Tuesday, January 9 Cairo and Alexandria

Post by Henry

Linda's birthday today. Decision was for the four Spokanites to visit historic Alexandria on the Mediterranean coast. We engaged a private driver for the entire day, to make our itinerary as efficient as possible.

We managed to visit the Citadel, walk along the Corniche, absorb the heady aura of the famed Alexandria Library, enjoy a waterfront bayside fresh seafood lunch, and stroll on the grounds of a former palace.

We returned to the hotel in time for an evening "meet and greet" of the other riders.

In two days, we have managed to survive a fair amount of Egyptian driving. They can effortlessly squeeze three cars abreast into two lanes. Drivers have a curious habit of straddling the lane lines, so that they can quickly veer to the left or the right if an opening occurs. At all choke points, there is an intricate dance between trucks, microbuses, cars, tuk-tuks, and scooters that generally results in forward Brownian motion. All the while, pedestrians (from children to the elderly) are able to cross this phalanx of vehicles perpendicularly; it doesn't matter if it is a local street or a major highway. People fearlessly cross roads talking on their cell phones pushing a stroller while not really looking up. There are no traffic lights, stop or yield signs in Cairo. Horns are constantly tooting.

Alexandria's corniche on the Mediterranean coast.

Alexandria's Citadel.

A view of the bay from inside Alexandria's Citadel.

Would have loved to throw a few casts myself.

Call to prayer in of Alexandria's largest mosques.

Alexandria's modern library. A remarkable edifice.

Almost every seat was filled with young Egyptians studying. Heartening to see that more than 50% or more were young women. Equally disheartening to imagine that no such scene can be found in today's Afghanistan, as women are barred from any higher educational endeavors.

Fresh baked sea bream with spices and seafood rice at Seaside Restaurant.

Grilled sea bass.