The Libyans and us.

Some of the friendliest people you could ever meet. The Libyans made fantastic hosts. With their good humour, kindness and ability to deal with all problems that arose, we could not have had a better team anywhere. These guys were very special and we all have, I hope, become friends. Click on a thumbnail to download a larger version of the image.

Here we all are at the eclipse site. A very happy group of people from all around the world with our Libyan drivers, guides and cooks and security men. Photo: Sinead Cawley	Everytime there is a chance, our Libyan hosts stop and have a sing song. Here they all are just after totality. Photo: Dave Seales	No shortage of entertainment on this trip. Photo: Sinead Cawley
Talal and Nasser (with the baseball caps) join in the post eclipse singing and dancing Photo: Sinead Cawley	Who needs drums when an empty petrol can makes just as good a percussion instrument. Photo:Sinead Cawley	Wednesday day fever?. Photo: Sinead Cawley
Rock on guys. Photo: Sinead Cawley	Ali, on the left, and Talal, kneeling down, watch Chris making his last minute calculations. Photo: Barry Cooke	Mark Dowling,left,with Dave Seales, right, and Ahmed. Photo: Dave Seales
Eminem. Mark and Milad enjoying the singing and dancing Photo by Barry Cooke.	A quick joke by Nasser leaves people laughing. The joker in our group, Nasser made many people smile even when the going got rough. Photo by Barry Cooke.	Nasser goes all native. Photo by Jim Lynch.
Craig Baguley(left) from Caravanserai Tours has a laugh with some of the group on eclipse day Photo: Barry Cooke	Ahmed, in the centre, with Jean and Barry. Photo: Barry Cooke	A very distinguished looking gentleman. Photo: Sinead Cawley
One of the 4WD's broke a windscreen on the first day. No problem. The Libyans produced a new one from somewhere and proceeded to fit it. Photo: Chris O'Byrne	Our overhead petrol tank sprang a leak and covered us in petrol. Here the crew drain the fuel into another vehicle. Photo: Chris O'Byrne	Stuck on top of a giant sand dune. Gentle persuasion, pushing, was needed. Photo: Chris O'Byrne
Vehicles needed constant maintenance to keep them going in the harshness of the desert environment Photo: Barry Cooke.	This was clever. Air is let out of the tyres to give better grip on the soft sand. When they need to pump the tyres back up they attach a line to one of the air conditioning pumps. Photo: Jim Lynch	What a place to break down, literally. You can always enjoy the view while waiting for parts. Photo: Jim Lynch
Working on brass and silver in the souk at Tripoli. Photo: Dave Seales	A Libyan couple stroll through Leptis Magna. Photo: Sinead Cawley	A typical market at one of the oasis. Photo: Jim Lynch
Brian Seales, Geraldine Keogh, Olivia Flynn and Jean Kane. Photo: Dave Seales	Dave Seales with big brother Brian setting the good example in the background. Photo: Barry Cooke	Mark Dowling getting ready. Eh... the sun is much higher up Mark! Photo: Sinead Cawley
Chris, Liam, Dave and Brian at the eclipse site. Photo: Sinead Cawley.	A very happy chappy. Chris, just after totality. Photo: Barry Cooke	Libya 2-Rest of World 2 A draw. An impromptu soccer match started before totality. First time for a match before an eclipse? Photo: Barry Cooke
Newcomers to the Ecliptomaniacs crew Mike and Pauline Foy at Waw an-Namus. Photo: Olivia Flynn	Kurt and Johanna stroll through the souk in Tripoli. Photo: Dave Seales	Chris met Dan Lynch from the South Dublin Astronomy Society at a petrol station. Small world! Photo: Chris O'Byrne
Tora Greve in the centre with Erik on the left and Carl on the right. Photo: Chris O'Byrne	Mark, Sinead, Liam and Mary on eclipse day. Photo: Barry Cooke	It gets cold at night in the desert hence all the jackets at evening meals. Photo: Dave Seales
Jim on Mars. It's OK he took a big deep breath! Photo: Jim Lynch	Mark, Talal and Sinead Photo: Sinead Cawley	Dave and Jean with a backdrop to outbackdrop all backdrops. Photo: Barry Cooke
Mary, Geraldine, Olivia and Mark enjoying the Oasis. Photo: Barry Cooke	It was too hot to drive in the afternoon on some days so people just chilled out at the oasis at Lake Gabroun. Photo: Sinead Cawley	This is us after 9 days in the desert. Chris, Jim, Brian and Liam. Photo: Jim Lynch
A guided tour at Leptis Magna. Photo: Dave Seales	Still enjoying the Roman Ruins. Photo: Barry Cooke	Just how big is this Leptis Magna? The gang looked tired. Photo: Barry Cooke
Perfect lunch every day. Always enjoyed and healthy also. Photo: Chris O'Byrne	The final meal in Tripoli for the 10 day group before departure. Photo: Sinead Cawley	Fawzi, one of the Arkno guides turned out to be quite a character. Photo: Sinead Cawley
This was the entire 15 day group on the last night in Tripoli. Photo: Chris O'Byrne	Nasser, Ali and Talal at Tripoli airport on the last day. Photo: Chris O'Byrne

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