Libya - 2 October 2010 (2)

Sabratha

Mausoleum

Temple of Liber Pater

Our first stop was the town of Sabratha, where we were taken to a very nice restaurant.  Vic was the only person to order the set menu with the three courses – he was starting to get famous for his appetite.  Caroline ate nothing.  I had vegetables and rice which was very nice.  There were even some kidney beans for protein.  The only disappointment with my meal was a pastry triangle which had chicken inside.  The meal cost D8, so I asked if I could have the change in some small coins.

Fountain & Statue of Flavius Tullus

Antonine Temple

Small change is extremely useful as nearly all the toilets have attendants who want a tip.  This had been a problem at the start of our travels through Tunisia and we often paid far too much for want of small change.  We had soon learned to husband our low denomination coins and, by this time, I had accumulated a significant stash of D0.100 and D0.050 coins.  Of course, they were no use in Libya and we needed to build up a new supply.

Curia

Guide & Sue viewing Baptismal Font

The restaurant did not have any small change, but one of the waiters kindly gave me two pristine coins – a D0.10 and a curvy D0.05.  These had been introduced only recently, so I did not see any more of them on the trip.  They were too small to use for tips, but made a great souvenir.  And it is not often that you go to a restaurant and end up getting a tip instead of giving one!

Mosaic in Seaward Baths

Seaward Baths

Then we visited the wonderful site of Sabratha, made all the more beautiful because it is right next to the sea.  Our guide was really sweet and kept welcoming us “beautiful people” to his “beautiful city”.  At least he was right on one count.  Ruth persuaded him to leave the tour of the museum until the end of the tour, so we set off for a clockwise navigation of the site, starting from two higher view points so we could get some good photos.

Theatre Baths

Temple of Isis

We passed the mausoleum and some villas and then reached the temples and basilicas.  Much of what we were told was a repeat of things we had seen in Tunisia, especially in Dougga and Sbeitla.  We expected to become experts by the end of the tour.  Our walk took us down to the sea to look at the ancient harbour.  There were some really lovely views from the public baths.  Ancient Sabratha had not one but two sets of baths.  The second one was for the actors in the theatre, our final stop on the site.

Mosaic in Theatre Baths

Theatre from Outside

After our tour of the site, a few of us then visited the museum.  It cost D6 and only half of it was open.  There were a few good mosaics, but it was rather disappointing.



Theatre



Theatre

Mosaic in Museum

Detail of Mosaic in Museum