Official Language:
Arabic
Secondary Language:
French and English
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Currency:
Egyptian Pound
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Population:
Approximately 3.5 million people call Alexandria h
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Weather:
Climate and current weather information for Alexandria Cairo: Egypt has only one season, Hot! It can vary between hot and dry and even hotter and dryer! Being on the northern coast, Alexandria and Cairo are milder than the rest of the country. April through October, the daytime temperatures range between the 70-90°F/21-32°C. The evenings cool off considerably perhaps 20°F/-6°C or more. The spring sand storms can often reduce visibility to a mere 100 feet.
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Imagine an antique world just waiting for your sandals to touch its land of treasures. Egypt is a name that defines ancient history. One of the wealthiest ancient nations, Egypt stood very proud, but had excluded itself from the outside world that was thought to be chaotic and evil. The Egyptians believed in Kittum/Misharum, which represented truth, order, and justice. When you step onto her golden sands, get ready to be transported to a time when gods and Pharaohs reigned. When you think of Egypt the imagination thinks of pyramids, the Nile, King Tut's jewel-filled tomb, the Sphinx, windswept deserts and mummies. These sights are not to be missed, but there is much more to this desert land on the Mediterranean Sea than one might ever imagine.
Visitors traveling to Egypt by cruise ship begin their journey in Alexandria, a resort on the Mediterranean Sea. Alexandria is Egypt's second largest city and its primary port. Established by Alexander the Great around 332 BC, Alexandria has long been a center of religion for the Christian world and was once a hotbed of science, philosophy, and learning. Alexandria is the largest Egyptian seaport. It is about one mile to the city center. Taxis are usually available at the port. Alexandria is located 114 miles northwest of Cairo. Cruise ships will proceed through Great Pass to the West Harbor to dock. Alexandria will be your first Egyptian experience via the sea, but nothing will leave an impression on you quite like the sights of Cairo. Egypt's capital city has been at the center of politics and culture for over 1,000 years and stands as a testament to the country's mediaeval and western influences.
Your other port option Port Said:The cruise ship will dock at the Suez Canal Authority located in Port Said, Egypt. There is not much to see here, so it is better to take the extra time to visit Cairo. It is quite easy to get from here to Cairo, and a bus comes every thirty minutes to transport you to the glorious city. Buses are a great and efficient way to travel between cities in Egypt. One of the most accommodating and comfortable services is the Super Jet (tel 02/772-663). This line runs every half hour and can take you to Alexandria, the Nile Valley, the Red Sea, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Suez Canal cities.
Cairo, the capital of Egypt, is indeed alive and well! It is a massive cosmopolitan city where the past and the present coexist in perfect harmony. Buy a mocha or latte from the local café and browse the monuments that have stood for thousands of years. A city that many rulers once called home is now a land of individual empires. We are fortunate that this physical timeline still exists to be traced over by our own two feet. Preservation and individuality are two reasons the pharaohs would not destroy the thrones of their predecessors, but instead, chose to construct their own new kingdoms, adding more pieces to this fascinating puzzle with every era that passed into history. With thoughts of Egypt, pyramids always come to mind. These massive structures are certainly geometric masterpieces. A brief 30-minute cab ride from the center of the city will take you to the home of the most popular pyramids of Giza. Here dwells the great Sphinx that has become the second flag of Egypt. Notice how his head is considerably smaller than the trunk of his body. This is the reason why so many historians believe that the Sphinx once carried a head different than the one that sits there now. Discover how the face is not as time-worn as the rest of the body, and find out why experts think it may have been originally designed with the head of a lion.
Egypt is truly one of a kind. Where else is it possible to pretend you are a god-king or the powerful and seductive Cleopatra while walking along the River Nile? Put aside those history books for now and instead let the visceral beauty envelope you.
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Attractions |
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Ras at-Tin Palace Although the palace is not open to the public, the surrounding gardens may be visited for a small entrance fee. The palace was owned by King Farouk until 1952. The 300 rooms have been kept as they were in the 1950s and they are used for state guests and other VIPs.
Hussein Sobhy Museum of Fine Arts :
The museum houses a limited but interesting collection of modern Egyptian art.
Hotel Cecil:
This grand and elegant hotel is something of an institution in Alexandria. Its history is one of romance and intrigue. Over the years its illustrious guest list included Somerset Maugham, Lawrence Durrell and Winston Churchill. During World War II it was the headquarters of the British Secret Service.
El Alamein:,br>The site of the Battle of El Alamein, during which the Allies won a decisive victory over the Axis powers in World War II, lies a 1.5-hour drive from Alexandria. In addition to the battle site, there is a War Museum and the Commonwealth War Cemetery. Guests intending to plan a visit are cautioned that not to wander off at El Alamein without a local guide as unexploded mines are still scattered around the Western Desert.
Qait Bey Fort:
Where a medieval fort stands on the location of the famous Pharos Lighthouse - one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World -which no longer exists. The fort is now the location of the Naval Museum.
Hydro-biological Institute and Museum is located near Qait Bey Fort.It houses a collection of rare marine life and fish.
Abu El-Abbas Mosque:
The largest mosque in Alexandria. The mosque has four domes and minaret. Rebuilt in the 20th century, the architecture shows a unique face to the visitor.
Al-Anfushi Tombs:
They were discovered in 1901, These are some of the oldest tombs in Alexandria. Belonging to 3rd century Greek-Egyptians, the five tombs were cut into the rock.
