But Alexandria! I had a really great time there. It was nice to get off campus and out of Cairo for a little while. We left yesterday (Friday) at 6:30am. When we got there, we went straight to the Alexandria library, which was absolutely gorgeous! When didn't have quite as much time there as I would have liked, but I did have time to buy a cookbook from the bookstore. Once I move off campus next semester (and hopefully before that), I plan on doing my own cooking. No more McDonald's or pizza with cardboard baked into it. While at the library, I found the feminist section, and decided I wanted to live there. There was one book called "Sexual/Textual Politics," which I was very tempted to steal.
From the library, we went to the Qaitbay Citadel. It was basically this old fortress with tons of interesting nooks and crannies to explore. It had the most beautiful views of the Mediterranean from its tiny little windows.
After the citadel, we stopped for lunch, then made our way to the hotel. I took a nap (waking up at the crack of dawn is not something I'm used to), and basically slept until dinner. Then Dana and I went to a shisha cafe and ate Hardee's for dinner. I had a really funny experience at the cafe. I was heading to the bathroom, and the bathroom attendant asked me, "waled ao bint?" (boy or girl?). I was wearing men's pants and a plaid shirt, and I get this question a lot anyway, so I didn't take offense. But when I answered "bint," she raised her eyes as though she was surprised at my answer. Then the women in the bathroom all looked at me and started laughing and trying to joke with me in Arabic. I only understood some of it, but it was all pretty funny. While I do find it incredibly entertaining to watch people's confusion about my gender, I have been seriously thinking about purchasing some women's clothing while here, and possibly letting my hair grow out some. We'll see how long that lasts...
Anyway, the next morning (today), Dana and I woke up at 8am to take a dip in the Mediterranean Sea, since we missed our chance yesterday in favor of nap time. It was glorious. We went to the private beach by mistake, but it was only 25 LE (about $5) for the two of us, and we pretty much had that section of the beach to ourselves. I definitely preferred it that way, considering it was my first time baring that much skin in Egypt. (Side note: one of the biggest differences I've noticed between Morocco and Egypt is the lack of constant sexual harassment here. Men aren't following me for blocks, calling me "gazelle," asking me to marry them, or groping me in public-- all good things!)
At 10, we checked out of the hotel and left for the catacombs. The 'combs were really cool. They were about three stories deep into the ground, with a combination of Roman, Greek, and Egyptian design. Unfortunately, I was not allowed to take pictures, but I got a pack of postcards with pictures of the tombs and everything for 5 LE (less than $1 US).
Our last stop on the tour was a Roman amphitheatre. Operas are still performed in front of it to this day, with the ruins in the background.
For more pictures from Alexandria, check out my facebook!
love,
dooler
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