From Tobruk we transferred to our eclipse centerline viewing site, located 2 hours into the
Libyan Desert.
Libyan Desert.
| Eclipse site: 30.940N 24.241E |
We left the ship and
drove through a small
part of Tobruk before
heading into the
desert to the eclipse
viewing site.
drove through a small
part of Tobruk before
heading into the
desert to the eclipse
viewing site.
Libya was a lot cleaner
than Egypt, but there
was still a lot of trash
along some of the roads.
The whole Tobruk area
is undergoing a lot of
new construction and
the people were very
friendly.
than Egypt, but there
was still a lot of trash
along some of the roads.
The whole Tobruk area
is undergoing a lot of
new construction and
the people were very
friendly.
A little ways out of
Tobruk we ran into a
pretty heavy fog that
lasted almost all the way
to the viewing site. We
were worried about the
eclipse viewing and the
fact that the bus driver
was going about 60 mph
and passing in a fog in
which you couldn't see
more than a few
hundred feet in front of
you. This was the
scariest part of our trip
to Libya!!
Tobruk we ran into a
pretty heavy fog that
lasted almost all the way
to the viewing site. We
were worried about the
eclipse viewing and the
fact that the bus driver
was going about 60 mph
and passing in a fog in
which you couldn't see
more than a few
hundred feet in front of
you. This was the
scariest part of our trip
to Libya!!
When we reached the viewing site (about two hours after leaving the ship) there were already a lot of
people there. Other buses, tents set up in the desert and a lot of Libyans that were all waving and taking
pictures as the buses turned into the area. It turns out that a special area had been setup for us that was
about two to three miles into the desert from the road. The Libyan army had the whole area cordoned off
for us and they kept everyone that didn't have the right permits at least a mile from us. It was interesting
since the Libyans that were out by the road tried to move closer to us (curious I think) but the army
vehicles kept driving a perimeter in front of them to keep them back. They just got out of their cars and
waved and honked their car horns at us.
people there. Other buses, tents set up in the desert and a lot of Libyans that were all waving and taking
pictures as the buses turned into the area. It turns out that a special area had been setup for us that was
about two to three miles into the desert from the road. The Libyan army had the whole area cordoned off
for us and they kept everyone that didn't have the right permits at least a mile from us. It was interesting
since the Libyans that were out by the road tried to move closer to us (curious I think) but the army
vehicles kept driving a perimeter in front of them to keep them back. They just got out of their cars and
waved and honked their car horns at us.
The bus we arrived in
was fairly nice, but the
bathroom didn't work
(and as we would find
out soon, bathroom
facilities would be the
biggest problem!).
was fairly nice, but the
bathroom didn't work
(and as we would find
out soon, bathroom
facilities would be the
biggest problem!).
The area they setup for
us was really out in the
middle of nowhere.
There were no plants of
any type and nothing
except a few military
vehicles for as far as you
could see. The ground
was a mixture of sand and
very strange looking
rocks. There were also a
lot of things that looked
liked sea shells, but I
think they were some
kind of snail since some
of them were still alive!
us was really out in the
middle of nowhere.
There were no plants of
any type and nothing
except a few military
vehicles for as far as you
could see. The ground
was a mixture of sand and
very strange looking
rocks. There were also a
lot of things that looked
liked sea shells, but I
think they were some
kind of snail since some
of them were still alive!
They provided us with
chairs, food, and water.
However, they only
provided five toilets to
handle over 1000
people, so the wait in
line was over an hour!
(Many of the men just
walked out into the
dessert for a few
hundred feet!!)
chairs, food, and water.
However, they only
provided five toilets to
handle over 1000
people, so the wait in
line was over an hour!
(Many of the men just
walked out into the
dessert for a few
hundred feet!!)
This was a big event for
the Libyans and they had
a lot of press and TV
coverage there. Two
people from our group
(Norm and Larry) were
interviewed by the news
caster. We didn't see
them on the news, but
I'm sure they made it.
the Libyans and they had
a lot of press and TV
coverage there. Two
people from our group
(Norm and Larry) were
interviewed by the news
caster. We didn't see
them on the news, but
I'm sure they made it.
As totality approached
people started getting
excited and watching
projections of the
progress of the eclipse
using holes punched in
paper or just projections
through their fingers.
people started getting
excited and watching
projections of the
progress of the eclipse
using holes punched in
paper or just projections
through their fingers.
With just a couple
minutes to totality
everyone's eyes
turned to the solar
disk and the
encroaching
shadow of the
moon.
minutes to totality
everyone's eyes
turned to the solar
disk and the
encroaching
shadow of the
moon.
...and then it got
really dark! THe
stars came out and
the corona of the
sun appeared. It
was quite
spectacular and
lasted a scant four
minutes.
really dark! THe
stars came out and
the corona of the
sun appeared. It
was quite
spectacular and
lasted a scant four
minutes.
The "Colorado Team"
got together for a
group photo after the
big event.
got together for a
group photo after the
big event.
The drive back to Tobruk was the
second scariest thing we did in
Libya!! This was only a two lane
road and everyone seems to drive
in the middle of it!!
second scariest thing we did in
Libya!! This was only a two lane
road and everyone seems to drive
in the middle of it!!
Every Libyan we saw was
friendly and seemed to
be genuinely happy to
see us. Several of them
came up and asked to
have their pictures taken
with us using their
cameras. It seemed that
we were the curiosity!!
friendly and seemed to
be genuinely happy to
see us. Several of them
came up and asked to
have their pictures taken
with us using their
cameras. It seemed that
we were the curiosity!!
The Libyan army was
ever present and our
welfare seemed to be
their highest concern
and number one job.
They were at every
corner and along the
route to and from the
viewing site. It felt very
safe and also somewhat
unnecessary given the
attitude of the local
people. However, I'm
sure there were some
people that were not
glad to see Americans!
ever present and our
welfare seemed to be
their highest concern
and number one job.
They were at every
corner and along the
route to and from the
viewing site. It felt very
safe and also somewhat
unnecessary given the
attitude of the local
people. However, I'm
sure there were some
people that were not
glad to see Americans!
There are a lot of
mosques in Libya
and Egypt, but I
think there were
more in Egypt
where there
seemed to be one
on every corner.
mosques in Libya
and Egypt, but I
think there were
more in Egypt
where there
seemed to be one
on every corner.
This is a "housing
development" in
Libya. It's very
different than what
us westerners
expect, but some
of the homes are
very ornate and
beautiful.
development" in
Libya. It's very
different than what
us westerners
expect, but some
of the homes are
very ornate and
beautiful.
It was a long
day and we
were glad to
get back
"home"
day and we
were glad to
get back
"home"
Another view of
Tobruk harbor.
Tobruk harbor.
Eclipse Day! (Tobruk, Libya)
 |  |
