Today is my final day in Egypt. I'll be headed back to the States tomorrow, back to orderly roads and regular, municipality-ordered pick-up of rubbish, potable water in kitchen and bathroom faucets, and emissions standards. What a contrast. I'll miss Egypt and am looking forward to returning soon. I pray, very soon.

I went with a small group to Alexandria today. We were able to visit the ruins of an ancient Roman amphitheater and other facilities, the catacombs, and the Library of Alexandria. We were not allowed to take a camera into the catacombs, so I don't have any pictures to share. I have a few of the other places we visited. I was pretty captivated by the everyday life happening around us as we zipped through the city, and many of my pictures reflect that.

I immediately noticed better air quality in this city of 5 million, compared to the sprawling congestion of Cairo. It may not be a scientific fact, but the sky is distinctly bluer and clearer in Alexandria. The second thing I noticed is how colorful buildings are. Vibrant gold, coral, and turquoise dot the roads and break up the monotony of the desert. Here are a few pictures from the day:One of the many colorful buildingsWe passed through many neighborhoods with different industries; just before this lumberyard area we passed through an area heavy with auto maintenance shops and spare parts, right after this lumberyard area we passed by a number of blocks with electrical shops.



Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Guarded by two Egyptian Marines.



Boy running along the boardwalk.

The Pepsi truck and the boy were politely waiting a mere inches away from us as we crossed the intersection...
The Alexandria Library with the Museum of Ancient Documents. The museum itself is in the shape of the sun disk that is so important to ancient pagan religions in Egypt.