Egypt....My Appetite is Whetted! (Plus an Invitation)

When I was a little girl I had ceramic horses prancing across my dresser as  I was sure I was going to be a horse rancher when I grew up.  But as I approached my "double digit" years I discovered Egypt and the Pyramids and a lifelong love affair with archaeology was ignited.  If I had a bumper sticker it would say  "I heart ruins."  And I have seen some of the best and most famous, including Machu Picchu, Ephesus, Greek and Roman ruins, and was even able to visit some not-yet-excavated ruins in Mexico when they were out in the middle of nowhere and we had to hike into them.  (Today they are excavated and on display in  the center of the country.)  

But I had yet to visit the Pyramids which is why I jumped on the opportunity to spend two days in Egypt earlier this year, one at Port Said and another at Alexandria.   Little did I know how much I would enjoy the beautiful city at the intersection of the Mediterranean and the Nile!  More about Alexandria in a minute....

You have probably seen a million images of the Pyramids at Giza so I will only say we were there on a day of horrendous smog and high heat, sorry I can't airbrush blue skies in, and really I am not intending to talk about Cairo anyway right now....as I had no time to see the best of it.  Yet despite the conditions, it was indeed a thrill to see the very

thing that originally stimulated my interest in archaeology, which caused me to want to travel.  You can even enter one of the Pyramids, if you are willing to bend way over as you walk down, down, down then back up to reach the chamber.  Not much to see, but at least you can say "I was in a Pyramid."   Also the shorter you are the better (for once.)




The following day we came to the port of Alexendria with superbly blue skies.  Known  for hosting one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and its storied library, which tragically was destroyed by fire more than once (what a wealth of information it held, never to be replaced).  I visited a fort close to the port, (former) royal residences and the NEW library, which I consider a wonder of the current world!   Driving through the city itself is fascinating as much from its past has been preserved and it's well known that I am a history geek.

I won't show you much of the fortresses and castles as I thought the library was truly the best thing to see here.  So here are just a couple of images before we go on to the bibliotheque.

These two were guarding a former palace, now a hotel; I would have chatted with them but these two lions turned out to be Sleepy Cat and Scardey Cat.

The best part of my day was our time in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.  Even without the knowledge and collections gathered inside, the building is stunning.  Add (naturally) books, several museums,  permanent and temporary exhibitions, a planetarium, galleries, research centers, shops and more and you have a vibrant, busy, interactive and thoroughly fascinating place to spend some time.  You would need a full day to see everything in depth.

When you come through the entry area/lobby and enter the main space, be prepared to have your breath stolen away!  To the right,  we are looking down toward an exhibition of very early printing presses.

One of the many galleries and exhibition areas.

 The design for this most unique structure won out over more than 500 entries and millions and millions of dollars were donated by various governments....the check from Saddam Hussein and Iraq cleared the bank just before he was overthrown.  The building is constructed at a slant with much of it being underground.  The natural elements of air, light and water were all incorporated.  Strolling around the building is fascinating.  When you arrive at the wall below, remember that the words and symbols imbedded in it are all incarnations of peace.

 The quick jump from the coast to Cairo/Giza only made me realize that I was seeing just a whisper of the treasures of Egypt,  and now I am longing for more. 

The commercial, with an invitation:   As a travel advisor, I frequently am invited to join webinars---online presentations---about a particular company, itinerary, part of the world, or what have you.   These are geared normally to travel professionals.   However if you are interested in learning more about Egypt travel, with impeccable accommodations and Egyptologists as guides and your safety as the utmost concern,  I can invite you to a webinar to take place at 5pm PST time Monday, the 6th (or 8pm if you are on the east coast, etc).   If you would like to see this one hour presentation, email me at anne@specialtycruise.com and I will send you the link.   This is with Lindblad, one of the top few of the expedition style companies and one I highly recommend.