The Hanging Church, al-Muallaqa or Saint Virgin Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church is one of the oldest churches in Egypt.

It was probably the first Church built in Basilican-style.

The walls of the narrow courtyard are decorated by modern art biblical mosaics.

The chuch is approached by steps, which lead to the entrance and this beautiful courtyard of geometric designs.

The inside of the church is dimly lit, which gives it a more mysterious look. The wooden vaulted roof is in the shape of Noah's ark.

What I loved the most of this detail of the wall is the Coptic Church underneath and the arabic calligraphy on the top. Both give the wall decoration harmony; one can't exist without the other.

The pillars here represent Jesus and the 12 disciples. The black one represents Judas, the traitor, and the grey one represents doubting Thomas.

Entrance to the Hanging Church. The impressive geometric designs are to me the most stunning features of the church.

Hugging Adrian Ulises inside the church. We're standing in front of the pulpit, which surmounts the 13 pillars.

The impressive marble pulpit dates back to the 11th century.

The iconostasis of the central sanctuary is made of ebony inlaid with ivory and it is surmounted by icons of the Virgin Mary and the Twelve Apostles.

One of the oldest icons in the church dates from the 8th century. Many more artifacts and objects of the churches are on display at the Coptic Museum, which is a few minutes walk from the church.

Coptic Christians praying at the church. The Seat of the Coptic Orthodox Pope was historically Alexandria, but after the Arab invasion, Cairo became the official residence of the Coptic Pope at the Hanging Church.

From this point you can look down at the passage where the church was built.

A view from the entrance of the church, looking at the courtyard of the mosaics.

The twin bell towers were added during the 19th century.

The 29 steps to approach the Hanging church.

Next on SpiegelEye travel, more about my day in Coptic Cairo! Keep reading!
Have a great week,
Astrid

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The Hanging Church in Coptic Cairo is one of the oldest churches in Egypt

The Coptic Orthodox Cross is everywhere to be seen.

The Hanging Church in Coptic Cairo

A view from the Hanging Church to the Greek Church of Saint George

With my cousin Adrian walking the streets of Coptic Cairo

 The street lanterns were lighting up the Corniche with a pale yellow shine as the last colors of the sunset were turning the sky into a grayish cloak that gave the buildings along the sea a deconstructed look, a more melancholic touch, as opposed to the pearl-like effect that sunlight grants to the structures bordered by the Mediterranean in this city.

My last hours in Alexandria were spent at the Montaza Park, which is part of the al-Montaza district, the largest of the Governorate by population, with 1.2 Million inhabitants.

Inside Montaza Park, which is in all the meaning of the expression the green lung of the city with a total of 61 ha. of landscape park, there's the Montaza Palace, built by the order of Khedive Abbas II of the Muhammad Ali Dynasty as a hunting lodge. Later on, the Al-Haramlik Palace in Turkish and Florentine style was added to the palace grounds and was used as a summer palace by King Fuad I. This Palace was then turned into the official presidential residence under Anwar al-Sadat and was recently used by Hosni Mubarak until the 2011 Revolution.

We stopped at a bridge facing a beach to look at the impressive Al-Haramlik Palace- the mixture of styles, its size and grandeur, its turned off lights- every detail spoke about the changes that the country has experienced in a very short span of time, and I could start to grasp what it has meant for egyptians. Who knows if the lights will be turned on again, but as a museum? Or maybe it will keep its latest function, but under another ruler?

Al-Haramlik Palace as seen from a bridge near the beach. As you can see, the Montaza Park is a quite affluent neighbourhood with yachts and hotels.

Al-Haramlik Palace by night. The only lights that are turned on are those of the tower.

Saying good-bye to Alexandria.

With more questions in my head than ever, I took a couple of pictures and returned to the car. The temperature had changed: the lovely warm weather of the day was then a cold breeze that made us shiver.It was about time to hit the road and drive back to Cairo.

 Saying goodbye to Alexandria was not that hard. because I simply know I'll be back again. Maybe not this year nor the next one. But in the near future, I intend to visit the city and stay for a longer time. Alexandria, with all its wonders and history, is still a treasure chest which awaits to be opened and explored more profoundly.


