Down town area & cornich, Alexandria

  City of Alexandria from the Cornich
by Cruiseone2003
 
  • City of Alexandria from the Cornich
      City of Alexandria from the Cornich
    by Cruiseone2003
  • Fisherman in Alexadria
      Fisherman in Alexadria
    by Cruiseone2003
  • side view of Alexandria Library
      side view of Alexandria Library
    by Cruiseone2003
  • Building along the Cornich
      Building along the Cornich
    by Cruiseone2003
  • The Road in Corniche
      The Road in Corniche
    by freddie18
 

39 Reviews of Down town area & cornich

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Unknown Soldier Square
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mikey_e 1578 reviews
Monument to the Unknown Soldier
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Despite the repressive and often brutal nature of the Egyptian state, the Egyptian Army has long been viewed as an institution of honour and pride for the people of Egypt. The country has had skirmishes and problems with various neighbours, but the greatest loss of life has been in its various wars with the State of Israel, with which it currently has a peace deal. In 1956, 1967 and 1973, Egypt and Israel saw various degrees of tension, clashes and open hostilities that claimed the lives of many soldiers and civilians. These casualities are still regarded as heroes, and they are honoured in Alexandria at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a neo-Classical monument that is more reminiscent of Greece than of the Middle East. There is a monument commemorating the fallen, as well as what looks like an eternal flame. Two soldiers stand on constant guard in ceremonial uniform, which is why we didn't try to get much closer to snap pictures of this particular monument.

Written Aug 13, 2011

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Court of First Instance
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mikey_e 1578 reviews
Fa��ade of the Court of First Instance
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I realize that most people who visit a new country are not terribly interested in visiting civil sites like courts and police stations, but a fair amount of my work does involve such things, particularly in foreign countries, and I find them fascinated. That's why, when we realized what we were looking at, I insisted on taking a few pictures and going into the actual courthouse. Courts are chaotic in many Middle Eastern countries, and the (now infamous) Egyptian judicial system was perhaps the best example of this. The Court of First Instance was a place packed with people, lawyers, journalists, the accused, plaintiffs, defendants and family members, all carefully watched by police. We didn't go into any of the court sessions, but the hectic scene was enough for us to enjoy. I wouldn't recommend going if you're not up to talking your way out of the scene should someone realize that you don't belong. Nevertheless, if you're up for a bit of adventure, a trip to court in Egypt is certainly on way to get it.

Written Aug 13, 2011

Address: Al-Gaish at Ahmed Ourabi

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Ismail Pasha Square
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mikey_e 1578 reviews
A close-up of the Pasha
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Ismail Pasha Square isn't so much of a square as it is a haphazard open area of the city of Alexandria. The fact that it is bounded on one side by the Roman Amphitheatre means that it will never really achieve the sort of independent stature as an architectural or urban space that it might have otherwise done, had it been surrounded by buildings. The centrepiece is a statue of Ismail Pasha, the son of Ibrahim Pasha (see my tip on his statue) and widely recognized as an important, if not the most important, figure in the modernization of Egypt. The descedent of Albanian Ottoman bureaucrats and warriors, he was proclaimed the Wali of Egypt in 1863 and gradually convinced the Ottoman rulers to grant him the title of Khedive in 1867. He won large-scale autonomy for Egypt and introduce a number of important reforms and Europeanizing policies, but also plunged the country into massive debt. This was in part caused by his campaigns to control the Nile and large swathes of Ethiopia (both of which ended in failure), as well as his shenanigans regarding the Suez Canal. The indebtedness of the country brought about unprecedented English and French control over the country's finances, which eventually led to his ouster by a revolt and the installation of his son as Khedive instead. Today he is commemorated by this modest statue in the centre of the city.

Written Aug 13, 2011

Address: By the Roman Amphitheatre

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Churches of Alexandria
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mikey_e 1578 reviews
Roman Catholic Church
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A walk around Alexandria’s turn-of-the-century neighbourhoods, the visitor is confronted with a dizzying array of churches of numerous Christian sects. In addition to the Catholic and Orthodox Copts, Greek Orthodox and Catholics, Roman Catholics and Anglicans are all represented here, sharing streets and corners with Sunni mosques. These temples are also a showcase of the architectural styles that were brought to Alexandria by the merchants and their families: neo-Romanesque, neo-Classical, neo-Gothic. While the security situation of the city and the country as a whole may not permit visits to the interior of these churches, the visitor should be more than content with an afternoon of wandering about and photographing the exteriors.

Written Aug 13, 2011

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Anglican Church
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mikey_e 1578 reviews
Fa��ade of the Anglican Church
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Alexandria is a city that has long been a crossroads of cultures and faiths, owing not only to its long history as a metropolis, but also because of its repute as a commercial hub for the Mediterranean. In addition to the native Coptic and Muslim communities, the influx of Greeks, Italians, French, British and other European nationalities means that the city is dotted with churches of various denominations. This Anglican church, in the centre of the old commercial city, is particularly interesting, as its structure departs remarkably from the usual style of Anglican churches. Rather than a neo-Gothic or neo-Romantic building, this church has distinct Mameluk traits and is more Egyptian than English. The interior is solidly English, with it stained glass and dark wood pews. Nevertheless, the arabesques and intricate carvings of the exterior are entirely Arab. This mixture of influences becomes all the more confusing when you look closely at the carvings, which have numerous Stars of David.

