Since its foundation, Alexandria has been the Egyptian port of entry and departure. Thousands of travelers have passed through the city on their way to Mediterranean and European cities or to holy places or coming to Egypt to accomplish a mission – diplomatic, commercial, scientific – or to satisfy their curiosity in discovering the country and its inhabitants. Each of them had a particular experience, which they sometimes wished to share with their peers through writings, whether intimate or official, drawings, photographs or works of art. The discovery of Alexandria or of Mediterranean and European cities has always been a special moment for these pilgrims, students, artists, and tourists. This is the moment we invite you to discover and explore, while focusing on this double journey, where each one draws from a fertile back-and-forth journey that which they lack and giving an overview of the richness and variety of the intellectual, literary, and artistic exchanges.

On the schedule of the French Institute:

Monday, November 7th at 6:00 PM: Conference “le métier d’un calligraphe africain, une beauté du continent noir” chaired by Mohamed Hassan

Tuesday, November 8th at 7:00 PM: Vernissage of the “ Ports d’Alexandrie : de l’Antiquité jusqu’à nos jours » organisée par le Centre d’Etudes alexandrines (CEAlex) exhibition”

Tuesday, November 8th at 8:00 PM: Play “Pensées et confessions secrètes d’un scooter alexandrin” by the theatrical group Vice versa

Wednesday, November 9th at 6:00 PM: Roundtable and screening of the movie “Chanson du coeur, with French subtitles”, by Wekalet Behna with Sami Helmy and Mohamed Amin as moderators

Thursday, November 10th – 6:00 PM Conference “120 min in Mancheya Square”

led by the architect Mohamed Dessouki

For more information on the full program, visit the Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/JPAlex2010