Tripoli, September 9, 2005
Dear Fellow Eclipse Chaser,

This is the first of a new series of newsletters which will be sent from Eclipse-City regarding the Solar Eclipse 2006 in Libya. We trust that you will enjoy the contents.

On the 15th August 2005 the Libyan Government, through the Ministry of Tourism, finalized its official position regarding the Solar Eclipse 2006 in Libya. We attended the final meeting, held at the offices of the Ministry of Tourism and presided over by the Deputy Minister as well as the Product Manager from the Ministry.

The decisions reached by the Ministry were as follows:
Regarding the numerous rumours which have circulated in the market place about Ministry taxes and the like, to the best of our knowledge, the correct position is as follows:
Eclipse-City is pleased to announce that together with its exclusive ground operator partner in Libya, Winzrik Tourism Services Group, Eclipse-City will now be re-located from the Chad-Libyan border to the Waw an Namus region. This particular site has been awarded exclusively to the Winzrik - Eclipse-City partnership. No other operator will be allowed in this region. Waw an Namus has the longest and best viewing condition for the entire center line between Brazil and Siberia. Over and above offering the Waw an Namus location, Eclipse-City will also host a few other groups at the South-of-Jalu location, which they will share with two other Libyan operators.

Winzrik Group has contracted with the Libyan Military who will provide certain infrastructure and security for Eclipse-City. This is exciting news indeed. Guests will now fly into Waw al Kabir Airport by charter flight, and transfer to smaller aircraft for a short 25 minute flight to a specially constructed desert airstrip 150 km southeast of Waw al Kabir, and 50 km from Waw an Namus volcano. The camp will be constructed directly on the eclipse center line, and will have 4 minutes 6.3 seconds of totality. The region will be patrolled by the military for security, and the military will provide internal camp security as well.

Waw al Kabir military airport is one of the longest in Libya, and can take flights as big as a Boeing 747. This airport was used extensively by the Paris - Dakar Race organizers, and the apron has been known to take 28 aircrafts all at the same time, during the race. Eclipse-City is also very excited about the new plans and during a reconnaissance trip to Waw an Namus in late August by military helicopter, all infrastructure, view site location and the like were inspected and approved by both the military and ourselves.

The advent of the new location has also meant that Eclipse-City is able to reduce some of its costs, and consequently, it’s selling price to the market. Please consult my Web site for more details and the Eclipse-City Web site for bookings.