This year our summer family vacation was with a touch of exoticism. Tunisia – the pearl in the crown of North Africa. Interesting, different, unforgettable. A country of contrasts and deep experiences.
This journey of ours was woven from a rich combination of impressions, emotions, and experiences.
Tunisia is a suitable destination that combines a relaxing holiday on the golden Tunisian beaches, an encounter with ancient historical sites, unearthly landscapes, a palette of colors and flavors. Traveling from north to south, one can marvel at the changing pictures. From green vineyards and orchards, passing through vast plantations of olive trees, sinking into the merciless infinity of the harsh desert, embracing nearly a third of the country's territory. Impressive are the wonderful oases with date palms, grown with a lot of work and dedication by the local population, the dried up salt lakes, giving a lunar landscape to this part of the desert. The imprints of all the peoples who lived on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea from ancient times to the present day are intertwined here - Berbers, Phoenicians, Romans, barbarians, Byzantines, Arabs, Moors from Andalusia, Turks, French.
Tunisia is considered one of the most progressive Islamic countries in terms of women's rights. It was the first Islamic country to ban polygamy and women have almost equal rights with men. It is the only country in the world that has a Ministry of Women and Family. An interesting fact is that no one can stop a car if it is driven by a woman.
There are several things that every tour guide informs tourists about upon their arrival in Tunisia:
- Tap water is not drinkable. It is salty, especially in the southern part of the country. Only bottled water is consumed.
- The local currency is prohibited for export from the country. Even a few coins found in luggage would create unpleasant emotions for travelers. Currency (euro and dollars) can be exchanged for Tunisian dinars everywhere. Payments in dollars or euros are also accepted.
- Tipping is common and part of Tunisian service culture. Salaries are quite low and many people work seasonally. This is a way to earn extra income.
- Bargaining when shopping is part of Arab culture, but there are also stores with fixed prices.
- Driving is an extremely dangerous activity, with no rules or tolerance. Crossing the street here (whether you are on a crosswalk or not) is like playing Russian roulette. You have to keep your eyes on everything.
The first thing a European encounters is the garbage strewn everywhere. Tunisians have a special mentality in this regard.
They keep their homes clean and they themselves have good hygiene, but the garbage in front of their doors does not impress them. Construction and household waste can be seen everywhere, especially around the roads. According to the locals, it is the state's responsibility to take care of the cleaning. An interesting fact is that the current mayor of the capital, Tunis, has vowed not to spend money on cleaning until people's thinking changes. In some of the new and more expensive neighborhoods of the capital, the picture looks different. It is clean there and green spaces are maintained. In the large coastal resorts, in hotels and tourist places, it is also clean and maintained.
The coastline of Tunisia is about 1200 km and is covered with fine golden sand everywhere. The water is transparent and blue (at the beginning of September there were no algae and jellyfish). Beaching here is a real pleasure. Instead of corn, on the beach you can buy juicy and sweet cactus fruit from passing vendors with large baskets, take a camel ride or enjoy the sea from above with parasailing.
The resort we stayed at has the beautiful name Yasmin Hammamet, which comes from the fragrant jasmine bushes in the town. Jasmine is given as a gift for love. It is traditional for men to wear a jasmine bouquet behind their ear. If it is behind the right ear, they are married; if it is behind the left ear, they are looking for a bride. Women are given a jasmine garland. Its enchanting aroma wafts from the carefully arranged bouquets in the flat baskets on the heads of street florists.
Our hotel is located in the New Medina, which is a town with small streets, shops, cafes and restaurants. Every city has its own Medina - an old town with a labyrinth of narrow streets. In the past, these were the places for markets, where the commercial premises were located on the first floor, and above them - the residences.
The paintings on the walls of the Medina create an incredible atmosphere on the small cobblestone streets.
The beach in Hammamet is beautiful. Golden, fine sand and clear water.
The rich ancient history of Tunisia begins with the legendary Carthage.
Carthage – one of the greatest ancient cities. Its power extended over most of present-day Spain, the Balearic Islands, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, the territories of present-day Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and most of the coast of present-day Sicily. Its influence extended even further. The developed fleet enabled Carthaginian merchants to seek new markets far away, reaching Britain, some circumnavigating Africa and even, according to some little-known theories, they managed to cross the Atlantic and reach the shores of Brazil.
Carthage becomes the richest city in the Mediterranean. Aristocrats live in huge palaces. Merchants also have rich estates. A series of military conflicts with Rome, known as the Punic Wars, lead to the destruction of Carthage.
Later, Julius Caesar planned to revive Carthage. Christianity was also spreading at this time. Vandal raids destroyed Carthage again, and it flourished again during the Byzantine Empire.
Thus, the fate of Carthage went through a series of ups and downs until the end of the 7th century during the Arab expansion in North Africa. The city was captured. A new center of influence and trade arose near it - the city of Tunis. The main opponent of Ancient Rome, Carthage, sank into ruins.
Today, very little of the great Carthage remains. It is likely that the ruins of the once mighty Carthaginian empire will forever remain beneath the buildings of today's capital, Tunis.
Right on the seafront are the ruins of the Baths of Antonius Pius from 146-162 AD, spread over an area of 1.8 hectares. These baths were intended for the elite of the Roman province, from the terraces of which there was a picturesque view of the sea.
Very close to Carthage is the beautiful blue-and-white jewel of Tunisia – the seaside town of Sidi Bou Said. Also called the “Tunisian Santorini” or “Montmartre”, the town captivates with its whitewashed domed houses with blue windows and gates, surrounded by abundantly blooming bougainvillea. Many people of art have lived here – painters, poets, creators. The town is named after its founder Abu Said al-Beji, who, impressed by the beauty of the place, decided to build a village. Thanks to a state order in 1915, all newly built houses were designed and built in the same architectural style – with white walls and blue windows. Thus, the original appearance of this picturesque village is preserved.
The capital of the African country, the city of the same name, Tunis, is located on the shores of Lake Tunis, connected by a canal to the Gulf of Tunis on the Mediterranean Sea. It is the main metropolitan center of the country.
The heart of the city is the Medina. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, distinguished by being the best-preserved urban area in the Arab world.
To the east lies the modern part of the city with its central street, Avenue Habib Bourguiba, designed by the French as a copy of the Parisian Champs-Élysées with its cafes, grand hotels, opera house, and public buildings.
Next Part 2: The Sands of the Sahara
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