By Wil Crisp.
Tripoli, 18 February 2013:
Just when it might have been thought that after several days of massive celebrations Tripolitans would . . .[restrict]be exhausted and there could not be any more firework left to set off, Tripoli outdid itself earlier this evening in celebrating the second anniversary of the revolution. There were even more people out on the streets across the city than the previous night. The noise of fireworks and car horns was deafening, constant and lasted well into the night.
Thousands of lanterns streamed across the capital’s sky. The source of many was Martyrs Square where tens of thousands congregated to share tea, blow air horns and set off fireworks.
The day started early for many and went on until late with many revellers hitting the streets as the first calls of Allahu Akbar echoed around the city’s streets from the city’s minarets and not returning home until long after midnight.
Cars decked out in flags criss-crossed the city all day as Tripolitans tracked down friends and family in different parts of the city.
‘I’ve never seen anything like it,’ said one visitor from Tunisia as she stood in Martyrs’ Square watching the flag-waving and fireworks.
The capital’s residents shared food and drink in the square and launched a constant stream of Chinese lanterns. Not all made it out of the square though, with a number returning to earth to hit unsuspecting revellers.
Sunday’s celebrations conclude nearly a week of successful celebrations that many were worried would be tainted by violence. [/restrict]
