When Rome goes to Libya...

A not to be missed site in Libya is definitely the Roman Ruins in Sabratha and Leptis Magna dating from the 6^th Century BC. Sabratha, Leptis Magna and Oea (Tripoli), were once set up as trading posts by the Phoenicians, later by the Carthaginians and finally by the Romans.

Still standing Theatre in Sabratha..... a historic marvel

So one of the trips on our agenda were definitely Sabratha, Leptis, Villa Sileen and most definitely the Tripoli Museum…..

Mosaics in Villa Sileen

These locations have some of the best standing ruins that exist and most of which …. Although many of the temples, baths, houses and public buildings are now rubble, you can still find the remains of the mosaics, large standing marble pillars, sculptures and every now and there some Latin writing about some Roman Emperor or God… the Tripoli Museum has an amazing collection of Statues and Mosaics……. Not to be missed… I can’t believe it too me a year to actually go and see these things…..

Close your eyes and imagine the hustle and bustle of a Roman Trading post

The newly proclaimed Emperors?

Where all the descisions were made!

Taking a shit in a Roman Toilet...

Still Standing Roman Marble statues preserved in the Museum:

Two Weeks of Libya Discovery

This year my Xmas and New Year did not consist of a big Family Lunch and a night of drinking and partying…. My Xmas has no Santa Clause or Xmas trees, and my 1^st of January did not consist of a terrible hang over but waking up to a sun rise over the Libyan Sand Dunes……. A Xmas and New Year to remember….

It started off with a brainstorm of what to give my parents for Xmas… what do you give two people you love, who have given you everything you want in life and who do not need anything in return?? So that is when I thought that a fully paid 1 week to Libya with me a tour guide would be the perfect present… they not only get to spend one whole undivided week with their dearest daughter, but they also get to see an amazingly beautiful country like Libya……. Thus my parents and little sister came took the 45min flight over to Tripoli
for a week of discovery….

The week started off with a weekend in Ghadames, located about 640 southwest of Tripoli exactly on
the international borders of Tunisia, Algeria and Libya, while standing on a hill we could actually see Tunisia, Algeria and Libya!!!!!!…….

The cobbler making a typical Ghadammes Wedding Shoe

Anyone home??

One of the doors in the Medina... the colour pieces of cloth means that the family did Hajj... those who didn't just have a plain wooden door..

It is a desert oasis town, the old town is amazing, and very much intact….. a sort of labyrinth with little white houses and palm tree doors. The houses in the town are build of prise bricks, lime, palm tree trunks and fronds… actually the only building material at that time… we got the chance of dining a typical Ghadammes meal in one of the authentic houses. The houses are built on two stories, they have a central room for the first floor acting as a kind of courtyard with all the rooms leading off it.

The medina of Ghadammes

Roof Tops

The rooms are lit with an ingenious hole in the high ceiling letting in sunlight that reflects off the white walls and numerous mirrors in the main hall. The upper floors are supported by palm tree trunks covered in mud…..

Dining in a Ghadamsi House

Its a tradition to throw rose water on the person after lunch as a sign of good luck

My parents and I enjoyed a lovely morning exploring the little roads of Ghadammes and a lovely afternoon rolling down the dunes of the desert and eating typical Tuareg bread….

My father realising his dream of doing sumersaults in the desert

Ali making the Tuareg bread in the Sand... it was actually delicious and had no sand!!!

The next stop were the Roman Ruins of Sabratha and Leptis.... those come in the next post...