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. As of August 2011, I guess the images will change very soon.

A banner in Green Square, Tripoli. The 38 represents Colonel Gaddafi's years in power. He almost made it to 42 years, but was deposed at the end of August 2011.

Muammar Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi, leader of Libya from 1969 to 2011 - Tripoli

A hive of activity at Green Square, Tripoli

Green Square has been renamed Martyrs' Square by the new regime - 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

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