(Atop a mountain of salt near Port Said)
I traveled to Egypt for the first time during my junior year of college. It was spring semester of 1999 and I was studying abroad in Jerusalem. My entire cohort traveled overland from Jerusalem to Cairo via four large buses. As we rode the ferry across the Suez Canal from Port Fuad to Port Said, they told us that we were crossing from Asia into Africa. My first glimpse of Africa was at sunset. I’ll never forget the sight of that setting sun. Little did I know then that I’d return someday to Port Said with four kids in tow.
Now, let’s pause before we go any further and make sure we are all pronouncing the name of this town correctly. I don’t mean to be the pronunciation police (alright, maybe I do) but let’s just try this together. “Said” is pronounced sah-eed. Now, let’s take this one step further. If you really want to sound like you know what you are talking about, pronounce “Port” like this – boor. All together now: boor sah-eed. There you go! Now you are talking like a local.
Port Said attracted a bit of attention a while back when the Floating Library came to call. I was happy to see interest in the seaside town grow, but the fact is that Port Said has always been a great little place to visit. In its heyday, if you went to Port Said, you always came back with chocolate. It was famous for its duty-free chocolate. You can still buy discounted chocolate in Port Said, but if you ask me there’s much more to the town than chocolate.
Presenting Jamila’s Top Five Reasons To Visit Port Said:
- The Ferry. There’s something special about passing from one continent to another. Take the ferry from Port Said to Port Fouad and – viola! – you are in Asia. You can either walk or drive onto the ferry. If driving, you may find yourself waiting in quite a queue to board the ferry, but it is worth it, especially if you intend to visit the Salt Mountain on the other side in Port Fuad. Oh, and the seagulls are plentiful and bold.
(Enjoying the seagulls on the ferry from Port Said to Port Fuad)
- The Salt Mountain. This is a weird little place but seriously fun for the kids. They can’t get over it: mountains of hard and crusty salt. Salt you can stand on. Salt you can climb on! Salt caves you can play hide-and-go-seek in. This is a crowd pleaser.
(King of the Salt Mountain in Port Fuad)
- Ferial Garden. While not especially large, this pretty little garden features a large map of Egypt imprinted on the ground of the park’s central plaza.
(Ferial Garden in Port Said)
- The ice cream. Ask anyone and they’ll tell you: when in Port Said, you must try the multi-flavored wedge of ice cream known as cassata. You may be familiar with the Italian sponge cake by the same name, but this treat is more like a Neapolitan ice cream cake. You’ll find it at the locally famous Salsabila. I also recommend the shawarma stand next door.
(Wedge-o-Ice Cream (AKA cassata) in Port Said)
- The beach. We don’t come to Port Said to sunbathe, but we absolutely enjoy stopping by this wild and lonely beach on the way out of town. Whatever beach you choose, you’ll know you are in good company with the holiday-makers and chocolate-seekers who have been coming to Port Said for generations.
(Wintery day on a Port Said beach)
As you may have figured out by now, I have a special place in my heart for the forgotten or little-known nooks and crannies of Egypt. Port Said is no exception. Maybe I want these gems to stay hidden from the masses, but I don’t mind if you know about them. Go ahead – plan your trip to Boor Sah-eed. I’ll see you there!
(Believe me…it’s all salt)
