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Alexandria News

News About Alexandria, Egypt by Zahraa Adel Awed. Please feel free to email Zahraa (egypt_tourguide@hotmail.com ) with any news items you would like to have posted.

Alexandria News

Zahraa Adel Awed

Zahraa Adel Awed is a licensed Travel Guide living in Alexandria who frequently helps people on within our Forum system.

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December 4th, 2008

The BA will be closed to the public on Monday, 8 December 2008 and Tuesday, 9 December 2008, and will be open on Sunday, 7 December 2008; Wednesday, 10 December 2008; and Thursday, 11 December 2008 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Regular opening hours will resume starting Friday, December 12, 2008.

Posted by Zahraa ZARA: - 8:34 am - No Comments »
November 1st, 2008

 Site Name

 Entry fees

Photography / Video   

 Catacomb of kom elshoukafa

 35 LE

 Camera and vido are not allowed

  (the Pompey’s Pillar) The Memorial of Diocletian / Amoud El sawari  all are just one site

 20 LE

Camera vido are allowed and free 

 The Castle of Quaitbay in Alexandria

25 LE 

Camera vido are allowed and free  

The Greco -Roman Museum  

 Closed

it is closed now for more 2 years for some renovation 

 The jewelry museum

Closed 

it is closed now for more 2 years for some renovation  

 Alexandria National Museum

 35 LE

Camera / video are allowed and free but without flash 

The Roman Amphitheatre and Bathes 

 20 LE

Camera video are allowed and free  

 Monatzaa Palace Gardens

 5LE 

Camera video are allowed and freeÂ
 

 Abu El-Abbas Mosque

 free

Camera video are allowed and free  

The St. Marcos Church - Alexandria  

free  

Camera video are allowed and free  

Rosetta ( Rashid)’s houses 

Rosetta ( Rashid)’s Museum

Quit Bay Fort Rachid

 15 LE

25 LE

15 LE

 Camera video are allowed and free

The Antiquities Museum in the Alexandrine Library  

25 LE 

Camera allowed but without flash 20 LE  for camera and video 150 LE 

EL Aliman Military Museum

10 LE 

5 LE Camera / 20 LE  Video 

 – Children less than 6 years are having free entrance except in the library not allowed for children less than 6 years to go in.
— 50% discount for students

these are the Entrence fees for touristic sites in Alexandria.

Have a nice Time.

Posted by Zahraa ZARA: - 10:56 am - No Comments »
October 3rd, 2008

Cleopatra’s palace sank long ago into the Mediterranean, but visitors to Alexandria, Egypt, may eventually view the complex’s remnants via the world’s first underwater museum. (See photos.)A site for the museum has been proposed near the New Library of Alexandria, where the famed queen of Egypt is believed to have sheltered herself with her lover Marc Antony before taking her own life.

For Reading more http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/09/080916-underwater-museum.html?source=rss

Posted by Zahraa ZARA: - 4:27 pm - No Comments »
April 24th, 2008

A team of archaeologists have unearthed a Greek temple in the Egyptian coastal city of Alexandria, showing that the Greeks worshipped Pharaonic deities more than 2,500 years ago.

An official of the expedition said that the temple was found during the renovation of an area of Alexandria with the relics of the temple unearthed evidence that Greeks were influenced by the ancient Egyptian civilization.

He added that the Greeks believed in the holy trinity of Isis, Osiris and the child Horus, developing these gods after Alexander the great conquered the city in 332 BC. It is suppose to be in  Serapeum

http://www.sis.gov.eg/En/EgyptOnline/Culture/000001/0203000000000000000980.htm

Posted by Zahraa ZARA: - 11:56 am - 2 Comments »
February 28th, 2008

After Long time waiting, Rosetta museum will be inaugurated this month. We can say Rosetta becomes a real lucky City and we are sure you will love it during your visit to Egypt. With the few coming days Mr. Mubarak, The Egyptian President will visit Rosetta town to open many project in El Beharia Governorate, including Rosetta City main Cornish with length of 3 kilometers, Rosetta National museum its annex and many of its old houses. 

Posted by Zahraa ZARA: - 12:27 pm - 3 Comments »
February 25th, 2008

Hello, 

I am so sorry for being delayed in replying your inquires as most of the readers send me their inquires as a comment on the post they read. Unfortunately, your comments kept as a spam so I didn’t notice it. Also, many people tried to get some information to help them during their Trip to Alexandria but i found this questions after they already have visited the city.

