Libya

Helloooooow !

I’ve just packed my bags, so I’m ready to travel to our next destination ! The others are not ready yet, so it’s the perfect time for me to write something in our blog.

After 3 days in Tripoli, we started travelling through the other cities of Libya. We were told that it’s worthwhile to visit the Leptis Magna (a Roman city in Western Libya) and the Greek ruins of Cyrenen in the East. Both are big tourist attractions, but because they are spread far apart and there was not enough time to visit both of them, we had to choose. Jolien and I preferred the Roman city, but Stijn preferred the Greek city. It was two against one, so Stijn was the loser ! :p I have mercy on him, so to console him I will post a picture of it ! It’s is a picture of the temple of Zeus in Cyrene. How beautiful !!

Our first stop was in in Sabratha, about 80 km of Tripoli. The port was established around 500 BC as a trading post that served as an outlet for the products of the African hinterland. Within a hundred years of the Arab conquest, trade had shifted to other ports and Sabratha changed into a village.

Beside its theatre, Sabratha has temples, Christian basilica and remnants of some of the mosaic floors that enriched elite buildings. There is also a museum containing some treasures from Sabratha, but we haven’t visited it. We didn’t want to pay for something where it’s forbidden to touch anything and where you can only have a look behind glass.

In the photo below, you can see the map of Sabratha.

Yesterday we went to Leptis Magna, the largest Roman city in Libya. It was my definitely my cultural highlight of Libya. Its ruins are some of the most complete and best preserved in the whole region. The theatre has beautiful  panoramic views of the city from its upper tiers. It’s too beautiful for words, just unbelievable ! After taking some pictures, we wanted to make some fun ! Stijn and I made a deal with Jolien. If she dared to sing the Plop-song in the middle of the theatre, she got some free beers of us! HILARIOUS ! I still have no photos of it, but I promise to show them to you as soon as possible ! ;)

Jolien and Stijn are finally ready to leave. They needed more than one hour to make their bags !! Now we must hurry, because otherwise we will miss our flight.

Goodbye friends ! LOVE YOU ALL !!

Elke

http://en.wikipedia.org