Alexandria

Alexandria is a major city in Egypt. Lying at the western edge of the Nile River Delta, it extends about 40 km (25 mi) along the country’s northern coast. It is Egypt’s principal seaport, the second largest city after Cairo, and the largest city on the Mediterranean coast. Founded in 331 BC by Alexander the Great, Alexandria is one of the largest and most important cities of antiquity and a leading hub for science, culture, and scholarship.

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Alexandria is also called the “bride of the mediterranean”.

My first impression of the city was when I stepped out of the train at Sidi Gaber railway station (which further reminded me of Shimla’s railway station).

This was my first view when I stepped out of the station. Somehow, Alexandria is even more chaotic than Cairo.

Somehow, the cars here were even more antiquated than the cars in Cairo. I even saw many Maruti 800s.

The Corniche is much better-looking than the city interiors, and has a distinctive European feel.

I had only 1 full day here, so no time to waste.

The Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa

I remember completing this level with huge difficulty, so I went to the catacombs straight away. This place was an interesting mix of Roman & Egyptian cultures.

Also met these 2 sweet creatures outside.

Cats of Alexandria

The streets of Alexandria are full of cats, most of them fearless.

This one literally harassed me out of a lot of meat.

Streets of Alexandria

I spent the rest of my afternoon walking on side streets along the Corniche. The buildings are all worn-down, same as Cairo. But also damaged by the salty air.

As you can see, traffic rules are not something people follow too much.

The Citadel of Qaitbay

In the late afternoon, I went to the Citadel of Qaitbay, built on the former ruins of the legendary Lighthouse of Alexandria. This was probably my favourite place in the city.

I would recommend waiting till sunset to visit this place and take pictures in the golden hour.

The Corniche

The Corniche is probably the best part of the city, as you can look at the Mediterranean, not towards the dilapidated buildings.

In the evening, I fulfilled my life-long dream, watching the sun set on the Mediterranean.

I took one last stroll on the Corniche, but by this time, it was already extremely crowded.

At night, it was finally looking like the “Bride of the Mediterranean”.

And with this, my visit to this country came to a close.