Alexandria (El-Iskandariya) Photo

Photographer’s Note

From most southern point in Egypt, I go to the most Northern point, a jump of more than 1000km.
We are in Alexandria and this general view from above was taken from the top floor of the hotel I was staying in, one of many placed along the corniche that you see here. As you can see the traffic is intense and the public transportation (minibuses) dominate the line: almost every white minivans that you see are full with passengers. For the tourists, besides taxis, there are also the caleches that can be seen at left bottom. However, downtown is compact enough to walk around, and along the Corniche to Fort Qaitbey (seen at right BG) makes a healthy constitutional (35–50min).
The silhouette that can be seen in FG is from a light projector that I couldn't avoid.
As soon I got here, I noticed the mediterranean atmosphere that makes Alexandria diferent from any other city that I visited in Egypt.

-----------

In WS, the view to the right side of the bay.

----------

Information from Rough Guide to Egypt book:

Alexandria, princess and whore. The royal city and the anus mundi.

Lawrence Durrell, The Alexandria Quartet

A hybrid city characterized by Durrell as the "Capital of Memory", Alexandria turns its back on the rest of Egypt and faces the Mediterranean, as if contemplating its glorious past. One of the great cities of antiquity, Alex slumbered for 1300 years until it was revived by Mohammed Ali and transformed by Europeans, who gave the city its present shape and made it synonymous with cosmopolitanism and decadence. This era came to an end in the 1950s with the mass flight of non-Egyptians and a dose of revolutionary puritanism, but Alexandria's beaches, restaurants and breezy climate still attract hordes of Cairenes during the summer, while its jaded historical and literary mystique remains appealing to foreigners.

xuaxo, Tue, paura, feather, zeynepe, Gerrit, Cricri, TopGeo, chris04stop, Didi, lucasgalodoido, ribeiroantonio, shevchenko, mikolaj_kawa, JCG, Juntas, ChrisJ, josepmarin, Emile, bakes888, stego, Angshu, Benedict, saylan-cb has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

paura (39202) 2008-12-04 3:09

Ricardo,
A imagem é linda, tomada de soberbo ponto, e com eficiente apresentação. Interessante o pesado trânsito para as 10:11 que deveria ser fora do rush ...

Abraço

Paulo

feather (50144) 2008-12-04 3:22

You chose the best direction for your main post, although including the other in the WS is a real bonus to see more of the place. You had a great view from your hotel room. It does indeed look very busy but I love the wide curving sweep of the promenade right around the bay.
Kath

coco (28106) 2008-12-04 5:24

Hi Ricardo.

It's a pity the light projector. You had a very good POV from that place and the view is good too.
Anyway, I don't mind the light projector, it looks quite nice.

Regards.

zeynepe (9360) 2008-12-04 6:07

Alexandria reminds its legend library not only for me but also for most of the people in the world.The library is a myth. The destruction of this library of the ancient times was retold many times.This caused many different factions.These were not for the purpose of chronicling the library, but for politics.
Anyway , good shot from your bird's-eye POV .Looks like a nice city (excluding the heavy traffic) surrounded by this wonderful colored water.
Congrats Ric,
Zeynep

jmdias (19837) 2008-12-04 6:13

ricardo

bela a curva urbana avançando sobre o mar, o colorido do tráfego ficou bom aqui também. bela a luz e as cores e o enquadramento. interessante como as línguas dominantes estupram os nomes originais, lendo sobre a hist. de ptgl a gente vê como os nomes romanos viraram árabes e depois cristãos e foram se transformando no decorrer do tempo. aqui no br os nomes indígenas são bem comuns, muitos deles foram de tal forma distorcidos que ninguém sabe bem o significado. o rio ivaí por exemplo era chamado de Guibay no tempo dos missionários jesuítas no século 17, daí até virar ivaí foi um pulo, e sabe-se lá como seria o nome original falado pelos guaranis..

abraços

jorge

bostankorkulugu (33976) 2008-12-04 9:10

never been to egypt... but the scene looks familiar... especially the minibuses, as istanbul is full of them also... loved the mediterranean look despite the concrete blocks... (istanbul was like a summer resort today with the over 20 deg. heat and the sun shinning so bright... heidelberg? brrrrr...)

hugs rcrd...

gilou530 (35680) 2008-12-04 9:20

salut ricardo
un superbe courbe du littoral, avec un POV en hauteur pour rendre toute la géométrie de cette plage et les voitures colorées attirent bien l'oeil
amitiés
gilbert

Gerrit (36259) 2008-12-04 9:54

Hi Ricardo,
effective shot showing the constipation of the big city and the huge curve of the shoreline.
Regards. Gerrit

Cricri (43726) 2008-12-04 10:58

Hola Ric
Quelqu'un devais bien te tenir car il me semble que tu t"es bien pencher par la fenêtre pour avoir les deux routes!!!le WS est superbe aussi, une jolie courbe du bord de la mer avec une sublime couleurs, une ville en tout les cas trés vivante et touristique, je suis contente d'avoir vue cette région..
Have a nice evening for you
cricri

