Day 8: Alexandria, Egypt

We have arrived in Egypt!  Egypt is my 48^th country to visit; not that it matters!  Someone asked me how many countries I had visited and honestly had no clue so I started making a list.  Anyway, It was very early and dark but look at all those tour busses ready to go!  We have an overnight in the port of Alexandria, Egypt, which means two full days to explore!  I saved my big excursion for tomorrow just in case there were arrival issues.

The bus ride was a bit depressing . . . living conditions are deplorable by western standards.  We did pass the salt flats as we drove.

Shore Excursion: Battlefield of Alamein

We arrived very early so that means the excursions start by 6am.  I want to make the most of my limited time in Egypt so I booked an excursion for each day.  Today, I am staying close to the port.  I found the bus and we get on the road.  We were told that due to security concerns in Egypt we would have security on the bus and following the bus.  So, we have an armed guard on our bus!  That sure wasn’t on my bingo card. I know Egypt isn’t the safest place to visit but never even crossed my mind we would have an armed guard at the front of your bus. Oh and once we hit the coastal highway we had a police car escort.

 Honestly, I have never heard of The Battle of El Alamein; so had to search as to why it was important?

The Battle of El Alamein is important to World War II because it was a major turning point in the North African campaign, halting the Axis advance and boosting Allied morale. This victory, which Winston Churchill called "the end of the beginning," prevented the Axis from capturing Egypt, the Suez Canal, and vital Middle Eastern oil fields, and it set the stage for the subsequent Allied invasion of North Africa. 

It was about a 90 minute drive on highway with security checkpoints along the way because the road leads to Libya.  It was totally weird to be driving down the highway and police car pull beside bus to check for an armed guard and ask where we were going.

German Memorial

      

Italian Memorial

 

I climbed to the top and the view was beautiful. 

These memorials were in the middle of large fields.  The walk to the Italian Memorial was impressive.  As we walked up there were local men harvesting dates and trimming the trees.

 

The red dates are eaten raw while the yellow dates are for making jam.

El Alamein Military Museum

 

British Commonwealth Cemetery

I found the sand and cactus really lovely.  I don’t know that I have ever been to a cemetery that doesn’t have grass.  

The side-by-side headstones mean the remains could not be fully identified when they were found so they were buried in a joint grave.  The most I saw was three side by side.

Australian Memorial

The tour was over so back to the port we go.  I am going to be honest and up front.  This excursion was not what I was expecting.  The bus took us to several memorials in the area in which some are on the actual battlefield.  I am not sure what I was expecting but this was not it.  I am glad I went but the excursion description was a bit misleading. I tried the entire day to get a photo of our security guy’s set up and there was drama getting back inside the port and I tried to be quickly be sneaky.  He had one on each hip. 

Now let me say that each and every monument and cemetery was pristine and very well kept.  It was obvious that the locals took pride in the memorials.  I feel bad saying it was not a good experience, but the description of the tour was not what we actually did.  That is fine . . . I am glad I went and did learn something new today.

It was only mid-afternoon, but I wasn’t brave enough to venture outside the Alexandria port gates alone!  If you could see the area and craziness of the port, there was no way I should go out alone.  And if we needed an armed guard for our tour then that was my sign that I probably shouldn't just venture out alone.  So, I just found a quiet area and lounged and ate!

I have given up on most other food options and now trying to give every place in Indulge Food Hall a try.

Latin Quarter for lunch

Texas Smokehouse for dinner