My trip Journal

1. My trip Journal Valerie Barvo 8 yellow

2. Introduction • I decided to begin a journey through North Africa and Middle East since their culture, politics, cuisine, geography and climate called my attention. • My journey will start from the city of Rabat, Morocco and will finish in Kabul, Afghanistan. • The transportation of my trip will be varied and will depend on the geography and its climate.

3. Rabat, Morocco • Rabat is the capital of Morocco • Rabat is located in the Atlantic Ocean. It is a humid city, its temperatures varies from 6 degrees C to 30 degrees C. • It is a country that is very religious, it counts with 90 percent of Muslim people. • People are not so educated, most of the children work to make a living. • They have a monarch government ruled by Mohammed VI. • In there I stayed at the Golden Tulip Farah, a 4 star hotel that cost me 203$ a night. • Rabat can be best explored on foot. So I wander around the Moroccan streets • There in a lovely restaurant I drinked a traditional green tea with meant and after that I ate a couscous which is a Moroccan popular dish.

4. Algiers, Algeria • Algeria was are next destiny. What I discovered as soon as I arrived was that it real name is People's Democratic Republic of Algeria and that it is the largest country on the Mediterranean Sea. • It government is an authoritarian regime governed by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. • We were at Algiers, its capital. It is very nice the only thing I didn’t like about it is that it was at 36°C and I don’t go away of Barranquilla to receive more heat in other country than the one I receive daily. • At night I was happy since it was cold with 5°C. • I stayed in the Sofitel Algiers Hamma Garden a five star hotel that cost me 345$ the night. It was expensinve, but nearly perfect. • In Algiers, most of the interesting sights are in the old part of the city known as the Casbah or Medina • I was impressed with the very friendly and hospitable people. The old French buildings, the promenade along the seafront and the food also got my good ratings.

5. More… • I alsowent to the kasbah of algeris; it's a nice neighborhood, houses of the Ottoman era, and unique. • I take this space to tell you that Algeria is recognized for its agricultural work. • Algeria is recognized for its fertilized soil and 25% of the people work in agriculture or fishing. • Its principal resources are oil, gas, iron, zinc, silver, copper, and phosphates. • Only the  17,1% of its population is unemployed.

6. Tripoli, Libya • After a long train trip a finally arrived to Lybia. • When I wake up in the train after more than 600 miles traveled I noticed something I wasn’t prepare to see. • When I knew people were in civil war I emerged Libya as fast as we can. • I was very mad with myself, because after being in a long train, we couldn’t take advantage of our time. • I stayed in the Four Seasons Hotel, Tripoli rated 4 stars and very economic. • Tripoli is the hottest place in the world in the days, but in the nights it is very cold. • Libya is located west of Egypt, and east of Algeria. • For now I have not accomplished my dream of knowing and studying every city as I wanted.

7. Cairo, Egypt • It is most known for its ancient pyramids, tombs and artesian markets. • Most of it is desert with a hot climate. • I stayed in the Fairmont hotel-Nile City a beautiful 5 star hotel representing the architecture of Egypt. • El Cairo is located in northern Egypt, and east of Libya. • Egyptian government is a Military Junta.

8. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia • Are next stop by bus was Riyadh which is the Saudi Arabian capital. • I arrived to a home of an uncle. He act almost as a guide man. • He told us that his country was the one of the largest country in the Middle East, if not the largest. • People talk both languages Arabic and English. • Its government is an Islamic absolutist monarchy governed by Abdullahbin Abdul Aziz.

9. More… • The average temperature in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is 25.3 °C, even though there are days that temperatures riches to more than 35 °C. • Icouldn’t do much in Saudi Arabia since it was raining a lot. So much that I got scared. • I spend all days talking in family and as always my dad and uncle star talking about the economy of the country. • Saudi Arabia's command economy is petroleum-based. • Here there are many luxurious people..

10. Iraq • After seen how money flows in Saudi Arabia we travel on to Iraq with my uncle. • Iraq has a very attractive climate; the average temperature in Iraq is 22.8 °C it is not so hot neither so cold. • Iraq is bordered by Jordan to the west, Syria to the northwest, Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, and Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to the south. • Iraq's economy is dominated by the oil sector. • Right now Iraq is in reconstruction after fighting almost 30 years against Iran and USA. • For me this country was very boring since it was in reconstruction but nothing concrete.

11. Kabul, Afghanistan • We finally arrived to are last destiny after taking a shortcut for not passing through Iran. • Officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. • As it names says, over 99% of the Afghan population is Muslim • Afghanistan is an Islamic Republic governed by HamidKarzai. • Its capital is Kabul, place were we were established. • Afghanistan temperatures varies from -7 °C to 23 °C. • Finally I had a cold temperature in North Africa. • It is an impoverished and least developed country, one of the world's poorest.

12. Conclusion.. • In this trip I have learned a lot. • I didn’t know that temperatures can vary so much from day to night. • Something that impressed me is that I passed through countries well develop with very rich people to countries as Afghanistan which are not developed and very poor. • Religion is basically Islamic. • This is one of the most amazing trips I ever had.