Blogs from Tunisia, Africa - page 11

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I know there was some head shaking and tongue clucking when people heard we were not changing our trip after the revolutions began in January and after the situation with Bin Laden. The concerns were valid and appreciated, but we are happy to report we have been having a great time in Tunisia. We have also felt nothing but safe as we move about the country. We have been following the 9 pm curfew and listening to suggestions from hotel staff and the like. However, the signs of revolution are not hard to notice while we are moving about the country. We shared an elevator with a man who had his arm in a cast. Dad made a casual, concerned comment about it looking painful and he informed us it was the result of getting shot! ... read more

The journal continues, dear reader, from where we left off in Egypt. I boarded an Air Egypt plane for the three hour flight west to Tunis in Tunisia. It's obvious to all that a visit to Libya at this moment is completely out of the question, but my best wishes go to the Libyan people as the country grapples with an escalating civil war. I'd like to point out my presence in North Africa during the 2011 uprisings is purely coincidental, having booked my tickets and planned an itinerary months in advance. Your humble travel correspondent has no pretensions of being a latter day Che Guevara, chasing down revolutions from country to country. Yet incredibly my itinerary has taken me from one North African country weeks after a revolution, then flying west over another country where ... read more

Hey Guys! New Year greetings from the North of Tunisia! I have left the desert after an incredible week of stunning landscapes, sand dunes, camels and abandoned villages. What an amazing place, and Tunisia sure packs a lot into its comparatively tiny amount of desert – imagine how much there is to see in its larger neighbours of Libya, Algeria and beyond (but do rest assured, am not planning any trips to these in the near future…!). Still, am seriously contemplating taking up Arabic classes on my return to London, having just about got to grips with the written script, so hopefully will be able to delve into more Arabic countries in the near future. Am writing this one from a little-visited, but absolutely fascinating and very welcoming city called El Kef, in the north-western corner ... read more

Hey guys ! Greetings from the south of Tunisia, and indeed a great journey so far. Am currently writing this edition of my travel blog from ‘The Land of the Lotus Eaters’, Jerba – the island in Homer’s Odyssey from where the great voyager Ulysses' men did not want to leave after tasting the delicious fruit of the locals : the ‘lotus’ – indeed they forgot the route back home to Greece, until I believe it was slapped out of them. Unfortunately have been unable to find this mythical forbidden fruit in any of the souqs or covered markets, despite trying, but still seems like a nice place to hang around. Not sure if I’ll be unable to leave to my next destination on Sunday, but we’ll see what this island has to offer. But yeah, ... read more

Hey guys ! Greetings from Africa !! I is made it , my third visit to this amazing continent, and no less spectacular than my first two. In fact, I’ve had a really great impression of Tunisia so far, and a great first few days. Just awaiting my train towards the south of the country now, and looking forward very much to discovering more! Arrived safely on Friday afternoon in Tunis, the country’s capital, after an absurdly early wake up call at 2.50am, and a transfer in Rome. Beautiful city, long, tree-lined boulevards and elegant, albeit dilapidated, early 20th Century French colonial buildings, in the French ¨Nouvelle Ville¨at least, but of course just next door the chaotic, frenetic ,market-on-speed which seems apparent in every Arabic city, the ancient “medina” area. First day just spent wandering around, ... read more