NILE RIVER CONNECTIONS

Connecting People    –    Understanding Cultures    –    Experiencing History

NILE RIVER
CONNECTIONS

Connecting People

Understanding Cultures

Experiencing History

Summer

Alexandria – the most popular holiday destination of the Middle East.

It is apparently well known that every summer more than 1,000,000 people flock to the Egyptian North Coast and Alexandrian beaches. People pour towards the beaches in their hundreds while many Alexandrians head out of the city. The reason that give is:
* Zahma, zahma! (crowded crowded). * Dowsha, dowsha! (noisy noisy)
These are 2 words that describe very specifically what happens to Alexandria during Summer. Although many Alexandrians shake their heads at the increased traffic and people using local transport, those on holiday LOVE this place.

An average day at the beach

We remember our first trip to Alexandria well. It was mid-summer and we stayed in a small apartment overlooking the Corniche. We were amazed as for the first few days (and nights) we periodically checked out the window and there were always people on the beach, lots of them, no matter what time of day or night it was. The fun just kept on going, even if the sun had gone to bed!

Most of the beaches along the Corniche during summer have umbrellas and chairs carefully set up. You usually pay to rent an umbrella (or 2), and a couple of chairs (depending how big your family is). Now it is important to understand that whole families (or friendship groups) go to the beach together:
• grandmas and grandpas (in wheelchairs too!)
• aunts and uncles
• moms and dads
• sisters and brothers
• a baby or 2
The family is usually accompanied by lots of picnic food (fried chicken is a favorite), cooler boxes with water and sodas, the occasional frisbee or soccer ball and a selection of floating devices.

People will select their spot and then stay for the whole day and sometimes a large portion of the night. There are usually vendors selling a wide range of items:
• t-shirts
• candy floss
• slip slops
• sweet thin wafer biscuits
• water and sodas
• and of course tea!!!

Lots of swimming

Many people in Egypt are not good swimmers, so they tend to stay quite close to the shore, which can become very crowded. Men will swim in a variety of board shorts or swim shorts. The women, well, you won’t see a bikini or even a one piece in sight. But what you will see is fully veiled ladies playing in the waves, having a glorious time. Some women will be wearing the burqini. This is pecially designed swimwear that covers arms, legs and head and is modest. Some younger girls will wear their jeans and long sleeve shirts, and spend the day jumping and wallowing in the shallow waves.

But men, women, boys, girls and even babies, will be tireless in their enjoyment of the sea, the sand, the sun, the fun, the food. Many will stay from early morning until late at night.

Now THAT is a day at the beach !!!