Przyzwyczailiśmy się przez lata, że na dźwięk słowa Trypolis uruchamiają się w nas skojarzenia polityczne: międzynarodowe “szkodnictwo”, wspieranie arabskiego terroryzmu, megalomania pułkownika Kadafiego. Tymczasem miasto Trypolis stopniowo wyswobadza się z tej etykietki i zaczyna aspirować do rangi ważnego ośrodka na Morzu Śródziemnym

For years Tripoli would make the headlines, under the rubric “troublemaker” in the so-called international scene. And when playing in the major league, the maverick players are hardly appreciated. Vilifi ed for a long time, the capital of Libya is fi nally freeing itself of its satanic reputation to today aspire to the title of mentor to the whole of the Mediterranean.

If the story of Tripoli were told… it would be the story of a long life, of a star, forgotten and rejected, but ready to do anything to once again take center stage. A sad enough story made up of faded sequins and sadly missed moments of glory and above all being incessantly in the spotlight.

The old “western Tripoli”, as it is known in Arabic to distinguish it from the eponymous Lebanese port, is awakening from a long sleep. No Prince Charming has stepped in, just an inexpressible will to exist beyond its borders, outside of this too neglected continent. The label of “outlaw state” stuck on Libya by Ronald Reagan in the 1980s seems to be peeling off little by little. The international policy of isolationism is certainly over: the capital is fi nally disentangling itself from its long drawn out scandals. On its restored docks, the ballet of boats has started again. Cargo ships, and, since not too long ago, cruise liners: foreigners from the other side of the Mediterranean are again adventuring into the thousand year old alleys of the medina.

DOSTĘPNY PEŁNY TEKST 1700 SŁÓW

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