I just got emails from the owner of the house I was born in!

**Tajir** · February 19, 2007, 07:41 PM

I was born in a small tropical village and since it was one of several houses my family had owned at the time, I hadn't paid much attention to it -- despite it being my birthplace and the center of my family's recent history (18th Century and beyond).

Well, a few weeks ago, two at most, the new owner of the house -- which has been vacant for over a decade, got a hold of my family and sent the pictures via email, and here are the links:

Photo #1

Photo #2

Photo #3

**The Walrus** · February 19, 2007, 07:44 PM

Dang dude. I feel sorry for you. That looks bad.

**tnick777** · February 19, 2007, 07:50 PM

I got them

Where are they?

**Tajir** · February 19, 2007, 08:14 PM

Originally Posted by tnick777

I got them

Where are they?

Are what? :hmmm:

Dang dude. I feel sorry for you. That looks bad.

It's been vacant for 16 years; the older photos look much better.

The house was made of marble and ivory imported from Italy, it used to be a beautiful villa, but was ravaged by years of war.

Its a shame that the only memory of that house I have are those pictures.

What you see is only what's left of the house, much of the good stuff is destroyed or completely stained/rusted out.

The house was actually compiled of several areas, which in turn surrounded a garden area that was our foyer.

The region of the house itself is now a desert, but a decade ago, it was a beautiful tropic jungle. Times have surely changed.

**Siblesz** · February 19, 2007, 08:26 PM

Marble from Italy, eh? I just see sticks. Either way, I'd live there if the beach were near. I don't need much...

**Tajir** · February 19, 2007, 08:30 PM

Originally Posted by Siblesz

Marble from Italy, eh? I just see sticks. Either way, I'd live there if the beach were near. I don't need much...

Like I said, the marble was blown off during the war.

.....seriously.

And yes, there is a beach nearby. Its a coastal city...

....but I doubt anyone lives there besides the new tenants.

**Siblesz** · February 19, 2007, 08:33 PM

In what country is your native town?

**Rhinosaur** · February 19, 2007, 08:34 PM

Which city in which country?

**Tajir** · February 19, 2007, 08:45 PM

Its located in extreme Southern Somalia. The third-most southern city in the country.

**Rhinosaur** · February 19, 2007, 08:51 PM

Wow, trippy. It kind of reminds me of parts of California, (the countryside, not the house).

**Siblesz** · February 19, 2007, 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by Dahir

Its located in extreme Southern Somalia. The third-most southern city in the country.

Damn... Ok then... I agree now. The house had marble walls.

**Tajir** · February 19, 2007, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by Siblesz

Damn... Ok then... I agree now. The house had marble walls.

It came from this city:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrara

This is a sample of a typical Italian marble quarry:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi.../Carrara01.jpg

Since Italy had colonized the Southern part of Somalia, the country was forced into trade with Italy, so everything was subsequently cheap due to international reparation laws, currency mergers, and the like.

**CiusFortius** · February 19, 2007, 11:11 PM

I feel for what happened to your country of birth man. I live in South Africa so we get a lot of the African news and Somalia is suffering a terrible, and seemingly never ending period of war.