So please find hereunder my emails address to be much easy so I can check it on the spot and reply it accordingly. Also if anybody is interested in a special post or subject to be covered through Alexandria News, send me an email about it so I can edit an article or feature story about it. Please feel free to contact us anytime. We will do our best to help you having a nice trip in our city.

All my regards and best wishes
 

Zahraa Adel Awad
Nick Name: - ZARA
 

E-mail:-
Yahoo IM: - tourguide_egypt@yahoo.com
MSN IM: - egypt_tourguide@hotmail.com

Skype ID: - hrrtynfrt

Posted by Zahraa ZARA: - 9:55 am - 1 Comment »
February 25th, 2008

Alexandria governorate has created, in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, a memorial logo for the Egyptian city and it will issue a postage stamp printing the planned logo on it.

This came on the occasion of designating Alexandria as the Capital of Islamic Culture for the year 2008.

Tourism and culture ministries officials are working on a new book including information on the history of Islamic culture in Alexandria.

http://www.sis.gov.eg/En/EgyptOnline/Culture/000001/0203000000000000000942.htm

http://www.bibalex.gov.eg/english/media/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsID=2004

Posted by Zahraa ZARA: - 9:21 am - No Comments »
January 4th, 2008

Hello my dear Friends,

Now with Egyptian National Railways you can book you train ticket online

please check this URL for more Information:-

http://www.egyptrail.gov.eg/docs/index.html

Š

Posted by Zahraa ZARA: - 8:05 am - No Comments »
November 1st, 2007

I have read a very nice article about Alexandria written By Stephen Franklin, Chicago Tribune, I’d Like to share it with all of you as it is good marketing for our lovely city.

Please read The article.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/chi-alexandria_pmoct28,0,3105615.story?page=1

 

Posted by Zahraa ZARA: - 12:45 pm - No Comments »
October 17th, 2007

Alexandria— On the occasion of the BA fifth anniversary; The Library will be open from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm on Saturday, 20 October, 2007 and from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sunday, 21 October, 2007

The BA will be closed to the public on Monday, 22 October; Tuesday, 23 October; and Wednesday, 24 October, 2007. Regular opening hours will resume starting Thursday, 25 October, 2007.

For any queries, please contact the Reference Desk

http://www.bibalex.com/english/media/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsID=1820

Posted by Zahraa ZARA: - 1:35 pm - No Comments »
June 30th, 2007

ALEXANDRIA: A fervent Alexandrian tour guide has launched a special website to boost tourism to her city and encourage both tourists and locals to explore the history and beauty of the beautiful coastal city.

Read more about this article:-
http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=7508

Posted by Zahraa ZARA: - 4:47 am - 1 Comment »
May 15th, 2007

Alexandria— The BA Alexandria and Mediterranean Research Center (Alex-Med) will organize on Tuesday, 15 May 2007, a celebration on the occasion of issuing the first guide of Alexandrian postcards in the world entitled Postcards of Alexandria: A Collectors Guide by Mohamed Nofal.

The Guide is the first reference of Alexandria city postcards in the world, including a unique collection of postcards. The industry of postcards flourished in Alexandria at the end of the nineteenth century with the increase of foreign population in the city.

The first part of the Guide, issued in English, comprises more than 800 pictures embodying life in Alexandria from 1890-1956. The collection includes pictures of tram tickets, cinemas, hotels, archeological sites, villas, palaces, gardens, the corniche, and others. The Guide also includes captions with the name of the photographer, the date, and a brief on the picture. Work is underway on the Arabic edition of the Guide, so as to make the history of Alexandria in its golden age available to all.

http://www.bibalex.org/english/media/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsID=1578

The celebration will start at 19:00 hrs. at the Small Theater, BA Conference Center

Posted by Zahraa ZARA: - 8:19 am - 1 Comment »
April 24th, 2007

 

Description de lEgypte, Antiquites V, Plate 32, Cleopatras needles and the Tower of the Romans, drawn c.1798, published in the Panckoucke edition of 1821-9.jpg

Updating to Alexandria News, we have to update and introduce to world how Alexandria the city of culture, the capital of the ancient world rebirths once more through Alexandria library, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, stuff and their great team work, as simply we can introduce them as responsible for the great fourth pyramid. And one of their efforts is the great project of Description de l’Egypte which was the outcome of the collaboration of more than 150 prominent scholars and scientists, who accompanied Napoleon in 1798, and some 2000 talented artists and technicians. For over 20 years, they systematically examined almost every aspect of contemporary and ancient Egyptian civilization, producing 20 volumes of text and plates of unmatched accuracy and detail. Historically, these engravings became the most comprehensive record and inventory of Egypt’s land and monuments.

