Tourist in the Arab Spring

by Tom Chesshyre

In the aftermath of the Arab Spring, war reporters rushed to publish accounts of the uprising. Tom Chesshyre took a different approach - he jumped on a plane and became the first to return to the region as a tourist. The result is the fascinating, street-level tale of a journey through lands fresh from revolution – Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. Chesshyre heads for tourist sites that few have seen in recent years, as well as new 'attractions' like Gaddafi's bombed-out bunker in Tripoli. In a book both touching and humorous, he describes being abducted in Libya, listening to the sound of Kalashnikovs at night and talking to ordinary people struggling to get by.  On the second anniversary of the Arab Spring, this is the ideal time for this book.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Libya

256 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2013

About the author

Tom Chesshyre has been writing travel stories for UK national newspapers for over15 years. After reading politics at Bristol University and completing a journalism diploma from City University, he had stints at the Cambridge Evening News, Sporting Life and Sky Sports. During this period he won the Independent's young sports writer of the year competition and was runner-up in the Financial Times young business writer awards. His first travel piece was about England's cricket fans in Barbados for the Daily Telegraph. He freelanced for the Daily and Sunday Telegraphs, wrote a column for Conde Nast Traveller, and contributed to the Express, the Guardian, and the Independent, before working on the travel desk of the Times. He has assisted with the research on two books - W. G. by Robert Low, a biography of W. G. Grace, and Carlos: Portrait of a Terrorist by Colin Smith, a biography of "Carlos the Jackal". He has written magazine pieces for Wanderlust, Geographical and Business Traveller - and contributes book reviews to the TLS. His travel writing has taken him to more than 75 countries. He lives in south-west London and was born in 1971.

His first book, How Low Can You Go: Round Europe for 1p Each Way (Plus Tax) was published by Hodder in 2007. To Hull and Back: On Holiday in Unsung Britain was published by Summersdale in July 2010, followed by Tales from the Fast Trains: Europe at 186 mph is published in July 2011.

Reviews

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really somewhere between 3 and 4 stars, but I can't put my finger on why I didn't get into it fully? I've read the author before, liking his style, and he is funny here at times, so it's not that he's dull. Perhaps I'm just not all that into the Arab Spring background? If you are looking for that as a topic, by all means consider this one.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fabulous and heartbeat quickening read. This guy, first of all, is insane. He travels across Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt less than a year after the Arab Spring. But more importantly, I learned a lot about this part of the world! He makes Tunisians and Egyptians especially seem like such jovial, friendly, warm, and open people. Almost everyone he meets is eager to make conversation with him.

I loved reading about the Roman ruins, incredible food and markets, museums, and people watching, all the best parts about traveling. However, this trip was pretty unique in the danger attached. The most terrifying account by far was when Tom's driver gets out of the car and a stranger who doesn't speak English gets in and barrels down the road at 150 km per hour (not actually sure if that is particularly fast, or impossible, I honestly just made up a number) straight into the desert. He just thinks "Ok, so this is what it's like to get abducted." [SPOILER: Everything turns out OK and there was just a visa misunderstanding, but still, the heart attack that induced is consequence enough.] The accounts of gunshots ringing out all night, bullet ridden trucks, and people's accounts of corruption and the horrors of the secret police before the revolution were just shocking. Also, I would have been so interested to have a little more about women in North Africa. It's understandable that there was barely any mention of women though, because women don't hang out in public like men do. Tom hardly got any chance to interview women, except those who were working at his various hotels.

The outcome of the Arab Spring is still TBD. As my old AP Euro teacher used to love to quote in high school "Meet the new boss...Same as the old boss." (He was kind of dorky.) There is certainly more freedom, but still a lot of corruption. Chesshyre puts it best when he says, "More than anything, I got the sense from so many conversations that what people wanted was for life to be fair for once. They were sick to death of grubby dictators lining their pockets while throwing innocent people in jail for no good reason. Could a change to a more equitable way of life really happen though?" Deep questions.

[Fatima · Rating 2 out of 5]

Naaah not gripping enough

[Ami Abramson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This travel tale is a unique perspective of a British journalist and crazy tourist on a 1500 mile journey from Tunis to Nuweiba. He heads to Tunisia, Libya and Egypt a year after the Arab Spring. This is a period of uncertainty and little to no tourism as this region. He is often the only tourist at UNESCO heritage sites, hotels and restaurants.

