Had your fill of mummies, pyramids, tombs, cartouches, obelisks, pharaohs, temples, etc., etc.,? Dreaming of Ramses II, Hatshepsut, Tuthmosis III and Ptolemy while sleeping? Tired of the desolate expanse of the West Bank desert? Developing claustrophobia from entering the pyramids and the tombs in the Valleys of the Kings and Queens? Having sniffles from the dust gathering on the thousands of artifacts at Cairo's Egyptian Museum? These are simply signs of pharaonic fatigue.
Alexandria, Egypt's second largest city may be the antidote against all these. The city, while not less historical than Luxor and Cairo, has surprisingly 'little' to offer in terms of ancient monuments and pharaonic temples. Its attractions - cool Mediterranean breeze (could get chilly during winter), atmospheric ahwas (local coffeehouses) and sheesha (waterpipe) cafés, wonderful beaches, eye-popping public art and cutting-edge public buildings, and interesting architecture - provide the perfect escape from pharaohs and pyramids, in a less hurried, less chaotic (vs. Cairo), and hassle-free (think Luxor's menacing touts) environment.
The best way to see Alexandria is after doing Cairo, Luxor and Aswan. The city's magic lies not in its rich history, for which it has little to show, but rather on its ability to provide that needed variety to your Egyptian experience. |
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