Tunisia

Year Visited: 2018 – Oct

Originally I didn’t have any plan to come to Tunisia, but after visiting all of the Balkans with my younger son, I was at my country count #98. So after visiting Slovenia, we decided to add Malta and Tunisia to our list to increase my number of countries count to 100 and my Son’s first country in Africa.

Tunisia is a country in the Northern Africa, Its northernmost point, Cape Angela, is also the northernmost point on the African continent. Tunisia is considered to be the only fully democratic sovereign state in the Arab world. Tunisia has a rich cultural history, ever since Antiquity. The Carthaginian Empire, Rome’s arch enemy, was centered in Tunisia.

We spent four days in Tunis, the capital city and explored the surrounding areas. Medina of Tunis is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Tourists are not a common sight in Tunis. Tunisians are very friendly and helpful people; whenever we needed directions, everyone tried their best to help us despite the language barrier. Tunis has a well developed Public transport system. Also, taxis are metered and cheap.

Photos below are from Tunis, the capital city.

Welcome to my 100th country!

Our Hotel was in the Medina, the old quarter of Tunis. Medina has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. The Medina contains some 700 monuments, including palaces, mosques, mausoleums, madrasas and fountains dating from 12th century.

Exploring Medina neighborhood.

Centuries old market in Medina. All types of commodities including slaves used to be traded here, today’s market is mainly that of day to day goods.

Very friendly young people of Tunis.

Walking around Medina you will notice incredibly beautiful and colorful doors, many of them are quite decorated. These doors are symbolic representation of status and fortune of the families living inside.

Beautiful doors in Tunisia.

We found an Indian restaurant in Tunis. Very upscale place in a 5-star hotel. very delicious food. Celebrating my 100th country and Raul’s first African country with Indian cuisine and Celtia, the most popular Tunisian Beer.

Celebrating 100th country with Indian food and Tunisian Beer Celtia.

Our local friend drove us to Sidi Bou Said, a picturesque sea side village near Tunis with narrow cobbled streets and white houses with blue roofs and windows, perched on a hill, with breathtaking view of the Mediterranean Sea and the Bay of Tunis. Sidi Bou Said is one of the prettiest town in Tunisia.