Our one day trip in Libya. Discovering ancient cultures.
Approdo with our cruise ship in Tripoli in the early morning today and will visit Leptis Magna (but discover only after) we will have time to make a quick visit to the city of Tripoli.
Just got on the bus that will take us to the archaeological site of Leptis Magna, we know our guide an Italian who speaks almost perfect, because, he tells us, the tv is now clearly visible again.
Francesco and I were very excited to arrive in this country that there really for the people, landscapes and the beautiful desert but hear talk today .... the tour is only in places that I have already mentioned.
But just got on the bus, something or rather someone, reminds us that this country is still a dictatorship with the guide go with us two men identified as "men of the government" and that will accompany us throughout the journey to protect the our security. These words leave us somewhat perplexed and frightened even if, in the evening, in retrospect, the presence of two police did not seem so devoted to our security (for what we have seen, there was nothing from which to be protected) but the control of what the guide could tell us: in fact, the first application of one of our traveling companion on the conditions of life which requires the dictatorship, just our guide, who was always friendly and available, it was tightened a bit .. .. as if you could not talk too much.
After this first impact, our coach trip begins at a time of Leptis Magna, a site built in Roman times and that was very well preserved because it remained for a long time completely covered by desert sand.
The journey to reach the archaeological site takes just over an hour and the windows you can have a little taste of everyday life, today is Friday and public holiday here in Libya and in fact on the streets, people are really close .. ... Indeed, men are few, because all day we only saw two women.
Libya is a country poor but developing, and if life in the countryside is still second place typically rural rhythms (the window we saw a family with lots of apec and camel sitting behind !!!), beautiful .... cities like Tripoli resemble somewhat our of a few decades ago.
Arrived at Leptis Magna are the other coaches of tourists and their guides, but there is no confusion on the tourist that we expect to see: our tourism is being developed only recently, so we still feel one of the first to be able to visit this place so fascinating.
The day was sunny, but even though we are in Africa, the temperature is around 14-15 degrees .... and I have to buy the throat with a scarf sincermante ... I would have expected a summer heat, but here the large heat is felt towards July and August, with peaks of 45 degrees too!
On the other hand, better this way: the temperature was too high of an impediment to our visit: the website is really great and well kept.
Us now a great arc formed by the port city, which is still intact in some ways and whose winding streets in a way very similar to what was to be the original.
Leptis Magna is located by the sea, affecting also the beautiful color contrast between them: the ocher stone, blue sea and the pink flowers that grow everywhere here and they frame the ancient stones.
The best part of the site is undoubtedly the ancient theater is very well preserved, and once climbed high stairs, you can have a beautiful view of the Mediterranean sea.
The basilica, the calidarium tiepidarium and deserve a break and even these monuments are very well preserved despite the time and despite the incursions of the Vandals who were here to ruin especially statues representing human figures and what were the routes estrmità such as breasts, arms or noses.
We visit until lunch, then when our guide takes us to the tents where we will be served a typical Libyan dish: eat in these colorful curtains, where the locals has prepared for us with tables and chairs and where we can enjoy a delicious cous-cous, a broth that tastes spicy and sweet and many fruits, especially dates ... that I love and who are truly wonderful!
In the afternoon we go to visit the circus and dell'anfiteratro maximum, which are few kilometers from the site and both of which face the sea and then return to the archaeological site and see a bit in a hurry, the museum of Leptis Magna.
The visit to the city of Tripoli is not included in our itinerary, but our traveling companions insist on seeing and so the time stops at Leptis are much reduced.
During the path toward the capital of Libya notice as there are (and there were not even close to the port) billboards or any image: the only icon is always shown and only one of Colonel Gaddafi, who is always portrayed un'epressione with a winner.
Arrived in Tripoli bus makes a stop in the square of the mosque, where there is a bar and where our fellow travelers in their place to drink and smoke a Narghile (but did not want to see the city? ... Mah!), While we are away for a mezz'oretta of the city.
In turn there is a lot of people, but I, as a western woman, I feel particularly observed even if not wearing any clothes suiccinto, but long pants and maglioncino ... but obviously we nell'occhio the same and this creates a bit of discomfort ... so deciamo to stop the green square and not go into the Medina, including issues of lack of time.
The Green Square is typically Italian, it is surrounded by buildings constructed in the 50s and remember that our very architecture of that period: first the square called Piazza Italia, and then, after the revolution of 1 September 1969, the the name was changed to Green Square, also because of the color of balconies, windows and flags around the square.
Unfortunately our visit comes to an end: we have only time to shoot the latest photos first to return to coach that will take us to the ship: I would like to leave one last message that the guide told us leaving "The best gift you can do to Libya is back in Italy and say that here is good people that ".......-done!