Alexandrian Thanksgiving

So maybe it's due to the enormous volume of movies i've been watching while drawing, including "Cleopatra" and "Lawrence of Arabia", or because of the books I've been reading, but really, I was not at all prepared for the Alexandria that awaited me. When I thought of this Mediteranian, sea-side town I did not picture falling down buildings and WWI-era street lights.


It sounds like I'm complaining, but I'm really not. Just want to let you know right up front that if you are thinking, "Ohhhh, Alexaaaaandria" and picturing some romanticized, ideallic vision... well, like me, you would be quite off the mark. Once again I was reminded that expectations can be tricky.





So, after that QUICK realization, I eagerly looked around, ready to enjoy the real Alexandria.

Alexandria is Egypt's second largest city, with mmmm, I think, around 8 million people. In many ways it reminded me of different parts of Cairo. It felt very similar, except a bit less dry --oh, and the taxi's are yellow and black rather than white and black.






Here's a photo taken at while Leah and I waited for the train in Cairo. I don't know if I'll ever get used to the completely veiled women. It strikes a whole range of emotion that I'll save for another entry (this one is long enough already).

These women seemed to be tourists and were taking pictures of each other standing infront of various things, including the two white chicks with blond hair.

Seriously, I kept moving to the side thinking I was ruining the photo, and the woman would change her pose and the camera would end up in my direction again.




Here's Leah walking the wrong way from the bus station.... and proof that the cabs are yellow and black.




Leaving the train was a bit intimidating: strange city, no map or guide book (it was just a quick day trip). That combined with the rubble and the not-very-nice-glances, made us slightly uncomfortable at first. But we soon found the trusty tourist office inside the train station, with a very friendly, helpful lady working inside. She gave us a map and circled the location of the library, the "lighthouse", and where we could have a fresh, seafood dinner.




She said we could walk to our first destination, the Alexandrian Library, so we head out. As you probably know I have an impeccable sense of direction. Just as Leah started to feel guilty (haha) for getting us lost, we hopped in a taxi and in 15 minutes were standing in front of the very modern (and starkly out of place) Library of Alexandria. It really was amazing. Inside the impressively arranged library (all sterile and attractively lit) were a couple of art exhibitions. It was a solo show by some internationally known Egyptian dude whose name i don't remember. I took a photo for yous guys.





























Photos taken from the the Cafe on the second floor, overlooking the entry plaza thing place. I had some turkish coffee. wow.





















Then, we headed to "the lighthouse". Only we never really found one, and I think I remember hearing somewhere that there are major plans to rebuild it? I dunno, but people were talking about a castle that is next to the no longer there lighthouse...









ANYWAY, somehow we found ourselves paying 2 whole pounds (an extra pound for my camera) to go inside a display or exhibition of some sort that one might find along the boardwalk of Coney Island... just look, you'll see what I mean. It was by far my favorite part of the trip. Seriously, I am not kidding.

The use of florescent paint and black lighting was... spectacular.






















please click on this photo to get a better look under the flipper. yikes.



















Leah couldn't believe how real everything looked.


















Well, what did they expect me to do?
Who painted this?



We finally tore ourselves away from the "museum" to go eat.






We saw this brilliantly colored, humongo mosiac on our way to the restaurant. Leah made me pinky swear that I'd mosiac some wall in her imaginery house one day.








The waiter was very sweet and offered to take our photo... he wanted to practice his focusing skills.






Then I messed around with the mirrored ceiling above our table, which was almost as fun as the florescent fish museum.


















The ride home was jam packed.
People crawling all over one another for a seat on that 8pm to Cairo.









Annnnd as a grand finale... a photo of my new most favoritest snack, "Borios!"
Just like Oreos, only with 1/8 of the filling.