Day Trip To Alexandria

I decided to take a day trip to Alexandria for a little change of pace and also see what this port city is all about. From Giza where I am staying, the trip takes about 3 hrs each way depending on traffic, so my guide and I had an early start to try and maximize the day. We set off at 7 am.

Alexandria is located in Northern Egypt by the Mediterranean sea and was founded by Alxender the great in 331 BC. It was the site of one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world, the Pharos lighthouse and also the legendary library of Alexandria, unfortunately both were torched down. At the time, Alexandria was the most vital cultural center that attracted scholars, scientists, philosophers  etc.

Having a guide really helped me appreciate the historical significance of Alexandria. We visited the main attractions of the city which include:

The catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa - huge necropolis and and royal cemetery.

Pompey's Pillar - Roman triumphal column.

The Citadel of Qaitbay - A 15th century defensive fortress.

That's it folks! Alexandria was worth the day trip even though traffic was horrible coming back. Honestly there is so much history in Egypt and it's amazing to know that more is still being discovered. Truly, this has been an educational trip. I have two more days before going back to Kenya so keep stopping by for updates.