Just got back to Mali from a week in Tunisia. Venturing out of West Africa for the first time was an eye-opening experience. Tunisia is very developed: rail system, trash pickup, you buy a SIM card from a cell phone store rather than a guy on the street. Also more of a European influence, judging by the amount of espresso and skinny black jeans. Perhaps what was most shocking was the cold. It was like a Seattle winter but without central heating or a jacket. I put on the three hoodies I had packed and didn't take them off for four days. Fortunately, re-wearing clothes is something I have become a pro at after two and a half years in Peace Corps.
I met up with a friend who had just finished her service in Mali and had already spent a week in Tunisia doing the Star Wars stuff down south. We spent the next week doing a big loop of the north-Tunis, Tabarka, Ain Draham, El Kef, and Mahdia. Absolutely beautiful country. Enjoy!
The public rail system in downtown Tunis. No big deal.
Atop Byrsa Hill, looking into Tunis
Antonine Baths in Carthage
El Kef
The kasbah at El Kef, formerly used to defend Tunisia against Algeria (the dark clouds to the west).
Mahdia
Mahdia was the warmest place we went.
Caucasian+blond hair+glasses=sisters. At least that is what every Tunisian we met thought.
No comments:
Post a Comment