In message <1121228366.917533.205730@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>
"Bruno Panetta" wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I am currently living in London and would like to visit Somalia for a
> couple of weeks. What is the cheapest way to get there? I have found
> some tickets for £1864 ($3309) but that is way too expensive.
> Is it possible to travel first to Kenya and then from there to Somalia?
> What would be the price difference? Also, what kind of visa does one
> need in order to visit Somalia?
> Thank you very much.
Sorry not to be able to help you, but you may find the following
interesting reading.
From The Economist 6/3/04:
"Somalia is full of tourist attractions," Abdi Jimali Osman told
reporters in Modadishu, "but sadly, nobody knows about them. The sun
shines, the beaches are sandy, and you can dine on lobster on the roof
of the Sharmo Hotel, which commands a splendid view of the capital. If
only tourists would come, I'm sure they would leave Somalia alive, and
I'm hopeful that they wouldn't be kidnapped. At least, we would try to
make sure they were not kidnapped, although it can happen."
Mr Jimale, Somalia's minister of tourism, had earler admitted that his
war-torn country has not had a single officially-acknowledged tourist
since the 1980s. "The Sharmo Hotel advises guests to hire at least ten
armed guards to escort them from the airport, and for extra protection
you can buy hand grenades in the market for $10 each, or a howitzer
for $20,000.
"Tourists can still go and see the former beautiful sights, but the
only problem is they're all totally destroyed. What's left of the
cathedral is still very attractive, but if you go there, you must
beware of stepping on landmines. Our national parks were once very
fine too, but they mainly lie in areas that the government now does
not control. And unfortunately most of the animals have disappeared
too, because we've eaten them."
(Quoted in Private Eye)
Good luck and slainte mhath - you'll be making Mr Jimale's decade.
(Maybe he could be your private guide?)
Liz
--
Virtual Liz now at http://www.v-liz.com
Kenya; Tanzania; Namibia; India; Seychelles; Galapagos
Photo blog of Make Povery History rally in Edinburgh 2 July 2005:
http://www.v-liz.com/g8rally/protest.htm |