French Alexandria

You see a lot of french influence in Alexandria because it was conquered by the French army in 1789. It has a french quarter where old buildings done in french architecture surrounds a wide avenue which has a large open space (used as a park) in the middle reminding you of the main streets of Paris.

The architecture, interior design, and furnishings of Le Metrepole Hotel where we were billeted, were old french. It has gold leafs, sumptuous french furnitures, large bathrooms and high ceilings. The waiters are even dressed in tuxedos, and plates, silverware, and cutlery in its restaurants are of the finest quality. This hotel provided a total french experience in the old days.

Alexandria also boasts of french bakeshops where you can enjoy really good cakes and pastries at very reasonable prices. There are also a lot of sidewalk cafes where the locals sit and enjoy their coffee similar to what you see in Paris.

African Sun, Sea and Sand

Egypt although it is very near the Middle East is actually part of the African continent. Not many people also know that it is a beach and diving destination. The tour that I took brought us to three premier resort destinations in Egypt. These are Ain Sokhna, Hurgada, and Dahab.

The best among these places is Dahab. It has the best diving spots in Egypt and a really good beach which is part of the Red Sea. The clear and clean waters of Dahab is red because of the fine red sand. Dahab is also popular as a windsurfing site.

Unforgettable was the Egyptian massage which I had in one of the resort hotels in the area. It was very soothing and relaxing with Egyptian music played to complete the massage experience.

Mt. Sinai - The Trek Down

I attempted to take a camel ride to go down Mt. Sinai. But it is not a comfortable ride as your crotch constantly hits the saddle grip as the camel descends the mountain. So after a few minutes I decided to do the trek down on foot. It was faster and not really exhausting.

At the foot of Mt. Sinai is the Monastery of St. Katherine. This houses the burning bush through which God is said to have spoken to Moses.

Since it was midday by the time we reached the Monastery, it was so hot that everyone was looking forward to getting on the air conditioned bus for the trip back to our hotel.

Sunrise Over Mt. Sinai

To catch sunrise at Mt. Sinai one has to be at the base by 2am. Its about a 4 hours climb and may be quite difficult. I attempted to do the climb on foot for about 30 minutes but it was really tiring for me so I opted to take a camel ride to the top.

It was a wise decision! I was able to conserve my energy for final 30 minute steep hike in which you have no choice but to do on foot. But the most amazing part was that I was treated to a very relaxing ride with spectacular views and the changing colors of the sky as sunrise approaches. The people who were with me on the tour regretted that they did not take the camel ride and were very envious of how relaxed and fresh I looked when they caught up with me at rest stop where the camel ride ends.

The view of the sunrise at the summit of Mt. Sinai was truly awesome and worth the long and difficult climb.

Cruising the Nile 2

Worth doing on a lazy afternoon is a motorboat cruise on the Nile that takes you to a Nubian Village. On the way to the village you will pass by rocky formations and have a brief stop at an island where you can climb up a hill which is part of the Sahara Desert. Had a good time on this hill, feeling the fine golden desert sand and enjoying the nice views of the adjacent islands.

In the Nubian Village, you will be brought to a typical Nubian house and given the opportunity to hold a snake. The latter was nothing really new because holding a snake is common in Asian tours.