2009 European Travels: Tunis, Tunisia

On Wednesday September 16 we arrived in Northern Africa in the Port of Tunis that is the captial of Tunisia. It is actually made up of three cities. The modern capital, the Arabic Medina (Old Town) and Carthage, the ancient Phoenician. We took a "shopping" excursion thru the ship to the Medina. If you're not familiar with a medina it's origin is from the middle ages when a city's first defense was the wall around the town then the streets were purposely made into a maze, laden with secrets, narrow alleyways, small shops, huge mosques, and palaces to further confuse their enemies if they got thru the outside wall. Our guide here is telling us not to leave on our own cause we would never find our way out and he was right.

We were never left to "shop" on our own. First we were taken to a rug shop, led up a small crooked and very old staircase and brought into a small room for the purpose of selling us a Tunisian rug. They served us all a hot tea (it was gross),

then proceeded to pressure sell us on their rugs, camel hair to silk. (I never did find out if they had to kill the camel to get the hair, does anyone know). Dare not take any interest or you will be pressured more to buy.

Next we were whisked away to one shop that was just opened to us with many sales men trying to get you to buy something. Again, dare not take any interest in anything or you'll be sorry. They all expect you the haggle with them.

Next we went to another village painted all white with blue trim called Sidi Bou Said.

The blue window boxes here are where the women could see others as they did not show themselves. I'm not sure if that is still the purpose, I did see a few women on the street but none in the shops, just men.

We were left on the streets to "shop" by ourselves and again, dare not look at anything or there will be high pressure. But..you hear them say "something for nothing", I don't think they get that.