Sunday 26 October - Bibliotheca Alexandrina

This is a view towards the Mediterranean from outside the new library in Alexandria. More images will follow when we return home (see below). The library cost $355 million and was inaugurated in 2002, some 15 years after being approved by UNESCO.

It's a magnificent place, with a museum and exhibitions. There is still angst surrounding the taking of two 'Cleopatra's Needles' from the city by the Americans and the English in the late 19th century.

We had taken the train to Alexandria, where this Roman Theatre is a short walk from the station.


The theatre is thought to be connected with Alexandria's ancient university, with an annual enrolment of 5000 students. Within the complex is a villa with mosaic floors depicting nine species of birds. Here's a detail:

Next we trundled along to the Corniche - a busy, unforgiving road, almost impossible to cross, to reach the modern library, outside which this white sculpture was redolent against the deep blue sky.

Inside the library a wall of intricate metalwork incorporates some nice touches.

Whilst from the outside the building does look rather futuristic. This image was taken on a horizantal plane from the front of the library, so the building looks a bit like a huge spaceship from Star Wars.

We adjourned to our new home, Alexandria's Hilton Green Plaza Hotel, and a meal at the Splash Restaurant where a very jolly waiter displayed a lovely sense of humour.