weekend in alexandria

Fast forward some months from Kenya to Alexandria, the first of the twenty-something Alexandria cities, and the site of a recent trip by the staff of the daily rod. This overnight marked the arrival of our good friend Gavin, and his first foray to the Middle East.

The outlook wasn't brilliant as we hopped into a taxi at 10:50a.m. to catch our 11:00a.m. train. In my best broken Arabic I told the driver to step on it, and I'll be damned if we didn't hit 100 kph on residential roads. He dropped us at the gate, I shoved double fare into his hand, and we raced to find our train waiting patiently for us at the track. We slowed to catch our breath and board, but just then the train started to pull away. We screamed and the conductor yelled and signaled for us to jump. I jumped first, Autumn next, and then Gavin threw his bags on and leaped after them as the train sped away. We made it.

Three hours and several teas later we detrained in Alexandria. After traveling from Cairo, the first thing you notice in Alexandria is the clean air. The wind blows off the Mediterranean Sea and smog hides nothing. We taxied to the old Hotel Metropole in the center of town and promenaded along the Corniche.

Highlights:
1. ancient roman theater
2. pompeii's pillar
3. screaming children begging autumn for an autograph and gavin for a picture
4. fried prawn at Fish Market restaurant
5. horse ride on the corniche
6. library at alexandria
7. ukrainian girls song and dance duo with electric keyboard in the hotel diningroom.

We left loads of time to reach the train on the way home, arriving hours early and eating a leisurely dinner outside the station. Unfortunately, it turned out to be too leisurely as we watched our train pull away, leaving us on the platform. But a wily taxi driver shoved us into his car and raced the train to the next station. If the first taxi ride was a rush, this ride was just plain scary. We were like a bowling ball speeding down the lane and knocking out pins. But instead of pins it was people, and they were scattering. At least 4 times I thought we'd kill a pedestrian. We hit the station fifteen minutes later - the driver slammed on the brakes - bolted out of the car - ran to the platform with us trailing behind. As we reached the platform the train was again moving out, but this time we were able to jump on and take our seats. Strangest thing about the whole scene was how nonchalantly the Egyptians acted, as if this happened every day. I guess it does, and now that I'm thinking it over, I'm remembering that busses in Cairo don't stop, they just slow down.

Enjoy the photos below.