When we reached the fortress, most of us were pretty excited to see the Mediterranean. After six days in Cairo, it was very refreshing to breathe the fresh sea air. I personally had been plagued by a cold for a few days,  which began to loosen as soon as we stepped off the bus.

As a history major, visiting this fortress was quite an experience for me. Despite being centuries old, the fortress is still very well preserved and largely intact (thanks in part to some recent renovations). It’s made of beautiful white stone, which stands out against the blue Mediterranean. Going into the fortress was very exciting for me, considering all the history that has taken place there. The structure was incredibly solid, and it was not hard to see how this fortress had taken several centuries of attacks and survived remarkably intact. Through the small windows, we had an incredible view of the sea.

Granted, I would have preferred to see the Pharos lighthouse, but the fortress was still a highlight of this trip for me.