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Alexandria.

Posted by The KeeperFor group 0
The Keeper
GM, 1325 posts
Tony Stroppa
Sat 8 Aug 2015
at 10:11
  • msg #1

Alexandria

After changing his mind about abandoning his comrades, Professor Fulty disembarked from the White Star liner SS Britannic before she was to start her Atlantic run in Southampton and embarked on a different ship, the SS Egyptian Prince of the Prince line.

The British Prince was instead was on a Mediterranean route, docking in Alexandria to offload some passengers and then Port Said to pick up cargo for the return trip to London.


The trip to Alexandria would take twelve days. Before he departed Southampton Fulty sent a telegram to the home of Alexander Mahfouz in Cairo. He made it back to the wharf with minutes to spare before the Egyptian Prince cast off and was thus unsure if his message had been received. He could only hope, and at least he had a destination in mind once he arrived there.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:43, Sun 09 Aug 2015.
The Keeper
GM, 1327 posts
Tony Stroppa
Sun 9 Aug 2015
at 09:51
  • msg #2

Re: Alexandria

At the beginning of the week, Professor Fulty had some vaguely disturbing dreams. He forgot all about them come morning time.

After a pleasant enough trip aboard the SS Egyptian Prince, Ralph arrived off the coast of Egypt and the port of Alexandria. On a headland off to the right as they passed the harbour entrance was the ancient fortress of Ras el-Tin palace. Below it was a modern lighthouse built upon the Temple of Poseidon. Once in the harbour they passed the warships HMS Warspite and Iron Duke, berthed here during and after the Great War.

Once they arrived at their assigned berth, the Egyptian Prince dropped anchor. Immediately, the ship was surrounded by innumerable small boats. These were boats with tour guides (aka "dragomen") and from the Egyptian hotels and tour companies. It reminded him of something not unlike a feeding frenzy of Piranhas from the deepest Amazon.
Purser O'Brien
Sun 9 Aug 2015
at 09:53
  • msg #3

Re: Alexandria

The purser informed Ralph in a voice with a slight Irish lilt, "'tis the end of the journey, sir. From here, you must take one of them boats ashore and go t'rough customs. I can sell you a rail ticket if you are not planning on staying in Alexandria."
Prof. Ralph T. Fulty
player, 73 posts
Archaeologist
University of Wisconsin
Sun 9 Aug 2015
at 10:48
  • msg #4

Re: Alexandria

In reply to Purser O'Brien (msg # 3):

The twelve days of traveling to Alexandria had been mostly monotonous, with the weather being mostly pleasant. Thankfully, he had brought a few good books along to distract himself from troublesome thoughts. He did continue to wonder about whether his telegram had reached his destination, and at times had wondered if maybe he should have delayed his departure until he had heard news. The dreams that he knew he had, but was not able to remember in the morning, gave him a certain sense of trepidation, though he knew he had made the right choice in pursuing his companions to Egypt.

Upon arriving in Port, he found the whole scene quite amusing. The small ships rushed to and fro, seeking for attention and patronage. When the purser greeted him, he responded, "Why yes, good fellow, I am considering that I may want to get a ticket to head to Cairo as soon as possible. I have a friend that I am a little anxious to meet up with as soon as possible. I did wonder though whether it may be worth my while to seek out some provision for my journeying here in Alexandria before I depart?"

His last sentence almost seemed at first a statement, though in the end, he inflected it as an obvious question. He had a certain unsure feeling still, as his concern about his friend and whether the message had reached him or not still bugged him.
Purser O'Brien
Mon 10 Aug 2015
at 08:18
  • msg #5

Re: Alexandria

The purser opined that the train ride to Cairo would take three and a half hours on the express. If he could wait that long, literally anything that could be bought, sold or made on the spot could be had in its endless markets. Food could be bought on the train if he bought a first class ticket. Otherwise, food could be bought at the station.

