October 26, 2009 – Monday 5:10 pm
I’ve decided that no one will get the Reader’s Digest version of Sunday. I shall relate that day in all of its glory in person. Anyone who wants to hear it can ask me about it!
I know it is Monday because yesterday was Sunday but all of the days are running together and I have no point of reference at all. We stayed in Alexandria today and toured all over the city. I think most of the pictures I took were just to remember later how really dirty this beautiful city is. Traffic is horrendous. We were told that it is not as bad as Cairo, but I think we just didn’t drive as much in Cairo. Cars don’t care that there are marked lanes; drivers just go where they want and when they want. I don’t know how the population has stayed so high here; they should all be dead in traffic accidents by now! We did go to the National Museum, the site of the Lighthouse of Alexandria (one of the seven ancient wonders of the world,) a mosque, King Farouk’s palace, and the Catacombs. Our guide was also very informative on the whole Muslim culture and we learned a lot from her. I enjoyed seeing the people living their lives in this city. Most are very poor and live in conditions that I had not previously imagined. Even the fact that the street vendors are very ‘in your face’ with their wares and really want to make their sales was of interest to me. They count on us to be here. Our guide told us Egypt has four treasures. Oil, Cotton, and tourism. That’s just three, I know; but I must be too tired to remember the other one!
All very interesting and all worth seeing but, we are so tired! Thank goodness that tomorrow is a day at sea so we can rest up before going to Iraklion.
I’m showered and cleaned up from the hot, humid day and Mike is cleaning up now. We will have a relaxing evening and get a head start on the whole resting up thing!
We ended this day sitting on our balcony with a glass of wine and staring at the ocean glistening with moonlight, stars filling the sky. These moments are why we are here!