
LIBYA
Location - North Africa; Capital - Tripoli; Population - 6.5 million; Currency - Libya Dinar MORE LIBYA
A guide is compulsory when visiting Libya as a tourist, so I booked an 8-day tour of Libya via Arkno Tours in October 2007.
The one Libyan Dinar note features Colonel Gaddafi
A banner in Green Square, Tripoli. The 38 represents Colonel Gaddafi's years in power
Muammar Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi, leader of Libya since 1969 - Tripoli
A hive of activity at Green Square, Tripoli
Green Square - Tripoli
Enjoying a drink overlooking Tripoli's harbour
Night falls on the harbour, Tripoli
The Red Castle, overlooking Green Square, houses the National Museum - Tripoli
The Volkswagen Beetle which Gaddafi used leading up to the revolution - National Museum, Tripoli
Gaddafi in his early years as leader - National Museum, Tripoli
A painting in Tripoli depicting a young Gaddafi discussing the revolution
Visit Gaddafi's website here
Lest we forget how long Gaddafi's been around.. Tripoli
And the date of the revolution? September 1st 1969 - Tripoli
1st September Street, Tripoli
This mosque, in Algeria Square (or Maydan al-Jazayir), is a converted cathedral - Tripoli
Arkno Villa is on this street, about a 10 minute walk from Tripoli's Old City
The Arch of Marcus Aurelius is a relic of the Roman era, dating back to 163AD. Tripoli was built on the former Phoenician and Roman city of Oea
The quiet souqs (markets) of Tripoli's Old City during Eid celebrations
Souq al-Mushir leads to the Ottoman Clock Tower, Old City, Tripoli
Old City market, Tripoli
The Old City, or Medina - Tripoli
Old City, Tripoli
The narrow streets of the Old City, Tripoli
A teapot overflowing with mint leaves - Tripoli
On the road to Sabratha
The 2nd/3rd century AD Roman ruins of Sabratha, 65kms west of Tripoli
The communal latrines afford great views of the Mediterranean - Sabratha
For a Wikipedia guide to Sabratha, click here
Sabratha had a population of around 35,000
Original mosaics on the floor behind the Roman Theatre, Sabratha
Sabratha's Roman Theatre could accommodate about 5,000 spectators
The three-storey columns of the Theatre's stage wall, Sabratha
The fortified granary storehouse of Qasr al-Haj
This 12th century storehouse housed the village's cereals/food and acted as a fortress (Qasr means castle) - Qasr al-Haj
There are 114 storerooms at Qasr al-Haj
The group investigate - Qasr al-Haj
Walking along the top storey of Qasr al-Haj
A photo taken from inside one of the Qasr al-Haj storerooms
It's a fascinating place to visit - Qasr al-Haj
An ancient olive press at Nalut's old city, close to the Tunisia border. Olives were crushed using the stone wheel, then placed into a weaved bag (back right). The oil oozes out by lowering the wooden trunk on to the sack
Qasr Nalut, or Nalut Castle, has more character than Qasr al-Haj. It's storerooms are placed in every nook and cranny, accessed via paths and stairways
Qasr Nalut's fortified granary storerooms, which date to around the 11th century
Our guide Salim stands on one of Qasr Nalut's storerooms
Above one of the storerooms is the Hand of Fatima, a sign of good luck - Qasr Nalut
The olive oil jars were built into the walls of Qasr Nalut
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LINKS
www.libyaonline.com/tourism
www.libyan-tourism.org - Libya tourist board
I am not responsible for the content of external websites.
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