Libyan Adventure – Part One

Hello Dear Reader

We I am currently sat in my room with the Air Conditioning on trying to cool down, while I read reports on twitter and the news about how snow is falling in the UK.

As I have previously mentioned I have travelled to Libya for about 3 weeks with work. We are supporting the General Company for Gas Transportation and Distribution in the construction of a 190km pipeline across the Libyan Desert.
We are in a place called Area 103 which is about 60km west of the town of Jalu the push pin below is and approximation of where we are.

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I started the week in Tripoli, flying in on a Sunday and being collected from the Airport. I have walked though many airports and seen people standing with signs and always thought it would be nice to be met like that make yourself feel important.
Well I have now had my sign moment and well I did not feel as important as I thought I would, maybe because in Tripoli airport there are so many people with signs everyone was being collected.

Leaving the airport we headed into the city and it was one of the top 5 most terrifying car journeys I have ever been it. To be honest the top 4 all happened on this trip, driving in Tripoli is only for the brave.
You have a motorway style road where people are over taking undertaking driving with half the car in one lane half the car in the other lane. It seem you just point the car in one direction and drive straight at 120km/h if the road curves you only turn if you have to so people come right across the front of you as they drive straight across a bend.

Once you come off the larger roads on to a duel carriage way type road, you find the situation were there are two lanes of road but four lanes of traffic and possibly five if there is a junction. Ok we are now only doing 80km/h but still, when you going along and all of a sudden there is a crossroad with two cars half way across the road trying to turn left (They drive on the other side to use) and the driver gives a gentle toot on the horn and swerves round behind them, I just closed my eyes and held on.

Then there are the pot holes in the road which I think put the craters on the moon to shame.

Still apart from that Tripoli is self was dated but very friendly, despite my run in with the hotel over exchanging money – they saw me coming a mile off – I never felt in any danger walking the streets or exploring.

I managed to have half a day in central Tripoli exploring the old town, seeing the souks of the Medina with their colour and variety the hustle and bustle of people everywhere. It is a place you can get lost walking down an ally and find various spice trader or gold traders. I am no expert and some of the merchandise looked less than genuine but some look very authentic.

I finally weaved my way to the far end of the Medina where the Arch of Marcus Aurelius can be found a roman structure stood in all is glory and previously one of the main entrances into the City.

I also managed to attach myself to the back of an Italian walking tour and visit the inside of a mosque taking some wonderful photos.

I closed off the evening by walking back to my hotel and stopping in a less that authentic eating establishment to have a chicken kebab and salad and bread.

I was a real eye opener to some very extreme ranges on living circumstances, from the brand new Marriott Hotel with it fancy light show on the outside to the poverty of people collecting plastic bottle from the rubbish dumps in the derelict parts of the old city.

Up next the flight out to the desert…

TTFN

K

TTFN

Kiff

©ChrisMeadows2012

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