Description de lâ??Egypte

This valuable collection containing images related to antiquities, natural history, and the modern states of Egypt has been fully digitized and integrated on a virtual browser with the objective of preserving it and making it publicly accessible. The collection includes eleven volumes of plates owned by BA, as well as ten volumes of text, a contribution from Institute d’Egypte.

The 20 volumes book made up of 11 plate volumes and 9 text volumes is now entirely and freely available on http://descegy.bibalex.org . The new website created by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina research center ISIS (www.bibalex.org/isis) provides enhanced functionalities such as page turning, zooming, rotating, bookmarking, sharing with friends, and downloading. Two special features distinguish the new website, namely allowing users to view pages in high resolution without the need for a high speed connection, and full text morphological search with highlights for the book’s 9000 pages.

For more information and details find hereunder the main web site for this great project:-

http://descegy.bibalex.org/

http://www.bibalex.org/English/index.aspx

http://www.bibalex.org/isis/ProjectDetails.aspx?id=59

Posted by Zahraa ZARA: - 3:05 pm - No Comments »
March 25th, 2007
Really I have to admit that I am and all Alexandrian people are lucky to have this amazing library in our city, which we call it, Egypt’s fourth pyramid. One of its news is Bulaq Press as it was part of Mohamed Aly’s inclusive development plans for the modernization of Egypt.  

http://www.bibalex.org/BulaqPress/En/Bulaq.htm

http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/muhammadali.htm  (More about Mohamed Aly himself)

Also I’d like to recommend this other links relates to the Library website.

http://www.bibalex.org/libraries/Presentation/Static/10000.aspx

Reference to donations, as many tourists have asked me what is the best way for donation; please find hereunder some information about how can you donate to the library.

http://www.bibalex.org/libraries/Presentation/Static/15b10.aspx 

Posted by Zahraa ZARA: - 4:27 pm - No Comments »
March 7th, 2007

Thanks for your emails, as I have received many emails asking for tours quotations, which is irrelevant to my work. I am a tour guide not a travel agent, so I am not dealing with hotels prices or tours packages. I can guide you about Egypt, Alexandria, History, Culture, how the people live, think, believe, tradition, customs, religion, economy, cross rate for your currency, which historical sites you can visit, which streets you can have walk along, as relates to some memories and some events, how the people here are dressing and why. Also what you can do and what you can avoid during your trip.

I am so sorry I cannot give quotes for tour packages, as what I can do is just marketing and give an honest lay out about Alexandria and Egypt and their culture. As, I get different tourists from different backgrounds, every one has his own interests, so I try as much as to cover all your inquiries. So it is not a must to join my tour to know about that as I am talking as general, as our daily life is reflection to our mixed civilization and long history.

So, please don’t hesitate to send me any question but I can’t reply with any prices except for guidance fees. I am so sorry again, but my target is help and presents my city without looking for any financial profit or any commission. As I am a free lance and working for different travel agents.

Hope all have a nice trip.

Posted by Zahraa ZARA: - 1:59 pm - No Comments »
February 17th, 2007
Alexandria Tram 1912

Alexandria is “the capital city of Asiatic Europe, if such a thing could exist.” As Lawrence Durrell and his famous Novel Alexandria Quartet, Also many others writers wrote and still writes about her, like, Constantine Cavafy, Naguib Mahfouz, Edward el-Kharrat, E. M. Forster lived in Alexandria between 1915 and 1918 and in 1922 he published Alexandria A History and a Guide, the Italian poets F.T. Marinetti and G. Ungaretti, the Italian novelist F. Cialente), and many others.

tram-1.jpg

So, During the period 18th February 2007 to 17th March 2007 there is an exhibition called “Alexandria Tracing the Routes of Memories “ The exhibition attempts to explore Alexandria by touring different selected places, following the route of the tram. It traces the memories of the city through a multi-level approach to information relating to the historical and cultural background of Alexandria. The thoughts and feelings of famous poets and writers, who lived in Alexandria, are incorporated into this exhibition to give us a sense of the atmosphere that prevailed in the 19th and 20th centuries. Old Alexandrian atmosphere is conveyed through every possible means: photographic pictures, audio and video films, written texts, narration, recitation, music, even tastes and smells, where possible. For more details see this link.