Next on the blog, discover the amazing world that is Coptic Cairo! Keep reading!!
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Have a nice day,
Astrid

The best way to understand a new city or country is to look very closely, taking in account every detail that catches your attention. It is through details that we understand the way things get done in a place, rather than focusing solely in large structures/monuments and information contained in museums or books.

Whenever you get the chance to go to a new place, observe meticulously. As if you were looking at yourself into a mirror or talking to someone, examining their faces, lines of expression, dimples and features, look for details that inspire you and appeal to your senses.
In this way, you'll form a very personal idea of a place; descriptions that can only be told by yourself and an approach that is truthful and very personal.

Enjoy discovering and finding yourself through admiring details. Walk streets full of character and stop along the way to perceive what otherwise you wouldn't have noticed first. Linger, take time. I always try to repeat myself: don't be hasty.

A cat rests under a car during sunset in the Anfoushi neighbourhood in Alexandria. Stray cats are a very common sight in egyptian streets.

A little shop selling muslim prayer beads of all sizes and colors at a corner in Alexandria.

Women serving at a restaurant in Alexandria's Anfoushi neighbourhood.

The view of the city skyline as seen from the top of one wall of the Citadel of Qaitbay.

Alexandria University at the Corniche, the waterfront promenade of the city.

A roman pillar standing alone with a clear blue sky as a background. Roman ruins of Kom al-Dikka.

Strategic views of the city and the Mediterranean from the fort in the Citadel of Qaitbay.

The tranquil Mediterranean on a beautiful sunny day.

Alexandria's Corniche is one of the city's busiest streets. It's waterfront promenade invites everyone for a walk, with incredible sights of the Eastern Harbour such as the city skyline, the Citadel of Qaitbay, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the boats and ships off the coast.

The city skyline and beach as seen with sunset light. Photo taken at the famous Tikka-Grill restaurant, where many presidents and chiefs of state have dined during their stay in this city.

A roman bathtub in the ruins of Kom al-Dikka. Perfect for a playful picture.

I hope you have enjoyed the details that I found interesting about Alexandria. It is truly through details that we manage to create personal views and descriptions of a place, which in turn contributes to making the places we visit come alive in a very peculiar way.

In the end, life is all about the details.

On my next post, a farewell to Alexandria from the Montaza Palace! Keep reading!

Follow me on instagram for more travel pics: @spiegeleyetravel
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Cheers,
Astrid 

Following a visit to the Citadel of Qaitbay, we were pretty hungry and on our way to the nearest restaurant. But before this took place, we made a last stop in the Anfoushi neighbourhood to take a look at the Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque, which is by far the most famous of all mosques in Alexandria.

Originally from Murcia, Spain, Al-Mursi was a Sufi saint that moved to Egypt because of the increasing Christian control over Spain (during the Reconquista times). He lived and worked as a Muslim teacher in Alexandria until his death, where his legacy is such that Mursi has become a quite common name in the country and he is one of Egypt's four master saints. 

Details of the domes of the Abu al Abbas al-Mursi Mosque.

Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque was built over the tomb of Al-Mursi.

Details of the dome of the Al Mursi Mosque.

Loving Alexandria.

I must mention that the streets were rather full of garbage.

Details of the dome of the Anfoushi Mosque, how Al-Mursi Mosque is also called.

Ulises and I on a quick photo break!

Alexandria's Anfoushi neighbourhood.

Next time on the blog, more pictures from the streets of Alexandria. Don't miss it!

Happy Monday,
Astrid

Whenever you think you've lost your faith in humanity and things seem to fall out of place, people's faces become blurry and amidst the crowd you don't find a single friendly face that comforts you, don't lose your faith. Hold on to whatever it is that keeps you going. In my case, it is precisely the experiences I've made during my travels and the people I've met, what  turns on a bright light at the end of the dark tunnel of life.

During my trips, I've witnessed the all-encompassing niceness that is inherent to every human being. I've seen broken smiles, poverty in some of the world's most overpopulated cities and worries about economical and political issues, but I've also seen rays of hope, acts of kindness and selfless help provided to a complete stranger on the search of understanding the big and small dreams that everyone has when they go to sleep. It is during these moments that I feel the pulse of Humanity throbbing in my veins; the sense of belonging to something bigger than myself, bigger than all the problems and sorrows that appear in everyday life.

