Surprisingly, the Libya border crossing was easier than on previous occasions. ‘Tourist Police’ have been given a charm course and Hasan became our minder throughout the process. What is always amusing about traversing from Tunisia into Libya, is that all the officials involved in producing three bits of important paperwork appear to have never done it before, despite there being a steady stream of Euro 4x4s through the border every day. We were through in two hours and in daylight. A bonus. Last night we stayed in a Dept of Antiquities rest house behind the museum at Sabratha. This is little more than a shed, so I slept in the Land Rover. Our evening meal was at a very good Turkish Restaurant on the main road. As we promenaded along the pavement (A Libyan equivalent of strolling through Market Harborough) a local youth was doing massive doughnuts in a big car in the middle of the road. Loads of them! It was Friday night and the equivalent of the weekend. Maybe this is what you get when you deprive people of alcohol. Today we have driven into Tripoli centre. A mayhem of traffic where every gap is regarded as an opportunity for progress. A competitive element came over us to keep up with the locals. Scary, but we arrived here okay and hope to head south into the desert tomorrow morning.
Photos show our last beers for a month in Djerba, Tunisia. Changing money on the black market in Ben Gardena, just before the border and Tripoli traffic!
This is Toby Savage for 1943 Jeep Rebuild Blog 3rd January 2009.
6 comments:
"That was Toby Savage in uncivilised Tripoli, and now to the next news item.....commuters taking the train to miserable, cold and damp Leeds will will today pay an extra 8% for the privilege. Woolworths closes its doors for the last time today, with fixtures and fittings at 2/6 a dozen expected to sell well. As the Government announces plans to ban fatty foods, the Porc Rillettes Growers Association of Rouen have threatened to blacklist Haggis in France...."
Thanks Affer, Pork a bit scarce here oddly enough, but we did smuggle in some bacon flavour crisps!
Hey Affer, we're way ahead in the Capital. I've had the chaps from GovCam round today. They've promised to keep the cables well hidden but insist that my waste bin and fridge are in clear view 'for your own good Guv'nor'. Worryingly, they've wired up the bedroom too but their helpful leaflet assures me that 'whilst you will not, at this moment in time, be surveilled in your bedroom you may wish to consider the consumption of breakfast items (ie toast etc) while propped up in bed reading the Telegraph. Research has shown that you will, one day, die. Toast may well have played a part in your demise. Remember: we know best!'
Keep up the posts Toby, they're great.
Oh Intrepid One! Bravo! Keep up the bloggin' innit. Good stuff. I have been 15 days now without a drink of any alcohol-based product whatsoever, after I briefly hopped off the wagon for Christmas and New Year. That is half a month on top of the six weeks plus before Christmas and I look and feel dreadful. Good luck.
18 days gone, and still no sign of our reporter....I imagine it is all a bit 'Ice Cold in Alex', battling sand-dunes, flies, heat....and then that glass of lager; a little over-poured, the finger tracing the foam down the side of the glass, the big swig....Sylvia Sims....
Thanks for the thoughts. Back in Tripoli and will do a big Blog update in the morning. Meanwhile, where's Sylvia Sims?
Post a Comment