Explore Cairo by foot? I would have liked to, but with the traffic and the special consideration for pedestrians, it is probably better to leave it alone. Unless you also want to make a trip to a Cairo hospital. So, additionally booked for 150€: An excursion to Alexandria – the city of Alexander the Great. Not much to see on the way there. A few date palm groves, bananas and mango trees. After about 2 hours mysterious happens. A break! Nobody had asked for it, aha, I think, it is possible, maybe because Hussein is not there…

Everything is completely different; no one says anything, but like in a movie, the exchange of people takes place. Islam is the name of the new guide, he introduces himself briefly and the journey continues to Alexandria. Mohammed drives back to Cairo. What is on the program: museum, catacombs, citadel and the new library. Islam says that lunch is also on the agenda. Despite thankful refusal, he insists. Well, let’s wait and see.

Echnaton statue

The museum is a converted villa from the turn of the century. Very beautifully laid out. Ancient Egyptian stuff in the basement, Greco-Roman style on the ground floor and the rest up to modern on the upper floor. Many pieces salvaged from the sea. My stomach grumbles. I would have been better not to drink the strange coffee. It didn’t taste good and somehow it didn’t agree with me. After visiting the three floors first of all to the toilet.

Continuing to the catacombs. Impressive large-scale burial site. Even more interesting is the ride. Small streets, streetcar, pedestrians and cars; all mixed up. From the catacombs to the citadel, the driver passes through a market alley. The merchants stand in two rows and clear their tables into the middle of the street when the streetcar rings, and then back again when it’s through after a long time. The road to the citadel is long, time is short.

Citadel

Over a small bridge you get to the island of Pharos. Here very beautifully located directly on the sea, the citadel. Islam tells the story of the citadel and shows the special features. A tour on the wall and Alexandria’s bay appears. More Greek than Arab, in fact.

Alexandria harbour

Now Islam really wants to go out for fish. Despite rejection, he insists; after all, it’s paid for. Well, with a messed up stomach to the fish restaurant. I continue to decline with thanks, but drink a mint tea and slowly recover.

The meal lasts until about half past three. On the journey – if one can call that journey, if one is overtaken again and again by pedestrians with walkers – to the library I say to Islam again insistently that we can also skip the library, since still the long return journey and afterwards sound & light show in Gizeh wait. “No problem” is his answer, that would be easy to do. So, after about an hour and 5 km drive still the library. Is also really a beautiful modern building with huge reading room and about 5 million books. Short tour through the side hall with the old engravings of Alexandria and then also a small exhibition for an Egyptian film director and book author.

Around four we leave for Cairo. Long drive and it is already getting dark. Not much to see of Cairo yet. Bad end to the conclusion, we do not create it naturally and/or so straight. My back is completely in the bucket. The show takes place without me. Thank you, Islam.