Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Tripoli Nightlife

There is none.

At least, that's the line I've heard repeatedly, especially from expats and people with jobs that cater to tourists.

By the standards of big American and European cities, that may be true.  Alcohol is outlawed here, so there are no bars, and I'm not aware of any clubs.  There are some movie theaters that show mainly Egyptian movies, but the movies don't seem to be a huge draw at night. There's relatively little in the way of live music and theater, opera, etc.

Instead, people just spend time together. They wander through the market, walk around downtown, linger on their stoops and near stores, play cards, and chat in pleasant outdoor cafes. Many probably stay home with friends and family.

This pace of life has its advantages.  It feels less noisy and hurried, and there's more time to enjoy the people you're with and the details of the world around you.  That's not such a bad thing.  And if you want adrenaline, just get in the nearest taxi and tell the driver you need to get somewhere fast.

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