ALEXANDRIA: To visit Alexandria in summer is a routine vacation for most Egyptians, but rarely do we approach it in spring.
Yet small crowds are heading to the different beaches of Alexandria, heralding the start of the summer whose beginnings in the coastal city are marked by fluctuating numbers of beach-goers that gradually increase to reach a peak in July.
At the reputed Mamoura beach, a small number of them were sunbathing or playing basketball, but only few were swimming.
We can t swim now because the water is still cold, said Essam Kamal, 23, from Alexandria. Some [people] are used to swimming in spring but the majority of young people are getting ready for their final exams. But we re happy, because soon the city will begin to have a festive look again after a long slumber, added Kamal.
For Adel Mahmoud, 59, and his friend Khaled, both from Alexandria, this is not the real beginning of summer.
Mahmoud explained: Actually we have three different beginnings: The first is marked by the weather change, which starts now. The second is when primary and intermediate schools close their doors for vacation, which always happens at the beginning of June. The third, which is the real beginning, is in July when high school students end their thanawiya amaa exams [high school] and begin to flock to the beaches along with college students.
Khaled added that these small crowds we see today are only here for the weekend. They are a mix of Alexandrians and visitors who arrive here on a day trip. Tomorrow you might not come across any.
However, Abdel Samee Amer, a fresca vendor, said: True weekends are the busiest during this season but you can t say that the beaches are crowd-free every day.
There are no hard and fast rules for why people should come or stay home. But generally we re happy because at least we start to have some regular business.
Spring is, according to many, the best time for picnics in Alexandria.
This is the time when the city is crowd-free with no pressure on its facilities, when the weather is fine with no storms or rain to spoil your trip, said Mostafa, Hamid and Mohamed Gazal, three archaeology students who came from Fayoum to Alexandria on a day trip.
Gazal noted: It s also the best time to get a real glimpse of the city and its people. Alexandria is really different from other cities and also from how we see it during the peak period in the summer.
Alexandrians rarely go out in summer, said Ahmed Hamada, a native of the city. We usually leave it for vacationers, as we re not used to congested places.
Soheir and Hamdy, a couple from Alexandria, said that this doesn t mean that they’re disturbed by the vacationers.
“Compared to what it was like decades ago, the winter in Alexandria is relatively busy. But we shouldn t deny that summer is important for the city s economy, for lots of places close down temporarily until summer returns.
What the couple said could be seen all around, for many coffee shops, beach restaurants, fiteer (popular pie) outlets and other stores that usually open in summer had their doors firmly shut.
Now preparations are in full swing for the new season, flat owners are putting up for-rent boards, hotels are renovating their interiors, and beach sands are being reworked.
It s pleasant to be in Alexandria in the summer. But it s also worthwhile to experience its spring virginity.
