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Saturday, February 26, 2011

Alexandria is a popular tourist attraction


Alexandria: A city of art and culture is Situated in the northern part of Egypt on the coast lies Alexandria.

In ancient times, Alexandria was one of the world’s most famous cities. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, Alexandria was the main Greek city in Egypt and then came under Roman influence until 430 BC. It remained Egypt's capital for nearly a thousand years, until the advent of Islam in 641 AD.

The city is famous for its Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Standing between 115 and 150 meters high, it was among the highest structures of the world — second only to the Pyramids. The city is peppered with Roman and Greek buildings and ruins.

Another thing Alexandria is famous for is its tram system, which consists of 38 stations. It is one of only three non-heritage tram systems in the world that use double-deck trams cars. The other two are in Blackpool, England, and Hong Kong.

Buildings in Alexandria are pieces of art in themselves. Each building tells a story of the people who made the city their home and the architects that built and then subsequently renovated them. When renovating buildings, people tend to preserve the old Roman style by carrying out basic repairs and adding color.

The streets of Alexandria are like open-air museums due to the number of art pieces and sculptures that overwhelm streets and the seafront. The fence surrounding the city’s armed forces hospital is an open museum in itself featuring different paintings on marble. These paintings were done by art students in the city’s colleges and universities.

Friday nights in Alexandria are marked for open-air weddings where visitors can see newly married couples making merry along with guests in streets for all to see.

“Many people here are poor and cannot afford a ballroom to celebrate their weddings. They find it cheaper and much more enjoyable to go downtown to the seafront to gather with their loved ones and enjoy an affordable night out,” said a taxi driver.

Fifteen miles east of Alexandria along the coast lies El-Montazah Park and a large number of modern hotels. A favored tourist spot, El-Montazah is a big plot of land consisting of gardens constructed during the reign of the Khedive Abbas II. The royal family's habit of gathering in the area during the hot summers continues till this day with wealthy Egyptians and tourists also frequenting it.

On the other side of the waterfront and in a quieter part of the city lies the Bibliotheca Alexandrina that was inaugurated in 2003 near the site of an old library called the Royal Library of Alexandria. The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is situated right across the street from Alexandria University and encompasses a small cafeteria, making it the ideal place for students to study.

A US medical team visited the Kingdom last week to seek partners to conduct cooperative programs


Dr. Barth A. Green, professor and chairman of Neurological Surgery at the University of Miami.
A US medical team visited the Kingdom last week to seek partners to conduct cooperative programs on injuries relating to the spinal cord and the brain.

The Saudi Arabia to carry out a partnership program in research, treatment and education on spinal cord and brain trauma injuries considering the current medical needs of the Kingdom in the particular field," said Dr. Barth A. Green, professor and chairman of Neurological Surgery at the University of Miami.

Green, who led a medical team from the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, met with the key officials of leading hospitals in the Kingdom during his three-day tour to the capital.

“The Kingdom has recorded the highest number of brain and trauma injuries in the world,” said Green, adding that the main cause of the high incidence in the Kingdom is solely due to traffic accidents.

He also said that studies had shown that brain injury caused to newborn babies could also be prevented by lowering the infant’s body temperature within 24 hours of delivery. “Lowering the body temperature following cardiac arrest increases the chance of survival among patients who have undergone heart attacks,” he said.

He said the world spends some $50 billion on spinal cord injuries and the expenditure is manifold on brain injuries. Green also described the increasing incidence as a socioeconomic burden.

In 1985, Green founded The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis. Today, The project is the world’s most comprehensive spinal cord injury research center, housed in the Lois Pope LIFE Center, a Center of Excellence at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

The Miami Project’s international team of more than 200 scientists, researchers and clinicians take innovative approaches to the challenge of spinal cord injury. The project team is lead by W. Dalton W. Dietrich, professor of neurological surgery, neurology and cell biology and anatomy, who was also a member of the visiting team.

Green said there is a large number of Saudi medical students studying both in and out of the Kingdom, but the students who are specializing in the field of brain and spinal cord injuries are few. He said that his institution could train a section of these students in this particular field, which has a high demand for qualified personnel in the Kingdom. “Our focus is on medical, surgical, clinical and rehabilitative programs among patients affected by brain and spinal cord injuries,” he said.

Explaining some of his projects, he said neuro protection researchers focus on understanding the damage that occurs during the hours and days after traumatic injury. “With a better understanding of the early injury processes, Miami project scientists are designing and testing specific therapies to prevent damage, rescue neurons and preserve nerve function," he said, adding that the new knowledge is also contributing to the design of repair strategies.

Mumbai International Boat Show saw Gitanjali Lifestyle hosting a spectacular fashion show


Mumbai International Boat Show saw Gitanjali Lifestyle hosting a spectacular fashion show .Designer James Ferreira showcased an amazing collection of classic yet trendy garments with perfect cuts and a range of colours and styles which was complemented by dazzling diamond studded jewellery from Giantti.

Surveen Chawla dazelled everyone with exquisite Giantti jewellery and statement-making watches from Morellato, Chronotec and others.

Gitanjali representative Gilles Moutounet, Vice President — International Business, Gitanjali Group, was also present. The event was presented by Bezel, the watch store from GLL, and Maya by Gitanjali Lifestyle, a multi-brand lifestyle department store focusing on luxury and premium retailing segment.