Hey, all you lovely people. It’s Saturday and lovely Linda over at Linda G Hill has offered us a new Stream of Consciousness challenge:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “wee.” Use the word “wee” or find a word that contains it and use it in your post. Have fun!

Find her prompt post and a whole lotta great blogposts working with her prompt here.

Mallory & Bianca have made their way from St. Lucia to Tunesia and tried to get into Libya. Find out today if they managed it.

Disclaimer:

I want to mention one thing: The story does live in an alternate universe where we do not have to bother with COVID. There are political and environmental issues that are similar to our reality but all is made up. Please forgive me 😉

Please check out here if you missed the previous Stream of Consciousness virtual travel & music adventure instalments.

Mallory Travels The World VII

“What a …” said Mallory when she looked at her phone. Bianca sat beside her on a turquoise towel. In front of their feet stretched white sand that ended in the deep blue Mediterranean sea. “What?” asked Bianca. Mallory looked up. “We didn’t get the business visa for Libya!” Bianca shrugged and looked behind Mallory along the soft dunes covered with swaying grass. “You should have started your vlog so you could actually prove you have a business!” Bianca said. “Pfffff” Mallory tried to catch the deep blue scarf she wore over her head that tried to escape into the sea. “You are the one who is against me using my phone all the time. Maybe you stop tempting me into another bar or restaurant and let me work?” Bianca laughed: “Guilty as charged. But do you think it’s so bad not to go to Libya? It’s darn dangerous!” A fresh breeze blew from the sea, and she moved her huge straw hat out of her eyes. Sand blew over their feet. Mallory grabbed the sandwiches sitting between them on another turquoise towel and packed them back into her backpack. “It’s a wee bit windy!” she said and scrunched her nose. “Libya doesn’t seem to be that dangerous currently if we believe the Indigo Traveller”.

“And you are a geography buff. Surely you would love to see the volcanos in the desert?” Mallory sat down again and put her scarf around her mouth. It was a sunny day, and they were alone beside their driver sitting further up the dunes close to his car. Now and then, he looked at the women and shook his head. When Bianca saw it a couple of hours earlier, she giggled and said to Mallory:” Bloody tourists we are. Sitting at the beach in a sandstorm” They both started laughing, and the driver got up to polish his car.

“I am.” Bianca agreed, “But … well … I simply think travelling that country is a wee bit too much of a risk. If you have one militia in a country, fair enough. You can protect yourself if you follow the guidance of the locals. But three political entities fighting for power in the county? I don’t think it’s worth the risk.”
Mallory laid back on her black towel. Her black cotton dress with little sunflowers on it flapped in the wind. “Maybe you are right. And it’s useless to discuss now anyway. We can’t go!” She got up again. “Yuk sand in my mouth”. “Here. Wash it down!” Bianca handed her a bottle of water from their bag. Mallory handed her the bottle back after drinking in long gulps. “But all those ancient monuments without tourists. That’s heaven, don’t you think?” Mallory looked at Bianca, who leaned back on her hands. “Sure. Still. Dangerous!” Mallory rolled her eyes. “And what about the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System?” she asked. “You can’t see that, dear!” Bianca said. “But you can see Gaddhafis irrigation system!” Now Bianca rolled her eyes. “Why would I want to see the only good thing that man has ever managed?” “Because it’s cool!” Bianca raised an eyebrow. “No! But if you offer me Alexandria and the library, I’ll be with you. Civil war and terrorism or not!” Mallory shook her head. “Bookworm!”

She looked up as a cloud slowly covered the sun. “Time to go, you think?” “Definitely. If I taste one more bit of sand, I puke!” Bianca got up and tried to shake out her towel. It flew back into her and covered her with more sand. She turned and tried again, but this time it nearly flew out of her hands. Mallory grinned and stuffed hers into her backpack without bothering to shake. “The bags are full of sand anyway.” she thought. “Great day to travel to El Mansoura beach!” Bianca said nothing and just walked back to the car. The driver had found refuge in it already. Mallory followed her and asked when she caught up: “Off to Carthage then?” “Yes, M’am!” answered Bianca. They got in the car and were greeted by some dance music:

Thanks, my dears, for staying with me until the end.

I appreciate your presence.

Please stay safe, stay kind and remember that you rock!

Just one more thing before you go: The hospital that treated me is fundraising for a dedicated breast cancer unit which would allow some same-day diagnosis and better premises for patients and staff.

Please, if you can spare a little money hop over to their Just Giving Page and give as little or much as you can. Or share the page on your social media. So far the campaign has raised a little more than half the amount needed: £451,104 of £800,000 (August 2021).

Your support means a lot to me! Thank you very much.