Blast from the past!
Have you heard about the historic city of Alexandria in Egypt? Next to the country's capital of Cairo in terms of geographical size, it's also known to be the biggest metropolis along the Mediterranean seacoast. This bustling location not only thrived as a modern global site, but is also incredibly enriched with phenomenal tales of antiquity.
Still not familiar? Alright. Does the name Cleopatra, the illustrious Egyptian queen from ancient times, ring a bell? Sure. You see, she was the influential ruler who catapulted Alexandria to an educational, technological, economical, and cultural powerhouse. Alexander the Great would certainly be proud of the urban legacy he founded, and strengthened by Cleopatra’s additional achievements.
However, we won't be talking about her. I'm here to transport you on an extraordinary journey back to my previous escapades - to share my nostalgic travel experiences about Alexandria’s exquisite harbor.
Many years ago, I had the unforgettable adventure of a lifetime! My dear friend and I were originally destined for Cairo to explore (you guessed it!) the iconic Giza Pyramids.
Although these architectural wonders weren't the only fascinating landmarks on our long itinerary, we budgeted extra time to venture beyond the outskirts of the capital.
Thus, we set our eyes on Alexandria because she was one of my dream destinations. That day had finally arrived!
Instead of flying there, we hired a private car complete with a personal driver/tour guide to lead the way. Besides, we thought that a road trip, despite the risk, would somehow be more fun and adventurous, wasn’t it?
After cruising northwards for a few hours, we eventually reached one of the city's toll gates. Its stunning white facade reminded me of the famous Parthenon, a Greek-inspired temple supported by a fluted order of columns. A memorable portal indeed to mark our glorious entry to Alexandria!
Through the kind hospitality of our tour/guide, we visited lots of recommended tourist attractions. But due to their lengthy scope, I’ll only be highlighting a handful of prominent landmarks that deserve our attention.
Kicking off with their breathtaking harbor’s coastal promenade…
“Isn’t it a lovely day? Sunny weather. Bright blue skies. Cool beach breeze. Picturesque environment. What more could you ask?”
“Absolutely! It’s a great pleasure to finally arrive in Alexandria and meet the Mediterranean Sea in person. What a gorgeous scene!” My companion couldn’t hold her silence as she jumped repeatedly with smiles on her face.
From where we stood, I could smell the invigorating scent of the sea’s saltwater as a gentle gush of wind embraced my entire being. I could hear her sweet whisper of welcome.
As we continued strolling along their spacious seaside promenade, we spotted a massive beige building up ahead. Was it a fort, palace, or castle? We later learned that it was the Citadel of Qaitbay, a significant fortification built during the city’s early beginnings. It served as a military defense outpost many centuries ago. We skipped investigating its historic interior chambers on purpose and decided to return to this prestigious landmark another day.
We then boarded our vehicle and proceeded further to the other interesting places edging the open coast. While cruising along their busy thoroughfare, this was one of the most spectacular shots I captured with my camera. It barely resembled a futuristic cityscape with sophisticated skyscrapers, streets, transportation systems, and high-profile people, but it surely exuded a vintage charm. Any comments?
Moving forward, we passed by a number of other contemporary landmarks along the shoreline. Because of their thriving tourism industry, accommodations, restaurants, malls, plus other entertainment and commercial establishments of various shapes and sizes were open to serve the public. That small seacove under construction near a mid-rise hotel looks like the perfect spot to plant beach umbrellas! Have you noticed it?
Continuing our existing tour near an artistically crafted cul-de-sac or rotunda adorned with an attractive garden, we then discovered another eye-catching landmark. It was the El Salamlek Palace Hotel & Casino.
Although not an enormous project as you’d probably expect, this imposing complex wore a peculiar architectural character that I just couldn’t decode. Nevertheless, I was still captivated by its defining geometries, appearing to me like a creative blend of Mediterranean and European design styles. I may be wrong, but it sure did impress me! What are your ideas about its features?
Our last stop was the iconic Lighthouse of Alexandria erected at the harbor’s farthest point. Isn't that monumental tower a magnificent feat of architecture and engineering? Tell me about it!
Our tour guide informed us that this area was known as Pharos, the same famous vicinity where the colossal Pharos Lighthouse of this ancient civilization stood. Unfortunately, it doesn’t exist anymore today due to falling victim to the powerful forces of natural calamities - directly responsible for its tragic annihilation. Only a few traces of its dilapidated remains are currently submerged under the seaport for scientific exploration.
As a bonus, here’s one of the luxurious mansions we encountered along the Mediterranean coast. I don’t know who owns it, but this humongous Egyptian estate definitely stole my breath away!
And that was my humble tour of the incredibly fabulous harbor of Alexandria! Did I miss something?
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