Rashid (Rosetta)

About an hour and 15 minutes east of Abu Qir (lhr. east of Alexandria) stretches the northern edge of the Nile Delta. Immediately past the barrages the river divides in half, flowing into the Mediterranean at the two ports of Rashid (Rosetta) in the west and Dumyat (Damietta) in the east. The Rosetta Stone was. yes indeed, discovered near Rosetta. The port drips with Islamic architecture; scattered throughout the town are dozens of provincial Ottoman mosques and houses from the 17th and 18th centuries. The town is also famous for its dates (date season is Sept.-Oct.).

Orientation & Practical Information The best place from which to orient yourself in Rosetta is the Arab Killy House, also called the Rosetta Museum. Turn left from the bus stop and walk past tlie scores of noxious fish stands until you reach the corniche, then take another left and continue about 0.5km until you see a large howitzer on your left. This is Al-Hurriya Sq., and the Arab KiUy House is just behind the howitzer on the right. While the museum is basically a bust (see Sights), the staff is more helpful and speaks better English than that of the Misr Travel office across the street (tel. 80 79 85). Tourist police can be found in Al-Hurriya Sq.