TopGeo (22205) 2008-12-04 11:44

Hi Ricardo! They is the first picture that I see from Alexandria Impressive and very interesting opinion. The view immense and clean! I praise you!
Georgios

chris04stop (2509) 2008-12-04 13:21

Oh, if this is a great, wide, wonderful panorama on the gulf! The sea, eh? Well, you have just to wait for my mountains, full, full of snow! Are you ready, Ricardo?
Ciao...
Anna Paola

tober (4052) 2008-12-04 14:10

Hello Ricardo, İskenderiye was also known with its legendary lighthouse, which was considered to be one of the seven wonders of the world. I wonder, if the remnants of this ancient lighthouse are still visible today.

During the Ottoman period starting from 1517, it was also one of the important ports of the Empire, along with Istanbul, Izmir, Port Said, Beirut, Salonica, etc. In quotation from Durrell, the period between Alex and Kavalalı Mehmet Ali Paşa is somehow ignored.

Let's come to the photo, I've visited only Cairo in Egypt but haven't found any chance to visit this second important city of the country. Apparently, it is more Mediterranean, rather than being Middle Eastern. The view of your hotel room is impressive. In a clear weather you can even see the Taurus Mountains in Turkey :) ;)

Best regards, Tolga

siamesa (13223) 2008-12-04 14:46

Oi Ricardo,
Uma vista maravilhosa. Eu não tinha idéia de como era Alexandria, uma jóia do Mediterrâneo.Belo mar de turquesa com essa curva que faz a vista passear em toda ela. Parabéns.
Abraços
maria

Didi (36434) 2008-12-04 17:45

Olà Ricardo
You were not far from Ramleh place down town.
I spent with my parents holidays, many years ago in this place.
Before it was better; there is too much modern buildings now.
Obrigado

lucasgalodoido (16789) 2008-12-04 19:37

Olá Ricardo,
bem bonita e interessante essa vista de Alexandria mesmo, não imaginava uma cidade tão grande assim, e ao que parece, com problemas de trânsito igual as de minha cidade, hehe, tudo congestionado...
Parabéns e Abraço

ribeiroantonio (21967) 2008-12-04 19:55

Foste à procura da biblioteca para te informares sobre Abu Simbel?!!! E por isso, ficáste bem instalado num hotel!!!
Esta imagem fez-me lembrar Luanda, com aquela curva da baía, a cor do mar e o trânsito diabólico (com os mini autocarros e tudo!!!).
Não sei que tratamento deste à foto mas gosto mais das cores do WS.
Antonio

shevchenko (10072) 2008-12-04 20:19

Hi Ricardo,
Fantastic effect by showing the big bent, the color of water is exciting, lively city with showing busy traffics and crowd buldings, thanks for sharing the view from northern city.
Ally

emka (22285) 2008-12-04 23:48

Hi Ric,
splendid view of the Alexandria bay. very good Pov showing the houses in the distance, the sea and the fraffic.

regards

Malgorzata

mikolaj_kawa (31161) 2008-12-05 0:33

Hello Ricardo! Wonderful perspective, long perspective. Amazing seascape and cityscape. Nice light, bright and colours. Perfect capture. Very original composition. Good luck!

JCG (25745) 2008-12-05 2:37

HI Ricardo,

I think that this road traffic must be every day, what a patience !!! A sight on the littoral impressive here, I like much the curve which gives a good depth to the image like your photograph of the opposite sight in WS. It misses the sound of the horn to supplement the image !!! Interesting photograph, thank you Ricardo.

With all my friendships and a very good WE,

Jean-Charles

carper (65622) 2008-12-05 7:16

a fantastic shot here Ricardo,
I like the curl and the fantastic quality of the shot, have a very good weekend my friedn.
regard Jaap

Juntas (3542) 2008-12-05 15:03

Olá Ricardo. Grande vista que nunca mais acaba. Interessante a perspectiva da curva da baía e mais interessante o contraste entre a calma do mar e o reboliço dessa avenida marginal. Nota-se algum ruído, sim mas deve ser derivado de tanto carro ;). Abraço, bom fim de semana, feriado e tudo o mais. PAulo

npecanhuk (14652) 2008-12-05 15:14

Olá Ricardo!
Gosto muito dessa foto por sua qualidade, mas principalmente por me mostrar essa cidade da qual sempre ouvi falar ou sobre a qual sempre li em livros ou revistas e que me é apresentada de maneira tão bela e natural, com muitos detalhes que me permitem conhecê-la um pouco mais sobre suas feições, mesmo que apenas virtualmente! Obrigado!
Parabéns, abraços e até mais!
Neyvan

ChrisJ (70443) 2008-12-06 0:35

Hi Ricardo

Superb colour, with a marvellous high pov across the esplanade & sea. Good sharpness & light contrasts. Tfs!

