El Alamein

We had a wonderful and moving visit to El Alamein this morning.

Our guide reminded us of the events and context which brought the suffering, horrors and importance into strong relief. We held a minute’s silence and she laid a wreath at the Memorial and Cemetery.

My blip is of the stunning and dramatic entrance to the Military Museum.

We had strong security as we sped along the motorway - a powerful contrast to the dreadful roads and gridlock in the city. Perhaps the fact that there are a number of military establishments and oil refineries may also have a lot to do with this. It is also the route along which numerous juggernauts take exported fruit and other goods as far as the Libyan border (600 miles away) where they are transferred to Libyan vehicles.

We passed Alex West - a huge development of modern flats, shops, communal rooms, amenities and hotels. Many are moving out of the crowded city into this enormous and totally Western complex. This is just before all the huge resort complexes, along El Sahel, the stunning blue Mediterranean coast.

Before we arrived there we drove through the wetlands, part of the Nile Delta (egrets and herons and lots more).

The route also took us past two important archaeological sites, now closed to the public.

Taposiris Magna and the Monastery of St Menas (Abu Mina).

Tomorrow we’re off to Wadi Natrun. This is an amazing trip.