Section 1 Summary

"A Map of Tripoli, 1967" is Marlene Reed Wetzel's story about the relationship between an American diplomat's wife, Carla, and an Italian Jewish shopkeeper, Mantini, in Tripoli, a major port city in Libya, prior to the Six Day War between Israel, Egypt, Jordan and Syria in June of 1967.

As the story begins, Mantini opens his crystal shop, Cristalli Imports, on the Giaddat Istiklal. Mantini calls to his shop boy, Mohammed, to bring coffee, while Mantini decides whether to think about his dead wife, Lucia, that day.

At the same time, Carla is making her way to Mantini's store for the first time, noting landmarks to help her find her way back home. Frustrated with the traffic, Carla has left her Volkswagen on the street and walks with the directions provided by the shop boy, Mohammed, who works in her home one day each week...