2025 Volendam, Alexandria, Egypt, Day 2...

We walked out to the Alexandria Port Gate and we met our guide Tarek for a tour around the city of Alexandria... Alexandria is the second-largest city in Egypt, a major port on the Mediterranean coast founded by Alexander the Great in 331BC. The city’s been around for more than 2,300 years…it’s truly old, older than me!!! Our first stop was the Roman Theater. The Roman amphitheater is a large circular Roman theater, and the only one of its kind to be found in the country. From an elevated level we could see the original marble seating for around 700 people. A number columns and fine Roman mosaics decorate the floors of the large complex. We walked around the grounds to see the surrounding area including the remains of the Roman bath house and a villa, known as the Villa of Birds its beautiful mosaic work. The Roman theater we see today at Alexandria city is a typical Roman theater, consisting of audience section made of marble, granite columns and thick limestone walls. The theater was used to host huge ceremonies with a capacity of 600 spectators. The granite used in this theater was exported from Aswan in south Egypt. After leaving the theater we stopped and toured the Library of Alexandria, a modern revival of the ancient Great Library. This is a center for knowledge, culture, and a place of many exhibitions, museums, and a planetarium. When we left the library, we had a surprise; the guides car had a boot on the wheel, so we had to wait for a while till the police returned to unlock the wheel. Next, we drove along the Corniche, a seaside promenade along the Mediterranean that offered stunning views of the skyline and Fort Qaitbay. Next, we stopped at Fort Qaitbay, the 15th century fortress built on the site of the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria. We took the boat ride around the fortress and glad our guide Tarek suggested this as it made for nice photographs. Before we returned to the ship, we stopped at the Abu al-Abbas al-Mardi Mosque…a significant Islamic monument in the city was built in the 13th century, the Sidi Morsi Abu al-Abbas Mosque has stood the test of time, witnessed the rise and fall of numerous empires and civilizations. Its architecture showcases a blend of Islamic and Moorish influences. Unfortunately, the mosque is undergoing renovations, and the central interior area was covered in scaffolding. It was a good day exploring the city of Alexandria. It has been two intense days of touring and very happy to have a sea day tomorrow.