Blogs from Tunisia, Africa - page 7

No matter how many photographs you look at of El Jem, and no matter how many words of "helpfulling travelling very" advices you read, El Jem will only ever have one decent thing in it; a dobbing huge massive Roman sports stadium. The ruins are flipping immense. With Ancient Roman built environment back drops such as El Jem it's no surprises that movie directors working on a tight budget loved filming their epics in Tunisia. The Pythons, for example, fimed much of "The Life of Brian" in country. With a lick of paint and a few canvas sheets it's possible to turn Tunisia into an ancient Rome, a spaghetti west or a warring futuristic satellite planet - and still have change leftover to buy a bag of chip shop scratchings on the way home. In 1984 ... read more

Español / Català Qairuán has an affordable medina. Not too big and remarkably relaxed. Carpets hang on the whitewashed walls and marquetry decorates windows under a clear blue sky. Traders sit patiently in the shade, on the streets, waiting for a customer in front of their business. Near Bab Tunis, Tunisia Door, at the end of November 7th Avenue, are piled all types of plastic chattels beside mannequins with faces reminiscent of any kind of Singapore or Hong Kong’s trades, but with Semitic factions. They wear modern Arab women's fashion aside classical trappings, travel bags, tablecloths and other fabrics. Inside the walled city, the ... read more

Anakin Skywalker, the young Darth Vader, grew up in Ong Jemel, Tunisia. I did not know that many of the Star Wars sets (both series) were in Tunisia until I started researching what exactly I was going to do here for 2 weeks after I arrived from Sicily a couple of weeks ago. I am tentatively scheduled to fly to Israel tomorrow. In light of current events I will probably cancel it and spend another 2 weeks in Turkey. $US ≈ 1.5 Tunisian dinar (DT) Tunis Tunisia's capital and main port of entry. I arrived here on an overnight ferry from Palermo, Sicily which was quite civilized since I took a berth in a nice 4 person cabin instead of crashing in the lounge like many backpackers were doing. Accommodation and food Upon arrival I thought ... read more

From Monastir I bid sad farewell to my gracious Couchsurfing hosts Ussema and Wael, took the louage to Sousse where I connected to Gafsa. It seems like this route is not popular though offered, I have to wait on the side after paying and took 10 minutes before they issued me my ticket, one guy who is also going to Gafsa offered to walk me to the loauge, he seems very nice but can't speak a thing of English and I no French! It surprisignly filled up pretty quickly and we are on our way soon. There was a brief lunch stop and the guy again helped me out sort out lunch as no one understands me and I cannot seem to figure out how to order.. He paid for it too!! Arriving in Gafsa louage ... read more

The flight from Paris was a mere 2 hour trip, landing in Tunis/Carthage airport, I found myself one of many queueing up to clear immigration. A number of European tourists on a package tour that will go straight to their respective resort hotels, and a handful of backpackers. My line seems to be taking ages to move on, everyone is sighing and wondering what is taking so long. We later then realized that we queued up on the booth where 2 new officers are being trained and thus super slow! eventually making it to the front, the trainee does not have a clue what to do! keeps paging through my passport, scans it, looks at me, asks me something in French, I gave him a stare blank, then he starts the process all over again! Thankfully ... read more