Jarek Dobrowolski and Lee Salisbury at the entrance to the complex built by the Mamluk sultan al-Mansur Qala'un in historic Cairo. Photo: Anne Salisbury

As part of an amazing Mediterranean cruise along the North African coast, longtime ARCE member Anne Salisbury and her husband spent three days visiting ARCE projects around Cairo. Here, she details what it was like to see "ARCE in action."

"Lee and I visited ARCE's headquarters in Cairo. I had been there in 1992 and what a difference now. Office space has been greatly expanded and an adjacent residence for scholars added. One enters to find a receiving desk and then a wide, gracious and spacious area with couches and low tables where tea is always served. Offices are on the other side in a set of adjoining separate rooms and the library is further beyond in a most efficiently arranged space.

Director Gerry Scott and assistant Jane Smythe arranged for us three days of introduction to ARCE activities in Cairo. We can all be very proud of what ARCE is doing. Andrew Bednarski took us to the Egyptian Museum to see the ARCE-initiated electronic database for cataloging the collection. We watched young women typing in information from very old volumes into which items had originally been entered in hand writing a century or so ago. When the cataloging is complete one will be able to finally easily access information about what is in the museum. And new clean labels will be able to be printed to fully identify items on display. What a fabulous contribution to Egypt!

Jarek Dobrowolski [Technical Director for the Egyptian Antiquities Conservation Project] walked us through historic (Islamic) Cairo pointing out mosques, sabils and other monuments that have been restored to the delight and great appreciation of its contemporary inhabitants. The conservation work requires detailed and exacting attention to what the monument was once like and how best to achieve that likeness again but with surety that it will be preserved for the future because proper materials are used. The end results we saw were splendid! Jarek met and conversed with colleagues and workers who made it apparent that they liked him. Another tribute to ARCE--that ARCE people relate so well to the people they benefit.

I cannot tell you how impressed we were/are with all that ARCE is doing in Cairo. ARCE work really is a service to a country in need and the future at large."