To name a few, I'll dedicate the next pictures to the people that have inspired me in the trips I've taken during these 3 years of college and whose mere existence or short/long term influence in my life have been crucial to come closer to the secrets of the complicated but inspirational events that mold our conception of the world. 

How could I forget the most perfect days spent with one of my best school friends Danilo in Mexico City.We got lost a couple of times in Coyoacán, but there wasn't a single minute which I didn't enjoy.

Cute little Fernanda in Xochimilco, Mexico City hugs me after we started a funny conversation about hobbies, swimming and mexican sweet treats.

The first hours in Bogotá were incredible thanks to the awesomeness of the Caterina family. We had so much fun during our stay. We went from the airport, to eat breakfast and on to the first adventure around the city. In the picture Anto, Giuse and Paolo.

Paolo and me at the Monserrate hill overlooking Bogotá by night.

Juan José's Family owns a Panama Hat Company in the ecuadorean city Cuenca. I enjoyed listening to the pride he feels about his family's business, his city and how important he thinks it is to keep traditions alive. Inspiring.

I couldn't forget to mention THE most epic bus ride of my life with my best friend Giuseppina in Ecuador. The bus driver hit 150 km/h while driving through narrow mountain roads.

I met Mayeli in front of La Compañía Church in Quito's impressive Old Town. We chitchatted about her school and hobbies and exchanged smiles.

During my stay in Paris, I met the young and intelligent Khaled, who has travelled extensively and has some awesome stories from all over the world.

Santa is a vendor of mango salad. I met her durning a photo walk in Panama City's Calidonia neighbourhood. It was the best mango salad I've ever had.

Jordi is a vendor at Khan el-Khalili Bazaar in Cairo. We went there to buy a couple of souvenirs, but what was initially a conversation about prices, turned into a vivid exchange of opinions and an invitation to eat rice pudding.

Turkish journalist Serkan (in the middle) worked at the hostel where I stayed in Istanbul. Every night I went to the common area and we spent hours talking about turkish journalism, movies, politics and life. What a great guy.

On the search for the best views of Hagia Sophia, I followed the advice of the hostel owner and went to the Valide Sultan Hotel in Sultanahmet where I met Mr. Ramazan and shared many cups of tea and turkish coffee with the absolute most breathtaking views of the Historic Peninsula. Unforgettable.

The Lescure Zuleta family. I had so much fun with them and I'm so thankful that they welcomed me with open hands. Here a picture in Coptic Cairo, on one of our many excursions in the city.

I can hardly put in words the wisdom I've been taught during travelling, but here's a short list of what I've learned:

1. Behave. You're a stranger wherever you go. Don't impose your views of the world, accept cultural differences and embrace them.

2. Listen. The joy of travelling and going to far away places is to come in contact with realities that are unfamiliar to you. Enjoy listening and people will open up to you about their lives.

3. Get to know people. Don't ask things such as how much money do you make, what's in your bank account or that kind of stuff. Ask people how they feel and they might let you in. We are so obsessed with digits, money and statistics that we forget the simple and most basic things that we all share.

4. We are not that different from one another. I've come to learn this during these 3 years of college. We sometimes believe that our interests, cultural background or education makes us better than others. The truth is we are all pretty much in the search for the same things: love, friendship, understanding, forgiveness. We must not forget this.

5. Respect everyone. A basic rule for every traveler (well, not just for travelers but for everyone) is to respect the people you come in contact with. You have no idea who might help you, so don't go bossing people around or thinking they should follow your orders.Treat everyone as you want to be treated. 

6.Open your heart and mind to new experiences. I always try to observe this piece of advice. Have a clean heart and conscience. Make peace with your past and with whatever it is you did wrong or could have done better. We underestimate this, but it is in a burning desire to understand our significant others and their realities, that we take the biggest joy. Look at it as a way of learning from yourself. The more open your heart and mind are, the more you will get in touch with yourself.

This list could go on and on... I'm pretty sure you must have travel advices of your own. If you wish to share them just comment below so we can keep learning.

These days we've forgotten what it is to share and learn from one another. Let us never forget that we are who we are thanks to the experiences that have molded our personalities, and mostly, thanks to the people that, in one way or another, have hurted us, loved us, hated us, cared for us.

Have a nice Sunday,
Astrid