Seeking beauty in Alexandria
From boredom to Footnotes
"For Alexandria lies, as it were,
at the conjunction of the whole world."
- Dio Chrysostom
Whenever I am in Alexandria, I like to go places on foot. Strolling around, wandering through the neighborhoods and alleys, I take in the vibes, colors and energies of the present and the past.
In February a post about a free walking tour had caught my attention and I instantly felt the urge to join. I had to wait two months for a free spot to coincide with my time in town.
“Hi, you must be Monique”, Wafaa and Juan, a lovely Guatemalan-Egyptian couple, welcome me with bright smiles.
Our small group is a mix of locals, expats and visitors. A conscious choice of the organizers; they like to connect with the participants and provide the perfect setting for it. The walk takes us through historical Fouad street, which is lined by buildings radiating the atmosphere of the past. I know the street well and have walked every inch of it many times. This time I hear about the history of its architectural masterpieces, about the people who designed them and the families who owned them. Hidden in plain sight on the facades Wafaa points out a family arm, a name, a year or decorations varying from art nouveau to Greek and Roman styles.
“We were bored”, Juan answers with a big smile, when I ask what inspired them to start the walking tours.
Going for a coffee on their day off, had no longer done the trick. One weekend they had escaped to Cairo, after all there wasn’t much to do in Alexandria. There and then it dawned upon them, that Alexandria must have its hidden gems too. And if they did not yet know about their city’s beauty, it might be up to them to explore and share these treasures.
And so it happened. The idea for Footnotes was born.
As an Alexandrian with a background in Egyptology, Wafaa loves sharing stories. Juan is a Guatemalan cultural mediator, who is passionate about travel. With complimentary skills and a shared love for hidden treasures, they started seeking beauty in Alexandria in their free time. A whole new layer of the city opened up to them. Many an hour is spent researching in libraries, door bells are rung to talk to current owners and with a bit of luck they even trace descendants of the families, who had the buildings designed and built.
Back in 2022 my friend Yolanda shared her love for Alexandria with me; on my first time in town. Like Wafaa and Juan, she took me on a tour along hidden gems. It kindled my love for Alexandria beyond the crowds and its crazy traffic, and created the space to feel my deep connection to the city.
Only a few months ago they were bored. Now Juan and Wafaa push themselves and each other, growing to new levels, in their quest to seek beauty in Alexandria. Friday mornings have been turned into a chance to share their passion and to meet people. They not only create valuable experiences for themselves, they also gave one to me.
Being close to the two Sekhmets, I feel the call to visit them before I fly out later that day. Juan joins me, interested in learning about one of my treasures.
Recharged and light-footed I walk back through sunny Alexandria, feeling happy that I followed up on the urge to book a spot on the walking tour and with gratitude to its creators.
If your path leads to Alexandria, don’t miss out on the chance of joining Wafaa and Juan. You can book your spot at: https://www.cityfootnotes.com/home.
Book timely, their tours are gaining momentum and places fill up quickly.
Or follow them at Instagram.
Interested in seeing more of Alexandria through the eyes of a professional photographer? Check out the Instagram page of Hossam. His eye for beauty is truly inspiring. You can even find some pictures of the walking tour on his page.