The countries are getting their footing and adjusting to the fall of three long dictators. It is a book about people, perspectives, hope, poverty, culture, politics and religion. These things intersect and mix together everywhere maybe even more so in the Middle East. A fascinating travel memoir of a monthlong journey, written with humor and wit.

[Louis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written and engaging travel book - although I wondered how wise the journey - across Tunisia, Libya and Egypt, soon after the Arab Spring. It gives a good insight into the impacts of revolution as well as the sites and people who live there. Whilst things will have changed greatly since, I still think worth a read.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this before taking a trip to Tunisia and the starting place of the Arab Spring, and while there were some interesting snippets, I thought the overall book was a bit dull. Something about it just didn't come to life for me, and I was expecting there to be some greater insight or bigger outlook on this period of time that didn't seem to come to fruition.

[Ron Hardwick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr Chesshyre gives us valuable information about the trials and tribulations of the Middele East which, regrettably, are even more starkly laid bare today. The picture he paints is one of despair, and the reader wonders what it is that attracts anyone, let alone the author, to venture to countries like this.

[Alex Whitfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read on my holiday to Tunisia. I bought it as alternative to a guidebook as it was more recent and it was fascinating to read about the author’s travels and to visit some of the same places just a few years on. Couldn’t recommend more highly if you are planning a trip to North Africa.

[George Foord · Rating 3 out of 5]

some interesting stories but mostly told in a boring way

[Bethany Gorski]

I only wanted to read the tunisia part since im going soon lol

[Kade Rexwinkel · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I appreciate the unique travel experience of the author, the book was just boring. A difficult read, was almost a DNF for me.

[Sergi Teruel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was quite an interesting read. However, if you are expecting a depth analysis on the sociopolitical causes and effects that triggered the Arab Spring, you will be deceived. This at the end is a travel journal written by a tourist. A travel journal that, of course, revolves around the aftermath of the protests that took place in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt in 2011. I guess that reading this during COVID times when we cannot travel made this book also more enjoyable.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does what is says. It tells the time of a Times reporter who travels to North Africa shortly after the relatively recent uprisings when few tourists were daring to venture there. He starts in Tunisia, where the 'Arab Spring' started (in the winter, though), then manages to get into (barely) Libya, where he has to lie about his profession, as journalists are suspect even in post-Gaddafi days. Finally, he makes his way to Egypt. Chesshyre's account is honest and compelling, as he tries his best to withhold his own bias regarding certain political parties and merely explain what he says, hears and smells in his travels regarding the immediate aftermath of uprisings in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt.

[Doug Eisner · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you ever wanted to be convinced to go to North Africa, this is the book for you. His basic premise is that he's going to Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt right after the initial Arab Spring actions happened. But he's going as a tourist, looking for tourist spots. His description of the island of Djera (sp?) was enough to make me want to go. There are amazing Roman ruins in the area, and he makes all three countries sound fascinating, but really different. Is it great writing? No. Could you find this information by picking up a Frommer's? Yes. But he had interesting enough experiences, and his descriptions of the people and places are compelling enough to make it worth reading.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I often had wondered what it might be like to be a tourist after the Arab Spring - and I thank Tom for having made the journey and explained to us what it was like for him. A brave traveler and a good travel writer. Let's hope the optimism he gained on that trip turns out to be well-founded.

[Katherine Fahey · Rating 4 out of 5]

It kept me reading, but it could've been better - interesting nonetheless. Give it a go, especially if you're fascinated by somewhat atypical travel adventures.

[Michelle Meacham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating subject matter, interesting journey, average writing.

[Nadia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was expecting something slightly more 'rocambolesque' if such a word exists in English (?). This just bored me. Page after page Tom describes how he's the only foreigner around - that, he knew before even leaving the UK... Actually even I knew. I wanted him to mix with the people more rather than spending his time in a hotel or visiting the ruins ... I wanted to be there instead of Tom and get to know the real rebels but all I got is a lukewarm recount of ... very little. I'm angry that this book didn't smell of the Arabic world ... the description of cars and drivers in Egypt is trite and even a little juvenile. I never give 2 stars but I have to for this one.