Posted by Zahraa ZARA: - 5:12 pm - No Comments »
February 17th, 2007
As my groups asked me about the best place for having good coffee here in Alexandria we have many but I can recommend the Turkish coffee as we have different coffee tastes in Alexandria as we have the Alexandrian Turkish coffee which you can have it any where with its nice taste and amazing smell and the Brazilian coffee
You will find some others branded coffeehouse Starbucks which is opened up in both San Stefano mall, city center and Carrefour, Down Town. Also you will find Cilantro, Dino, Beano’s, and Costa cafe.
Beside others places around the city like, Harris cafe in Green Plaza and San Stefano Mall, Fever in Ramal Station, Grand Cafe, Coffee Roastery, Delight , Jungle , Athenaos,  Trianon, Delice and many others
 So have a stay in our city, Alexandria, and wish for you wonderful trip.
Posted by Zahraa ZARA: - 9:09 am - 1 Comment »
February 5th, 2007

244051224pKHhtn_ph.jpg

Alexandria is a city of memories, and this is sunken part of our memories so if we like to explore, and discover we have to dive.  Really I found that many of our tourists group didn’t know that Alexandria as a recent diving stars to attract many tourists here for diving. Alexandria offers one of the most interesting diving experiences in the world. Diving here is unlike the Red Sea, as Alexandria does not have beautiful coral reefs or colorful fishes but diving in Alexandria is a dive into memories and history. You will dive to see the sunken cities, palaces and boats lie beneath the Alexandrian shore.  Although some of the important statues of queens and kings were extracted from under the water; some 7000 Monuments belonging to the Pharaonic and Roman dynasties are still preserved under the water.

08_1.jpg

Underwater city of Cleopatra and her Palace: The site is located inside the Eastern Harbor of Alexandria.  The city lies both inside and outside the harbor (Pharos Island - part of the royal quarter). The city collapsed and fell into the sea after several earthquakes.  The most unique feature of diving here is the fact that they are historical.  We dive to visit the past and to touch monuments that belong to the most famous characters of the world such as Alexander the Great, Ptolemy, Cleopatra, Caesar and Mark Antony. .As you will enjoy seeing Cleopatra’s royal districts also you will see her sun boat and the wreckage of a 2nd World War plane that exists inside Cleopatra’s palace.
http://www.alexandra-dive.com/main_site/diving_alxdt.asp?my_id=21  

    Quaitbay Fort:  There are 3 spots below Quaitbay Fort. The first one is the wreckage of a boat that used to carry goods to Alexandria during Cleopatra’s era. The second is the remains of a Roman shipwreck that also used to carry goods to Alexandria. It is located about 650 meters away from Quaitbay Fort. The third spot is another wreckage of a ship that was also used to carry goods during Cleopatra’s era. It is located 450 meters from Quaitbay Fort.

Sunken monuments

Underwater city of HERACLEON Located at a distance of 4 km. from the cost of Abou Kir bay, at the same altitude of the fort of Abou Kir, at depth of 8m., covering an area of 120 Hectars showing a city, with its buildings, lying between a secondary brach and a lake, and a pharaonic style temple. The harbor basin is constructed from huge lime stone blocks. The temple housed 3 colossi carved on red granite for Ptolemy & his queen, the God personifying the flooding of the Nile. Stone monuments of varying sizes, ritual utinsils and bronze figuries, Gold and bronze coins and pottery. Most of these art crafts belong to the span of the 4th. to the 1st. centuries BC. and they enhance the prosperity of the temple at the time of the PTOLEMY.

 

NAPOLEON WRECKS  The most important wreck is “ORIENT” with 2700 gross registered tons and 120 cannons - the biggest ship of the fleet.  The “Serieuse” and the “Artemise” were  discovered, both frigates belonging to Napoleon Bonapart`s fleet. The “Serieuse” was the smallest ship of the fleet.  It sank during a desperate attempt to keep the British fleet away from the French, while “Orient” later exploded at the climax of the battle. 7 anchors of different ships of the fleet, cannons, portable firearms and ammunition.  There was a large amount of GOLD, silver and copper coins dating to the era of louis XIV, some to Louis XV and most of them to the era of Louis XVI. There was also Gold from Malta which Napoleon stole while he was on his way to Egypt.  Besides that, there are personal objects of the crew and navigation instruments.
http://www.alexandra-dive.com/main_site/diving_alxdt.asp?my_id=21
 

