To the Mediterranean Sea and back

Our day starts extra early as we have a 3 hour drive this morning to get ourselves to Alexandria- the city named after Alexander the Great, what used to be the main port city for the Greeks and Romans coming to this part of the world. Its' population is 15 million and its the second largest city in the country of Egypt whose population is over 90 million. Our drive takes us back through dessert like topography past huge fruit farms, fertilizer industries, a huge technology centre with corporate offices with all the big names, and the large prison complex out in the middle of nowhere where ex president Mubarak, his family members and political allies are being held.

Driving on the roads in Egypt is itself a major adventure. Speed limits, lanes, directions - these are all western ideologies that don't apply. At times we can be going down a one way street and we will find ourselves facing on coming traffic anyways as such rules are meant to be bent. Unless you are aggressive you will go no where in traffic. Trucks and bicycles are loaded to overflowing and people cram into buses, in between cargo in pickup trucks or simply hanging from a back bumper as needed. Motorcycles are common with between 2-4 riders on each. I never once saw a helmet on anyone as they swerve through and among the traffic. On this trip we have an armed security guard that the travel company has sent with us in case there is trouble on the road. - over protective from my standpoint as I have not felt ill at ease at all during my time here.

We visit the site of the lighthouse Cleopatra had built. It was destroyed 3 times due to earthquakes but some of the remaining stones have been incorporated into the new building that commemorates it. It has an amazing view of the city of Alexandria and of the Mediterranean sea. We also visit the catacombs used by the Romans to bury their dead. In their attempts to integrate and honor some of the traditions of the Egyptians, these catacombs are unique because they found Egyptian style paintings of the mummification process and ashes within the tombs. No writing about the persons life was found of the walls as they did not hold to a belief in resurrection. As well, about 300 mummies were found in the wall holes where usually only ashes in containers were found. A large room is near by where relatives would come to visit the tombs on the anniversary of the death. Plates, glasses etc would all be broken at the end of the meal in good Greek fashion to ensure good luck. These catacombs go down 5 stories deep. Amazing but alas no pictures allowed.

Following lunch we visit the Egyptian library, the largest library in the world. After a large competition from architectural design firms where some 1400 submissions were made, a Denmark firm is hired and with the help of UNESCO, it is built. It has 8 stories for books, multi media and computer terminals with enough space for 2000 plus reading/comp patrons at any one time. It has enough space for 8 million books though at this time 1.5 million fill the shelves while they work to add 15% to the collection each year. All languages are represented here. It also has 2 amazing machines that will copy and bind a 300 pg book including cover in under 5 minutes .

We then return to Cairo for packing and saying goodbye . This will be my last post related to this trip. Thank you all for sharing this journey with me. I'll have more to reflect on in relation to this learning experience that I shall endeavor to share in a variety of ways. I will post some other reflections from time to time on other insights I'm having while on sabbatical and then I will try to do something similar blogging wise when Hannah and I head to Ecuador at the end of June with the Me to We foundation. Looking forward being back home with loved ones and friends !