An amiable evening at the Montaza Palace, Alexandria, rejuvenated our paradigm. Montaza literally means ‘park’ in English, or promenade, walk or stroll. It is about 20 kilometers east of Alexandria’s old district. One has to pay EGP 6 to enjoy the magnificent Montaza Palace and Park, which is certainly a highlight of Alexandria.
This complex is surrounded by great walls from the south, east, and west, and with the beach on its north side. This area used to belong to the Mohamed Ali family, which ruled Egypt from the mid 19th century until 1952. King Abbas II, who built a large palace inside the complex called the Salamlek, started the construction in 1892. Later in 1932, King Fuad built a larger palace called the Haramlik.
However, the Montaza is always associated by many people with the black history of the penultimate King of Egypt – King Farouk, who succeeded his father King Fuad I in 1936.The teenage monarch was enamored of the glamorous royal lifestyle. Although he already had thousands of acres of land, dozens of palaces and hundreds of cars, the king never seemed satisfied with his wealth. He would often travel to Europe for grand shopping sprees.During the hardships of World War II, criticism was leveled at Farouk for his lavish lifestyle. And, as he got older, the king began pilfering objects and artifacts while on state visits abroad, including a ceremonial sword from the Shah of Iran and a priceless pocket watch from Winston Churchill. Common people were also often the victims of the kleptomaniac monarch. His well-known panache for thievery soon earned him the nickname "The Thief of Cairo". This excess would be one of the leading sparks that triggered the 1952 military coup.
The King's alleged corruption in Egypt and defeat during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, led to a military coup on July 23, 1952, directed by Gamal Abdel Nasser, who forced Farouk to abdicate and exiled him to Monaco, where the former king lived the rest of his life. Immediately following Farouk's abdication the monarch's baby son, Fuad II, was proclaimed king, but for all intents and purposes the monarchy had been de facto abolished. In 1953, it was formally abolished and a republic was declared.
The new regime quickly moved to auction off the King's vast collection of trinkets and stolen treasures.Farouk continued to live a lavish life even in exile, and continued his obsessive accumulation of material goods. His gluttony for fine cuisine soon made the former king dangerously obese, weighing nearly 300 pounds (140 kg). On March 3, 1965 he collapsed at the dinner table, following a heavy meal.
Today, after 57 years passed ago, the complex provides varieties of facilities, the 5 Star Helnan Palestine Hotel, acres of Palm garden for the weekend picnickers, Boat club, a Marina, decent Restaurants, Conference Halls, beautiful Mosque, Pine garden, and the virgin beach line. These amenities are very essential for the 4 millions local Egyptian and tourists alike.
Air condition by the Mediterranean breeze, the Palm and the Pine Gardens, will unite one’s mind and soul with the nature and history of the past. The original well-maintained landscape provides the contrast of the pastel desert color and the bluish Mediterranean cools one mind and vision.
These are what the past and the Almighty Creator Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala had given us, the coolness of the mind for us to think and the clear vision for us to see the future, our ultimate destination. Thus, who ever we are; whatever we do and where ever you go, always remember Allah Rabbul Jalil………and, He will remember you.
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