josepmarin (34081) 2008-12-06 4:41

Olá Ricardo,
el paisaje urbano y el mar, en este encuadre con un ángulo muy abierto, la luz y los colores, y el dinamismo que nos ofrece la intensidad del tráfico en este lugar, forman una composición muy atractiva y con una perspectiva espectacular.
Perfecto trabajo con la luz y el color.
El WS es otra gran foto que complementa muy iien la información gráfica de esta bahía.
Buen trabajo, amigo mío.
Un abrazo,
Josep

Emile (20117) 2008-12-06 8:09

Hola Ricardo.
An excellent view from the top of your hotel, the endless line of cars and minibuses are well seen, lovely colors and very good light. The curved avenue with the Mediterranean sea was very well captured. I have never been in Egypt but maybe some day will try.
TFS.
Best regards.

bakes888 (18327) 2008-12-06 23:19

Hi Ricardo. 35 to 50 minutes walk. I guess that must be 35 minutes if you have no camera and 50 minutes with a camera ;-). Nice capture. Good colours and excellent composition. The sweep of the bay draws the eye through the scene well. Thanks for sharing.
Have a good week, Paul.

stego (22448) 2008-12-07 11:26

Olá Ricardo,

Uma bela vista urbana! É uma perspectiva fabulosa, com a avenida marginal a percorrer toda a imagem. E a cor da água é mesmo impressionante, ainda mais se nos lembrarmos que Alexandria é uma grande cidade do 3º Mundo (e mesmo que fosse do 1º!).

Deve ser por sugestão dos tristes incidentes recentes em Bombaim, mas faz-me lembrar essa cidade indiana, precisamente um dos locais onde a coisa esteve feia, Nariman Point e a Marine Drive - aquele prédio maior à esquerda faz-me lembrar o hotel Oberoi. Mas há uma diferença crucial: a água do mar em Bombaim era bem suja.

Um abraço, José.

robiuk (10763) 2008-12-08 4:29

Hi Ric,
this is one of the places I'd really like to visit, to
how much there's left of the OLD Alexandria, if you know what I mean.
I like your view over the bay and it seems that the city
is quite modern built (judging by what I can see further
down the frame and along the beach).
Cheers,
Robi

Angshu (34093) 2008-12-09 19:50

Ola Ric
This looks very similar to our Mumbai's Marine Drive with the sweeping curve of the sea line. The colour of the sea is definitely exciting here & the number of vehicles is lesser :-) Thanks for the opposite side view in the WS, gives us the wider look & a 170 degree vision. Well done my friend & people are a bit insignificant here :-)
Best Regards
Angshu

Bluejeans (33049) 2008-12-11 9:49

Oi amigo ,
Que lindo este lugar com esta zona de baía um bom lugar para passar umas ferias , o transito está bem complicado também não tem falta de carros , gostei muito das cores , belo ponto de visão bem alto , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

rajiv_077 (1355) 2008-12-12 3:06

Hi Dear

How r u ? . This picture looks wonderful, nice clear city and good traffic. colors of sea looks amazing and very sharp. Infact if i were you i try to capture a panoramic picture i mean totally wide view.

Good job indeed

kind regards

rajiv

Benedict (7062) 2008-12-12 21:23

hi ric,
very clean and smog-free place with the not-so-heavy traffic unusual of a modern booming metropolis. from what i can. the curved seawall and unpolluted seafront are wonderful! i should come with my friend next time he goes home to Egypt, or else i a be a loser, big time! Jamillah!!
Benedict

saylan-cb (12726) 2008-12-15 1:59

Hi Ricardo,
Very nice POV!Great image and good colours,light,details are excellent.
TFS/Regards

Leonie (8647) 2008-12-17 2:43

Hola Ricardo,
That's an interesting view of the Alexandria seafront! I have heard a lot about this place but had never actually seen an overview photo like this! Thanks! Regards, Léonie

Tue (25608) 2008-12-18 3:19

Hi Ricardo,
Great view over the city and along the curved coastline from this excellent high POV. The light was pleasant and the colours are very nice, especially the many cars make a very colourful and lively view. Well done, thanks for sharing!
Regards,
Lars

xuaxo (5835) 2008-12-18 15:58

Olá Ricardo
Está suficientemente bonito, mas estas marginais acabam por ser todas parecidas. Mesmo antes de ler a crítica do António, já tinha pensado que parecia uns postais antigos que a minha mãe recebia de Luanda no tempo da guerra. Também faz lembrar umas partes do Rio de Janeiro. Ou mesmo aqui da nossa linha de Cascais.
Em relação a Portugal, a grande diferença para melhor é os carros mais coloridos. Já deves ter reparado que de há uns anos para cá 9 em 10 carros em Portugal são ou cinzento escuro ou cinzento claro ou preto. Já lá vão mais de 30 anos que o meu pai mandou pintar um carro de cor-de-laranja; agora tem um cinzento claro.
Um abraço,
F