Alamein dive THE SECOND WORLD WAR Wrecks in Egypt - the Mediterranian  

Several dive sites are located at different depths. IN ALEXANDRIA  The HMS Calcutta C-class British anti-aircraft cruiser North-West to Alexandria 1941. The HMS Calcutta was a C-class British light cruiser, built by Vickers during 1917, and launched during 1918. During 1938, she was converted in anti-aircraft cruiser in Chatham Dockyard. On June 1, 1941, during the operations for the defense of Crete, she was spotted off the coasts of Egypt by a German Junkers Ju 88 bomber. Despite to her efficient anti-aircraft weapons, the HMS Calcutta  was damaged and sunk by two bombs North-West to Alexandria. The visibility underwater is very good, sometimes reaching to more than 20 meters, and the wreck is rich with aquatic life.
The HMS Galatea was an Arethusa-class British light cruiser, built in Greenock by Scotts Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. during 1933, and launched during 1934. On September 1, 1940, the HMS Galatea suffered light damages after the collision with a German floating mine off Cleaner Shoal Buoy near the Humber light vessel (UK). During December 15, 1941, she was cruising in Eastern Mediterranean off Egyptian coasts. Here she was intercepted and torpedoed by the German submarine U-557: the HMS Galatea was devastated by the explosion, and sank off Alexandia. 469 men of the crew died or were missing.

AL ALAMEIN & MATROUH Several wrecks were sunken in Al Alamein water as well as many german and british aeroplanes, existing at different depths, ranging from 5 to 40 meters. A very beautiful British soldiers carrier was also sunken at a depth of 7m. depth, in crystal pure water of Al alamein and in a very good condition with the famous British helmits of soldiers still existing in the ground of the wrecks after being abondend from its soldiers.  Watch a part of its filme attached.  Other great wrecks are also available such as: The HMS Jackal, which was a J-class british destroyer, built in Clydebank by John Brown Shipbuilding & Engineering Company Ltd. during 1937, and launched during 1938. On May 12, 1942, when she was cruising in Eastern Mediterranean, in the coasts of Egypt, the HMS Jackal was spotted and attacked by a German Junkers Ju 88 bomber. The HMS Jackal was severely damaged by the bombs, and sank in Marsa Matrouh. The U-75  was one of the successiful VII-C class German submarines: she was built in Bremen by Bremer Vulkan during 1939, and launched during 1940. The VII-C class submarines were 66.5m long; max speed 17kn (emerged) 7.5kn (submerged); four 533mm torpedo launchers, one 88mm gun, one 20mm plus one 37mm machine gun.On December 28, 1941, she was spotted by the British destroyer HMS Kipling near Marsa Matrouh.

http://www.alexandra-dive.com/main_site/diving_alxdt.asp?my_id=57
http://www.alexandra-dive.com/main_site/diving_alx.asp

For further Information you can contact Alexdive (Alexandria Diving Center) 24 26th July Street, Bahary, Eastern Harbor, Alexandria, Egypt  http://www.alexandra-dive.com/main_site/default.asp

Posted by Zahraa ZARA: - 4:21 am - 9 Comments »
December 22nd, 2006

Really, I liked what Joerg Recommended about publishing tasty Egyptian recipes for all who read our forum so I am interested to publish it for all of you if you like to read about our recipes which also is part of our culture and our tradition. As we used to have Spicy recipes and we used to eat all together in same time even we like to make huge portion to let our friends and relatives Share what we have as they do the same with us. So you can share as well and daily we will add new thing relates to our feasts which we have it nowadays.

Please find here under some of our Egyptian recipes. And if you add more you can send us and we will reply all your inquiries and comments.

http://www.touregyptforums.com/index.php?showtopic=656&hl=

 

Posted by Zahraa ZARA: - 12:38 pm - 2 Comments »
December 20th, 2006

Really I have read something today in our forum which was really great and I am sure you will like as it is also part of our culture as it is about some Useful Egyptian Arabic Words And expressions you can use during your visit. . I had this is idea for AD, one of our Forum board members did it in a good way so you can have a look and know some Arabic words we use it during our daily life here. So you can use it during your visit to Egypt and Alexandria. Although our accent as Alexandria people is a little bit different as we are coastal city so we get some words, some expression, and some vowels from as Mediterranean people.

I recommend this site for you. You can have a look and we will try to update it then make it as a one article for all of you.

http://www.touregyptforums.com/index.php?showtopic=646&hl

Posted by Zahraa ZARA: - 5:36 pm - 2 Comments »