I had faced enough quizzical eyebrows at airport passport checks to guess what was coming. The same scene had played out for decades as customs officials had sceptically queried my town of birth.
'You were born in Alexandria? In the UK?'. My well-rehearsed reply earned a satisfied smile, and our passports got dually stamped.
I didn't have the language skills to inform him about the deeds of Alexander Smollett, so for a short time only, Alexandria near Loch Lomond became one of many places that took the name of the greatest conqueror known to man, Alexander the Great.
The difference between this and previous encounters was we were in the land of the original Alexandria. My wife and I had come to the Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt for a week of autumn sunshine.
Sharm is known as The Land of Peace. It has regularly been chosen as a summit venue to thaw world conflicts and heal fractured relations.
In the very month of our break presidents, prime ministers and diplomats jetted in to announce new positive steps toward peace.
For us, there was no need for dramatic reconciliation. We merely sought tranquil respite from our daily routines and the responsibility of being mum and dad.
The direct flight took less than six hours from Glasgow. We arrived late in the evening, but the remaining warm desert breeze brought instant smiles.
The Gaelic saying 'Ceud mile failte' sprung to mind as we were met by a whirlwind of enthusiastic greetings. (It means a hundred thousand welcomes.)
Like the Scots, our excellent guide Sam explained that Egyptians pride themselves on their hearty hospitality. The sea of friendly faces and sincere offers of help were reminiscent of the best of home.
We drank our first cold beers under the stars to Egyptian hospitality on the terrace of the stunningly beautiful Rixos hotel.
Rixos is the epitome of bespoke luxury. Every wish is catered for, down to the finest detail.
Each swimming pool comes with a tailored playlist to suit the mood and musical preference of each guest.
Some pools had swim-up bars, others were quieter and more formal, but all were the perfect setting for a cocktail or coffee. If guests are tempted to over-indulge on the delicious fare, as we often did, there is even an on-call golf cart available to ferry you back home.
Each of the à la carte restaurants seemed to be more delicious than the last. The Turkish, BBQ and Indian restaurants were all superb.
Surprisingly, the meal I enjoyed most was in the Palm restaurant (the main dining area). With only a few humble ingredients, a pasta chef turned olive oil, garlic, chilli and cherry tomatoes into culinary gold. There was more than one alchemist in Egypt, after all.
Our junior suite was directly across from the main restaurant, but our resolution to cherish every moment meant we often meandered to breakfast via the beach. The sound of the rolling surf and warming sands offered instant revitalisation.
On several occasions we were lucky enough to view a hovering osprey selecting his own breakfast high above the clear blue sea.
The motto of the hotel was, 'Let Yourself Go'. With our energy levels brimming, who were we to argue? We set sail on a Red Sea snorkelling cruise for an experience we'll never forget.
The harbour was bustling. Excited yells were heard in a chorus of languages as we headed to waters near Tiran Island in the Gulf of Aqaba. The coral reefs teem with exotic fish of every colour imaginable, in the world's biggest and best aquarium. Nemo fish (correctly known as clownfish) were everywhere - and finding them was surprisingly easy.
You don't have to be an expert swimmer either, as there are lifejackets or trusty crew members diving beside you, for those not comfortable swimming in the open sea.
On the way back to port, we spotted the very famous and photogenic Farsha Café. Built into the cliffside, we had to visit before going home. It didn't disappoint.
The sun lowered slowly as the countdown bells began. As we sipped our last sundowners in Sharm, the warm fragrant air carrying different scents of oud, felt hypnotic. The bell shook as it rang and at once, the entire cliffside, the seawater below and a wall of phone flashes lit up.
Even for a cynical half-centenarian like me, it felt as if there was a little magic surrounding us.
Just as Egypt in ancient times was a melting pot for trade, learning and pilgrimage. A recent upsurge in tourism has brought travellers returning in droves.
There is so much to see and do in Sharm El Sheikh that one visit doesn't do it justice. We were completely captivated, so much so, that we have decided to return next year with our youngest son - back to the land of a hundred thousand welcomes.