Tour of Alex

Hieroglyphs at Pompey's Pillar.   

More beautiful pieces we saw at Pompey's Pillar.

The bull, Serapis, one of the gods worshiped. We are in a tunnel located underground, which also housed spaces for scrolls that the Library of Alexandria couldn't hold due to lack of space, this was called "the little library" or the "daughter" library. 

Ryan trying to get just the right shot of the sphinxes who stand guard in front of the pillar. 

Pompey's Pillar!! One giant piece of solid granite about 90 feet high from 291 AD and still standing. It was named by travelers who thought it was for Pompey, but the base of the tower says it was for Diocletian. However, the name stuck... oops :) 

The Roman Theatre in Alexandria! Gorgeous!!

Ryan holding parliament and giving his crowd the thumbs up! If you stood in the middle you could hear yourself, this was so everyone in attendance could hear you. Our resident mathematician and wonderful colleague informed us it was called a "fosi"

A few of the many beautiful pieces that were pulled out of the Mediterranean Sea by French divers in the 1990's housed at the Roman Theatre. There was a deep basin they would fill with fresh water where the pieces needed to be until all of the salt water had been removed that way the pieces wouldn't crack while drying. 

One of our amazing bosses and historians, explaining about the piece between his fingers. When a piece is created you can tell who it was created for by the "cartouche" meaning "name" in the hieroglyph. These cartouches helped to create the Rosetta Stone!! 

An obelisk found in the Mediterranean. 

This is where most of the pieces were found.  Our boss is pointing to the site where the Alexandria lighthouse was built sometime in 200 BC and stood 450 ft high. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lighthouse_of_Alexandria) Eventually they built a causeway to get to and from which caused a land formation to form. To the right of where he is pointing is all of the pieces that have been found in the sea (if they are colored they have been pulled out and placed on land, if it is still white it is still in the sea). 

This is the kitten standing guard at the Roman Theatre. I tried to convince him to go home with me, but he only spoke Arabic. 

After a long day of touring and sweating (mostly sweating) we ended up here at "La Veranda" a cafe with the most amazing looking pastries and cakes. I had a strawberry lemonade because I didn't want to spoil dinner at the Greek fish house. Ryan had a  turkish coffee, from what I could tell it was ground coffee and water and you are supposed to wait until the grounds go to the bottom. 

The terrible view from our dinner table... this is Alexandria! I love it!! In front of us is the Mediterranean and this is one of the beaches you can pay to go to.  

Jae looking out at the city. Right by her forehead you can sea a gray upside down u, that is the Alexandria Library (the next picture shows it better). 

I can't wait to visit the LIBRARY!! I hear it is 7 floors and is working on having museum aspects... more to come, don't you worry! 

Just me and my little bird! This is before she went all crazy at diner :)

So far so great, the one thing (of a few) I have been having to get used to is the work week runs Sunday through Thursday.  Though that doesn't seem like a big deal when you tell your nanny "see you Monday" and she asks "you don't need me Sunday?" you have to rethink what day it actually is... "oh yes, I will see you Sunday" :)

In the second oldest country in the world I feel like I am just barely scratching the surface of all our world has in store for surprises! Hopefully you feel more enlightened as well...

Most importantly... Happy Anniversary Ry!  I LOVE YOU SO MUCH :)

Back in 2009 at a wonderful wedding in Mazatlan for our friends Brandon and Chelsey... who knew then we would be where we are today! Love you!

Kasi <3