Crazy, cosmopolitan Alexandria
The buildings of Alexandria stretch on forever, beyond the haze of distance. For 20km in fact, along the seafront, housing more than 4 million people.
I work my way down el-Nabi Daniel (Prophet Daniel Street) past the bookshop and bookstalls in search of the Mosque of the same name as the street. Its said to be the site of the tomb of Alexander the Great, founder of the city. The street is one of the streets of the original layout of the city. The other ran East-West to the Pharos Lighthouse. The city followed the traditional Greek grid pattern. I can’t really see a lot of the mosque hidden as it is behind walls and the usual junk of African cities: parked cars, beggars, market stalls, awnings, and a half demolished or completed building.
It would be good to be home, or on my way. Everything is tired: myself, my clothing, my kit; but at least I’m not somewhere horrid like Djibouti. Alexandria and Egypt are European- (and cheap-) enough for me to be able to live comfortably. Its easy to forget I’m still in Africa. There is something to be said for leaving home for a semi-permanent stint elsewhere, so long as you don’t have to get anywhere. There are all the benefits of home and a long stay, being able to unpack, truly getting to know a place, making friends, plus a new spring in the step. Yet, I want to be moving on.
