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You step out of the shade of your home and feel the blazing golden sun on your skin.

Tempered by the cool breeze blowing off the middle sea, the gentle ocean wind coming from

the north tugs at the extra fabric of the tunic around your legs. Heading out of the yard,

you let your hand run over the rough sandy coloured bark of your favourite sickermal.

It's a young tree transplanted here recently, like most of the buildings and most of the people.

This year is 241 BCE, and the entire city of Alexandria is less than a hundred years old.

As you head down the hill, you duck in and out of the shade in the Egyptian quarter of town.

Hints of the fishing village that stood on the place that became Alexandria are visible all around.

You catch glimpses of Egyptian lotus columns throughout this part of the city.

The decorative sections at the top, called capitals, are carved into intricate and beautiful flower petal shapes.

There's even the occasional old modern brick home or shed tucked away among the modern,

trust-roofed Greek fillers. This is your favourite part of the walk.

You start at a street corner and let the procession of a noble mumparade go by lazily.

A train of impeccably robed servants passes by with an important looking man at the head,

riding a beautiful Egyptian stallion.

Glancing down the hill, you can see between the gaps in the buildings.

There, over the blue-green sea, stands the lighthouse of Alexandria.

It was only finished recently, but it still takes your breath away.

...