"Would you be wanting a first class ticket? That will be one Egyptian pound and sixty-six piastres. I can also change other funds, British pounds or even American dollars, if you have any."
Prof. Ralph T. Fulty
player, 75 posts
Archaeologist
University of Wisconsin
Mon 10 Aug 2015
at 10:45
  • msg #6

Re: Alexandria

In reply to Purser O'Brien (msg # 5):

'Well, I think a first class ticket may be worth my while, and as you say, once I arrive in Cairo, I can definitely find there whatever I may need.'
The Keeper
GM, 1329 posts
Tony Stroppa
Mon 10 Aug 2015
at 11:14
  • msg #7

Re: Alexandria

In reply to Prof. Ralph T. Fulty (msg # 6):

The purser sold Ralph his train ticket, changed some British pounds into Egyptian pounds and Piastres, tipped his hat and then left to attend his duties.

There was a thick smell of coal smoke over the harbour. Overlaid was a stench of fish from the fish market and the many fishing boats that served them.

After randomly paying a boatman a reasonable-seeming fare, Ralph was transferred to the wharf at the Customs house.


OOC: How many bags/suitcases/trunks? Any weapons or drugs to declare (or try and smuggle in)?
Prof. Ralph T. Fulty
player, 77 posts
Archaeologist
University of Wisconsin
Mon 10 Aug 2015
at 13:24
  • msg #8

Re: Alexandria

Aside from his personal bag that he was carrying, Ralph had a trunk of his clothing and a few other assorted necessities for his journey.

Besides this, Ralph carried with him a small revolver, that he felt it wiser to declare at the customs rather than attempt to smuggle. He hoped that they would take kindly to an older gentlemen such as himself, in his standing, to maintain personal defence in a strange land. He also hoped that his credentials with the University would hold him in good stead with negotiating his way through customs.
The Keeper
GM, 1333 posts
Tony Stroppa
Tue 18 Aug 2015
at 21:45
  • msg #9

Re: Alexandria

In reply to Prof. Ralph T. Fulty (msg # 8):

On the water Ralph braved the cacophony of tour guides ("dragomans") and hotel tour boats on the water, shouting "take a tour with us! Stay at our hotel!" to make the wharf. Fighting his way through the crowd to obtain his bags and trunk (each item held by a different dragoman or hotel representative).

He was repeatedly blocked by crafty souvenir sellers hawking small stoppered bottles filled with a cloudy fluid. "Have a Taste of the Nile! Please! Very affordable and a once-in-a-lifetime experience! No, that one is poison! I have the only real Taste of the Nile!" As well, trinket and postcard sellers, foodsellers.

Finally, he was able to fight his way into the wharfside Customs House. His pistol was subject to a stiff permit, which he paid. Finally, he was out the other side and on the sidewalk of the boulevard. From there, he took a horse-drawn cab down the Rue de France past massive European cathedrals to Bab el Gedid station.
This message was last updated by the GM at 11:17, Fri 04 Sept 2015.
Prof. Ralph T. Fulty
player, 79 posts
Archaeologist
University of Wisconsin
Sun 6 Sep 2015
at 05:44
  • msg #10

Re: Alexandria

Ralph settled in a little once in the coach. It was nice to relax a little in the carriage, though the road was a little bumpy. He could not help but consider whether to remain in Alexandria and take in the sights a little. The many ancient cathedrals and sites of interest were definitely something the Professor could lose himself in quite easily. However, as he approached the station, he thought again about the telegram, as yet unanswered, and of his other friends, and thought it best to do what it took to get to Cairo as soon as possible.
The Keeper
GM, 1338 posts
Tony Stroppa
Sun 6 Sep 2015
at 06:40
  • msg #11

Re: Alexandria

In reply to Prof. Ralph T. Fulty (msg # 10):

Once at Bab el Gedid station, a long, low structure over seventy years old, Ralph paid the cabbie and was let off. The platforms were uncovered, steam and smoke rising in a fog.

Many hands eagerly reached to help him carry his bags, or sell him trinkets or food.
Prof. Ralph T. Fulty
player, 80 posts
Archaeologist
University of Wisconsin
Sun 6 Sep 2015
at 11:14
  • msg #12

Re: Alexandria

Paying the carriers for their aid in disembarking his luggage, he shoos away the many pestering salespeople. If he would pay any attention to one, he would be overwealmed by them. If he was to buy one of their wares, even one, he would never be left alone. Once settled at the station, Ralph went to find out when he would be expecting the next train to Cairo. Hopefully, there would be much delay.
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