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| Alexandria from Caitbay Fort |
The next day we decided to explore Caitbay Fort, built by Mamluk Sultan Caitbay in 1477-80, over the site of the famous Lighthouse of Alexandria. (Another of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World in this area. The Pyramids, of course, being the other!)
The Lighthouse, built in Pharaonic times (297 BC), had stood guiding ships – a mirror by day and fire by night - until an earthquake in 1303 toppled it. Its demise was complete following an earthquake driven tsunami in 1326.
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| Caitbay Fort |
This impressive fort is built over what was once the Island of Pharos, the port entrance of Alexandria. Caitbay had selected this strategic position to defend Alexandria against Turkish attacks. Some of the building materials were taken from Lighthouse rubble. The fort houses a small but well-presented Maine Biology Institute Museum with displays encompassing the Nile, Mediterranean and Red Seas.
On our way back we made a quick detour into the lobby of the famous Hotel Cecil to imaging rubbing shoulders with British Secret Service agents, Winston Churchill, Somerset Maugham or even Al Capone. We made our way passed the Library of Alexandria, now a modern adaption of its famous ancient self, then dashed over to the beach for a quick paddle in salty Med waters before sitting in the bus, 3 hours back to Cairo. Our overnight train to Aswan was waiting…
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A little medicine for the train trip
& one for Stella (my MIL) |
