Live from the Alexandria Library
I feel sneaky using a library computer to post on my blog, but hey, it's free. (Well, with an entrance tickey!) I was going to send an email to the library staff back home, but hotmail is blocked, which doesn't surprise me. Just finished a 30 minute tour of the library and two art displays, before receiving a ticket and code to use the computer for an hour. The place is massive and quite quiet. I feel like I'm making lots of noise just typing this out.
After posting this morning we caught a cab to the Greaco-Roman Museum. As usual, the cab driver had no idea where we wanted to go, despite having shown him the name and address in our tour book. However he stopped to ask directions and we were on our way. After a few detours we arrived, only to discover that it was closed to renovations. We decided to walk to the Alexandria National Museum, which had been our second choice. It was nicely arranged in a beautiful Italian villa, with plaques in English and air conditioned, so we stayed there for about an hour. As we left we spied some gardens at the end of the road, so walked there and took a tour around. (free!) The only thing causing disruptions in the gardens were little "garden policemen" with whistles who blew them at people who were in spots there were not to be in. At one point I tried to climb up a stairway leading to a gazebo, only to have the whistle blown at me. I quickly hurried down and found J but then the guard in the gazebo motioned for us to come up. I guess he was blowing his whistle at the locals behind me, who apparently are not allowed up in the gazebo. When we went to leave the garden, the guard escorted us down the stairs and followed us along the pathway for a while. We weren't sure if he was expecting a tip for allowing us into the gazebo or just making sure that we were leaving. He soon caught sight of someone else breaking garden rules and left, blowing his whistle and gesturing wildly!
After leaving the gardens we wandered past the university and through a throng of students milling around in the streets. Fifteen minutes later and we were at the library. After purchasing a ticket we had to drop off our bags as they're not allowed in the library. Before storing our bags, the clerk put them through an x-ray machine and then gave us a claim ticket. We were allowed to keep our cameras, as photography is permitted inside the library. At the door, we had to pass through a metal detector and someone searched our camera bag again, just to make sure there really were cameras in it. While waiting for the tour to start, we browsed through the gift shop. Naturally, I had to buy a t-shirt and a mouse pad, while J rolled his eyes at my choice of souvenirs. (At least it says "made in Egypt" so I know they're authentic!) I can't remember all the stats about the library (will look them up on their website when I get home) but the guide mentioned that they did have a new feature here - it's called an OPAC! I think I was the only one that found that comment funny. The library is still a non borrowing library but they hope to allow borrowing in the next year or so. (Stats addeed at home: there are 472,372 items in their collection and the reading rooms can hold over 2000 users and receives more than 800,000 visitors a year! Check out this link for some details on why the library was constructed the way it was.)
After this post we're off to claim our bags and will head back to the hotel. No big plans for the evening although we might wander along the beach before dinner.
Smiley bush at the free gardens!
Computer terminals and stacks inside the Alexandria Library
Alexandria Library
Ariel view of library, taken from their website.
After posting this morning we caught a cab to the Greaco-Roman Museum. As usual, the cab driver had no idea where we wanted to go, despite having shown him the name and address in our tour book. However he stopped to ask directions and we were on our way. After a few detours we arrived, only to discover that it was closed to renovations. We decided to walk to the Alexandria National Museum, which had been our second choice. It was nicely arranged in a beautiful Italian villa, with plaques in English and air conditioned, so we stayed there for about an hour. As we left we spied some gardens at the end of the road, so walked there and took a tour around. (free!) The only thing causing disruptions in the gardens were little "garden policemen" with whistles who blew them at people who were in spots there were not to be in. At one point I tried to climb up a stairway leading to a gazebo, only to have the whistle blown at me. I quickly hurried down and found J but then the guard in the gazebo motioned for us to come up. I guess he was blowing his whistle at the locals behind me, who apparently are not allowed up in the gazebo. When we went to leave the garden, the guard escorted us down the stairs and followed us along the pathway for a while. We weren't sure if he was expecting a tip for allowing us into the gazebo or just making sure that we were leaving. He soon caught sight of someone else breaking garden rules and left, blowing his whistle and gesturing wildly!
After leaving the gardens we wandered past the university and through a throng of students milling around in the streets. Fifteen minutes later and we were at the library. After purchasing a ticket we had to drop off our bags as they're not allowed in the library. Before storing our bags, the clerk put them through an x-ray machine and then gave us a claim ticket. We were allowed to keep our cameras, as photography is permitted inside the library. At the door, we had to pass through a metal detector and someone searched our camera bag again, just to make sure there really were cameras in it. While waiting for the tour to start, we browsed through the gift shop. Naturally, I had to buy a t-shirt and a mouse pad, while J rolled his eyes at my choice of souvenirs. (At least it says "made in Egypt" so I know they're authentic!) I can't remember all the stats about the library (will look them up on their website when I get home) but the guide mentioned that they did have a new feature here - it's called an OPAC! I think I was the only one that found that comment funny. The library is still a non borrowing library but they hope to allow borrowing in the next year or so. (Stats addeed at home: there are 472,372 items in their collection and the reading rooms can hold over 2000 users and receives more than 800,000 visitors a year! Check out this link for some details on why the library was constructed the way it was.)
After this post we're off to claim our bags and will head back to the hotel. No big plans for the evening although we might wander along the beach before dinner.
Smiley bush at the free gardens!
Computer terminals and stacks inside the Alexandria Library
Alexandria Library
Ariel view of library, taken from their website.
posted by The Patterson Pair at 9:37 AM
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