Written Aug 13, 2011

Address: Tahrir Square

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Ibrahim Pasha Statue
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mikey_e 1578 reviews
The Pasha from below
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While Alexandria may be named after Alexander the Great, it has no shortage of great heroes and conquerors. One of these is Ibrahim Pasha, a much-admired Ottoman Pasha who is reputed to have been an Albanian or Greek (possibly even a Christian), who rose up through the Ottoman ranks to become one of its greatest statesmen and warriors. There are statues of the Pasha in the Balkans, as well as in Tahrir Square in Alexandria. Ibrahim Pasha was responsible for the campaign to crush the first Al-Saud revolt against Ottoman rule in the Hejaz and the Nejd, and thus was responsible for the return of Ottoman sovereignty over the holy city of Medina in the early 19th century. He was also responsible for campaigns in Greece, Syria and Egypt. Today, the Pasha is commemorated, among other places, by a simple statue in Alexandria. Amongst the hectic pace of life in Egypt’s second city, his horseback figure is a simple reminder of the country’s past glory.

Written Aug 10, 2011

Address: Tahrir Square

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Misr Station
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mikey_e 1578 reviews
Welcome to Misr Station
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The Alexandria Railway Station was, undoubtedly, once quite a grandiose building that showcased the country’s importation of European innovations. The neo-Renaissance façade, grimy from the soot and pollution of the city, hides an interior that is reminiscent more of an Eastern European train station than of Gare du Nord. The railway station has not been maintained, which is a shame, since it could probably be quite beautiful if it were cleaned and repaired properly. The ticket booths and platforms are tired, although the energy of the various snacksellers just before you go to your train helps to lift the mood considerably.

Written Aug 10, 2011

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Martyrs' Square
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mikey_e 1578 reviews
Martyrs' Square and the Falcom
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Martyrs’ Square (Maidan ash-Shuhadaa) is not much of a sight. The centre of the square is focused on a large obelisk topped by an falcon, the national bird of Egypt. The square is filled with loafers, in part because it is right in front of the railway station, and there are many, many minibuses waiting to pick up railway passengers heading off to other parts of the city and countryside.

Written Aug 10, 2011

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Saad Zaghloul Square
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mikey_e 1578 reviews
The Pasha and his Square
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Saad Zaghloul Square is the western edge of the traditional, old part of the city. It has, as it centerpiece, a large statue of Saad Zaghloul, an Egyptian nationalist who was instrumental in the Revolution of 1919. The square has a number of pastisseries and restaurants that cater more to Western tastes, although they are not always of great quality. The square is also part of a commercial and shopping area. Don’t expect to find high-end boutiques here, or traditional crafts, but it is somewhere to find goods for the Egyptian middle class.

Written Aug 10, 2011

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The Corniche
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mikey_e 1578 reviews
View of the fishing grounds
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One of the draws of any Arab port city is the Corniche. As Egyptians, like their counterparts in many other Mediterranean countries, enjoy café culture, the people of Alexandria have built up their long corniche with restaurants, hotels, cafés and small shops and bakeries. Families, groups of friends and couples will stroll along the corniche as a form of evening entertainment. Don’t try to walk the entire distance of it unless you have a good two or three hours to burn. The strip of the corniche from Muntaza up to Biblioteca Alexandrina is primarily commercial, and the beach area below is built up with clubs for those wishing to spend some time on the sand and in the sun. As you move closer to the old city, the corniche shows more and more of a mixture of official buildings, houses of wealthy families (some of whose fortunes have declined considerably) and commercial establishments linked to the city’s maritime history. There’s plenty to photograph and enjoy, although you may need to fight off hawkers and carriage drivers from time to time.

Written Aug 10, 2011

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Down town area & cornich

Down town area & cornich tips and photos posted by real travelers and Alexandria locals.

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 One of the draws of any Arab port city is the Corniche. As Egyptians, like their counterparts in many other Mediterranean countries, enjoy café culture, the... 

229 members live in Alexandria

 

Questions and Answers

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Q:  Hi. I am an American woman traveling alone for a week in Alexandria (next week). I am meeting up with my husband, who is... 

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A: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/88b1a/ This is the adress of another VT member who lives in Alexandria. He is a friend of me. A professor in old languages. I am... 

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Top Alexandria Writers

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My Home town

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 Alexandria Planetarium close to Bibliotheca Alexandrina at Silsilla Basin. 

2

My Alexandria Homepage

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 I love Alexandria - there is no doubt about it! Egypt is one country that my family will keep on coming back. Our brief stay in this city was memorable enough to think that this is the most exciting... 

3

Alexandria - Another Egypt

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  Alexandria with its 8 million residents is the second largest city of Egypt. For Egyptians the city means almost the same as for Russians St.Petersburg does. Alexandria is considered to be the... 

4

Alexandria

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 Alexandria lies on a most wonderful sweep of bay. The Corniche is 25 km long . The picture shows Qait Bey in the backround to the right, built on the site of the old Pharos lighthouse. There is much... 

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Alexandria - a lovely city by the sea

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 I've got some interesting experiences in Alexandria. I'd love to share with you the 17 tips I've written, the 50 photos uploaded, and 3 travelogues I've created. 

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