof to look out over the Mediterranean.
Walk the long shore-front Corniche road heading west, and you'll finally arrive at Fort Qaitbey. It may be a poor substitute for what was once the site of the mighty Pharos Lighthouse - one of the seven wonders of the ancient world - but this squat and dinky fort has been standing guard over Alexandria's eastern harbor since 1480. The Pharos itself said adieu to Alexandria in 1303 when it was toppled by a violent earthquake. Fort Qaitbey was built by Mamluke Sultan Qaitbey in an effort to fortify this important Egyptian port from attack, and rubble from the toppled lighthouse was used in its construction. Inside, you can explore the series of stone-walled chambers and climb up to the roof to look out over the Mediterranean.
Montazah Gardens and Montazah Palace
An oasis of calm on the city's eastern edge, Montazah is a lush haven of tall palm trees, trimmed lawns, and blossoming flowers that were once off-limits to all but the royal court and their hangers-on. Built as a hunting lodge in the 1890s by Khedive Abbas Hilmi, it was later extended substantially by King Fuad and replaced Ras el-Tin Palace as the royal family's summer house. The eccentrically designed Montazah Palace, with its ornate Florentine-inspired towers and Rococo flourishes, is not open to the public, but everyone is welcome to stroll within the sprawling gardens, which can be a welcome slice of nature after a day spent within Alexandria's hustle. On the coastal end of the park is a small beach with a peculiarly whimsical bridge to a small island. If you need a dose of tranquility, a trip to Montazah is just the ticket to restore your sanity before diving back into the inner city fray. Minibusses heading west up the shore-front Corniche road all pass by Montazah. They charge between 1-2 EGP depending on where you board.
There may be only scant remnants of the once-grand Hellenistic city above ground, but dive into the waters of Alexandria's Eastern Harbour area, and you'll find there's plenty more of ancient "Alex" to explore. Archaeologists have been plumbing the depths for years, searching for the lost sunken city of the Classical age and bringing up many treasures to the surface (now on display in Alexandria's museums), but recreational divers can now visit the archaeological ruins under the sea, too. The most popular site has been (unsurprisingly) nicknamed "Cleopatra's Palace" and indeed was once a palace area - though if the great lady herself was ever in residence, we'll never know. There are sphinxes and tumbled columns and statuary galore still in situ here, which makes for a fascinating underwater experience.
Alexandria served us all a delicious meal which consisted of rich heritage, culture, fun, and entertainment. We were headed back to Suez through Cairo after 4 joyful days and this was the last trip during my days in egypt as I was home bound a couple of days later.
