Tripoli, Libya Reviews and Ratings

In 2005 I had the unique opportunity to travel with a group of women to Libya. We are a delegation who seeks to promote friendship and support to other women across geogrpahical boundaries and cultural differences. It was the first time I had ever traveled overseas and I made my way to Libya solo after missing connections with the rest of my traveling group. I arrived at the airport in Tripoli after midnight and walked out of customs to a crowd of male taxi drivers shouting to me in Arabic. It was a bit disconcerting but I took comfort in knowing the Libyan gentleman I had spoken to on the flight was a few steps behind me in customs and he had offered to help me find a taxi to take me to the Corinthia Hotel where my group was staying. It was only a few minutes before I saw a driver holding a sign with my name on it. That was a relief and he and the tour guide who had been sent to fetch me were polite and respectful as they safely transported me to the hotel. The kind Libyan I had met on the plane checked to be sure I was alright before he left to go to his home.For the rest of the 10 days we were in Libya the Libyan people I met were gracious warm and genuine. They were always generous willing to share whatever they had. We were accompanied by a delightful guide and bus driver and at all times escorted by a government agent. The agent himself was smiling and posing for pictures by the time our journey through that amazing country was finished. The ruins are breathtaking the history is stunning the Mediterranean coast near Cyrene is biblical - both figuratively and literally!While there I never once felt uneasy as a woman or as an American. Though most of the Libyan women we met continue to wear traditional garb it is their choice to do so. There were several women who were freely dressed as we were. Food was delicious and the accomodations at the Corinthia hotel were luxurious. I would travel to Libya again in a heartbeat!