OUR RETURN TO THE CITY FOUNDED BY ALEXANDER THE GREAT AND OUR VOYAGER CLUB SHORE EVENT
We docked in Alexandria early morning and greeted by our Abercrombie and Kent team, one of our Virtuoso On-Sites in Egypt who were responsible for our Virtuoso Voyager Club Exclusive Shore Event in Alexandria. 
Our fabulous guide, El Zahraa Abel (El Zahraa means, "The Flower"), brought smiles to our group as we started out on our exploration of Alexandria. 
Among all of the sights in this very historical city named after Alexander the Great, we always visualize the Great Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the World in ancient times built in 270BC. 
What is remaining is the Citidel, the huge base of the lighthouse which finally crashed into the Bay during an earthquake in approximately 1326AD. 
They now have a small replica at the entrance to the harbor and, according to guide Zahraa, there is a possibility of a new one to be constructed exactly the same size as the original, but in a slightly different location.
The other important and wonderful attraction is the Alexandria Biblioteca or the Library of Alexandria. This modern marvel is very modern in design and the interior is enormous. 
One of the amazing features of the Library is the wide screen computer which houses all of the documents of the Libarary. You can go to this website and literally see everything in the Library in your own home, where ever you are in the world. The Library website is www.bibalex.org. A wonderful journey through history! 
THE BIG STORY IN EGYPT.....the overwhelming friendliness of the Egyptian people, especially the children and young adults! We were mobbed by very curious and excited young Egyptians and "Welcome to Egypt" came off the lips of everyone within hearing distance. We have NEVER seen anything like it! Ambassador Marc Gisberg said he has never seen this phenomenon before and he once lived in Egypt! We were told that welcoming tourists, especially Americans, is now taught in schools and we heard that "Welcoming Tourists" and "Basic Tourism" is compulsory in schools now. Tourism is, after all, one of the leading factors of the Egyptian economy.
Our morning ended at the beautiful Four Seasons Hotel on the waterfront for our Voyager Club luncheon with entertainment. 
We have seen several belly dancers throughout the Middle East and now that we are in the Mediterranean and close to our last Middle Eastern country, we were probably seen our last belly dancer although Turkey is on the horizon! Speaking of Turkey, our whirling dervish was one of the best we have seen including his brilliant "light show". 
OUR THOUGHT FOR THE DAY........
"I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well" - Alexander the Great
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