It’s been awhile; it’s time to get back to my traveling tales from Egypt!
We departed from Cairo after breakfast, driving north to the coastal city of Alexandria. Situated at the western end of the Nile delta, it was founded by and named after Alexander the Great. (It would also become his burial place) It became the new Egyptian capital during the Hellenistic period that followed.
While looking at its ancient ruins, I could have forgotten that we were talking about Egypt. While maintaining Egyptian ideas, it had a heavy blend of Greek and Roman influence to see and explore.
First, Egypt is known for it’s tombs, right? This place is no different. Our first stop was some Roman catacombs.
Our next stop was in the Alexandria National Museum. Constructed in 1926, it was originally a mansion before becoming the U.S. Consulate. It was converted into a museum in 2003. Each floor is dedicated to a different time period. The basement contains the ancient Egyptian items. The main floor contains Greek and Roman objects. Finally, the top floor covers the post-Roman era, up to modern times. It provides a nice overview of Egyptian history.
Our final stop for the day was along the Mediterranean. No trip to Bible lands is complete without seeing the Med. This, however, was a very important spot, one that made Alexandria famous: its lighthouse. While its glow was extinguished centuries ago as it collapsed in a heap of rubble, it’s location is still known. A fort was built on the site, which we spent some time exploring before heading to our hotel for the evening.
