Nothing

There's a song that claims that one is the loneliest number. Then why am I reveling in it?

I like good company. I enjoy my friends and family. People can make for a good audience. Beer with friends is fun.

I don't know if this past week would have been as fun if I had done it with someone else. It would have been different, of course, but better? I am getting the chance to travel and make my own decisions. I am not conferring with anyone, making plans with someone else. When I feel like going somewhere, I go. When I feel like taking a nap, I nap. When I decide to walk for hours on end, I don't have to worry a potential partner won't be able to keep up. Tomorrow, Sunday, I leave for Cairo. But what time? I have no clue. I will make it up as I go along.

Today, I spent a lot of time doing nothing. I sat. And watched. And I loved it. Would someone else allow me to do that?

Of course, all of this is purely conjecture. If I had someone with me to share this time, I'd be doing different things. I would be enjoying it on a level I could not alone. I would be having a completely different experience. I think I would like it. 

But I know I like what I am doing now. I do not regret this.

My big plans for the day: nothing. No agenda. Had minor goals, but I didn't have to see something. I didn't have to go inside a certain building. I had nothing to cross off my list.

So I wound up doing...nothing.

I walked. A lot.

I ate. Very well.

I sat.

I was asked to post more pictures of the Sea. From my hotel, this is the view.

And the hotel where I am staying:

Hotel Ramsis

And more random views of the sea, and what there is to be seen.

This fort, from afar, is where the ancient lighthouse once stood.

As I walked a lot, I did come across many sights, which I share now.

The underground street crossing

A random park I happened upon

And this random structure in said random park

I liked his smile

Alexandria Stadium?

Alexandria Stadium?

Alexandria Stadium?

Neat building I saw. University?

More of that neat building

Eagle come swoop on your head!

I liked his smile

Roman remains in the city

More of those Roman remains

Remains

Remains

Remains

Remains

Who can name that column?

Money shot for my archaeology friends

A sphinx dug up at the site

Remains of an ampitheatre.

Movie posters. That one on the left will earn big bucks. I can feel it.

Finally, a store that caters to me

She's been hiding in Egypt all these years.

This question is how I lead my life

It's nice they cater to plus sized women, but what is the insinuation with octopus?

We've all been spelling it wrong

I am so happy I am not part of this group.

Though my goal for the day was nothing, I did have two mini-accomplishments I had hoped to achieve. The first was to see the new library. The original no longer exists, and was supposed to be breath taking. In its place, a new one was built, that is almost on par with that of the University of Michigan (see what I did there?). I forgot to mark it on my map, so I spent some time looking for it. I knew it was on this side of the city, in this general area, but nothing. The wandering took me to other places, but not to the library. It was then I realized I had seen the library already, multiple times in fact.

Twas not a university, but a library!

Excellent! Achievement 1, accomplished (if this were a computer role playing game, I would have gone up a rank with this. I am now a first class knight's apprentice!).

Achievement 2 was really eating at me, because I had failed to eat at it. Before coming here, I asked a colleague where to stay, and he mentioned a name, but also added I had to eat at Muhammed Ahmed. Best falafel ever. But my maps kept taking me to spots where it did not exist. No signs, nothing. Today, the spot I marked was more clear. I had been looking on the wrong street. I went one street over and I found:

Mohamed Ahmed's, a must for every Alexandria visitor

And I liked their decorations, just like those found at Seleucia.

I finally got in, and had a great meal.

I had high expectations, and they did not disappoint. Because of the size of the establishment, I was seated at a table with another gentleman. After he left, two more men joined me. The younger of the two was friendly, tried talking to me and even offered some food. But we did not speak the same language, sadly.

I enjoyed my meal, and watching them taught me how to properly eat my foule. I was doing it wrong!

The falafel was excellent! I am glad I went in for that. More impressively, it was dirt cheap. About a 1/3 the price of the previous night's meal, and much better.

Happy I finally ate here, I decided to walk some more. I walked to the park, where I sat in the shade and just watched life go by.

The view from the park

Something about this image amuses me

It was a beautiful day, and I am glad I experienced it. Aside from wait staff and the gentleman at the restaurant, I did not speak to anyone. I just basked in my own silence.

I took a nap after the park, and decided I would go out for a pastry and tea in the evening. I found Patisserie Delices, and had a seat outside.

My view

Turns out I sat next to a celebrity. Everyone came over to take a picture with him and shake his hand

After a long while of sitting and nothingness, with some people watching thrown in, I went for another walk.

Alexandria comes to life at night. All the stores pour out into the streets. The whole city becomes one giant souq. Anything you want to buy can be found in the streets. In other words, lots of shiny.

Shiny

Shiny!

SHINY!

I found the street for the jewelry shopping

More shiny!

Peppers in fashion are back

My stay in Alexandria has been quite pleasant. There is much to like about the city, though there are a few points I am not fond of.

One, I'd like to have a word with the mayor of this city, and why he chose Angry Birds t-shirts to be the uniform of its citizens.

Two, the garbage. It's not just that garbage has accumulated, but that the people just don't care. Too often I just watch people throw/drop things on the ground, or try to throw their cans and wrappers into the sea. This city would be a thousand times more beautiful if the garbage wasn't strewn everywhere.

Despite this, there is plenty to appreciate about Alexandria.

The city is busy, but still laid back.

Perhaps this is a false assessment, seeing as how I was here on vacation and was never rushing myself. 

But it felt more relaxed than other cities. People were just out enjoying themselves.

Perhaps due to this, people were less pushy. No constant "Taxi? Taxi? Taxi?" I was getting in Cairo and Giza. Or whatever else people were pushing. Yes, drivers stopped, but a simple "la" got them to go away. Same with street pushers. They left well enough alone.

Is the weather to thank for this? That gentle sea breeze cools the city magnificently. It cleans up the air, so the stink of garbage is not overbearing. It was in the 80sF this weekend. Enough warmth with a touch of the cool.

The city is easy to walk. Cabs are prevalent, but I never needed one save for the taxi from the train station to hotel. But tomorrow I will walk to the station, as I now know where it is and can easily make it. 

That night life. It's a completely different city at night. It wakes up, gives you its second face. And both faces are ones you would like. The wares sold on the streets are nothing great, and most of it was junk, but if you needed junk you know where to find it.

I had a great time. I never felt rushed. I took life at my own pace.  I relaxed. I walked. I ate. I watched. I sat.

I did nothing.

And I loved it.