Tombs of Mustafa Kemal(Rushdy):
Date back to the 2nd century BC. Important insight into ancient Alexandrian lives can be depicted by these tombs. The bright colors and religious inscriptions tell the story of the daily activities of the tombs inhabitants. Mosque of Negi Daniel is believed to be the burial site of Alexander the Great. It is also believed that the ancient Alexandria Library was located near here as well. During the early part of the 3rd century BC, the library contained the largest book collection in the world - half a million volumes.
Pompey's Pillar is a granite pillar over 80 feet high and is an Alexandrian/Greek landmark. It was constructed in AD 297 in the ruins to honor Emperor Diocletian.
Eliahu Hanabi Synagogue:
It is the only operating synagogue in Alexandria. It is home to the collected treasures of seven prior synagogues. The Jewish religion and Greek philosophy met here in Alexandria over 2,000 years ago. At one time a large population of ancient Alexandria was Jewish, however, it has all but disappeared due to cultural hostilities and emigration.
The Graeco-Roman Museum:
The Roman and Greek relics from the 3rd century BC to the 7th century AD. There are stunning collections of coins and the remains of the Lighthouse of Alexandria uncovered in 1995 during the harbor excavation.
Royal Jewelry Museum:
is the former palace of Princess Fatma al-Zahraa in Zizinia. This museum itself is a jewel architecturally. The museum contains much more than jewelry. On display are priceless paintings, rare statuary, and decorative items as well as the jewel collection of the Mohamed Ali dynasty.
Shopping:
Shopping opportunities abound in the area around Mansheya Square and in the Gold Souk, all within approximately one mile from the port. Good buys include gold and silver jewelry, especially the gold cartouche with your name inscribed in hieroglyphs, cotton goods, carpets, leather articles, copper- and brassware, basketware and papyrus prints. The local currency is the Egyptian pound.
Alexandria Antiques District:
Where you'll find some of the most interesting buys in Alexandria; antique books, old weapons, furniture, and other finds.
CAIRO:
Cairo Tower:
perched above Cairo over 610 feet high. The Cairo Tower offers views of the entire city. It is a relaxing way to enjoy the views of the city while eating in the revolving restaurant atop the tower.
Cairo's Opera House:
which opened in 1988, is part of a complex of buildings housing the Museum of Egyptian Modern Arts:
The Nile Gallery, the Plastic Artist's Association, and the El Hangar Theatre. It is believed to technically be the most sophisticated facility of its kind in all of Africa and the Middle East.
Giza Plateau Pyramids and The Sphinx:
Tese are one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient world. The pyramids of Chefren, Mycerinus, and Cheops, also accompanying three Pyramids of the Queens, wait with the Sphinx which is 66-feet tall and 190-feet long in the Giza Plateau necropolis.
Coptic Cairo:
The history in abundance. As a part of Old Cairo, this is where two of the oldest structures in the city are. The towers of the western gate that were once part of the Roman Fortress of Babylon:
that was built at this site in AD 98 and also the southern gate. The government often refers Coptic Cairo the "Multi-religious Compound." This is the place where you'll find some of the more interesting religious sights in Old Cairo.
The Hanging Church:
Which is possibly the oldest church in Cairo, the building dates to the 4th century. Church of St. Sergius, legends tell that this church is built upon the very place where Joseph, Mary, and the infant Jesus rested as they fled Herod's pogrom of infanticide in Israel.
Ben Ezra Synagogue:
The oldest synagogue in Egypt, Ben Ezra dates to the 9th century.
The Coptic Museum:
founded in 1908, traces the history of Egyptian Christianity through the centuries.
Museum of Egyptian Antiquities:
is the most extensive collection of Egyptian antiquities is within the walls of this museum. The museum is organized into galleries, from the Archaic Pre-Dynastic Period on through the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms. By far, the most renown exhibit within the museum is that of King Tutankhamun. His 12-chambered tomb was uncovered in 1922 virtually untouched through the millennia. Some 1700 artifacts were found within his tomb, including his legendary golden mask.
Fustat:
It is one of the most important Islamic archaeological sites in the world. This is the first Islamic settlement in Egypt. The city was never properly fortified nor did it follow a specific plan or organization.
Citadel of Saladin:
The hilltop fortress where Egyptian rulers resided since the 12th century. Within the fortress is the Mosque of Mohamed Ali (the "Alabaster Mosque") erected in the 1840s. Massive domes and minarets lend a very imperial look to mosque.
Khan el-Khalili Souk:
Souk District is Cairo's market district for the shopping opportunities of a lifetime. Packed full of market stalls with everything you can imagine, different souks specialize in different products -from jewelry to local clothing to medicinal plants.
Cairo's Street Markets:
Where one can go to find all of Egypt's treasures. Want some of that famed Egyptian cotton? You can head over to Wekala al-Balaq.
Camelback Riding:
is an experience that will not be forgotten in the desert. Experience the desert from the swaying back of one of these gentle creatures.
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More Information |
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Useful Links About Egypt:
The City of Cairo, Egypt
The City of Alexandria, Egypt
The Seven Wonders: The Great Pyramid of Giza
General Information obut Egypt
Pyramids
Egyptian Tourist Authority
Phone: New York (212) 332-2570
California (213) 653-8815
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