edpaffjr.comSandwiched between two days at sea, is our final stop on our honeymoon cruise, Tunis. Tunis is the capital of the north African country Tunisia. So our cruise involves two continents, among all of the different countries we are visiting. I think the first thing we’ll do when we get to Tunis is to leave. I’d like to immediately take a train out to the ancient city of Carthage and continue on to Sidi Bou Said, a town which is famous for its white buildings with blue roofs and windows. It looks very picturesque!
Once we are done exploring the suburbs, we’ll head back into the center of Tunis and explore the sights in town, including the medina (old town) and souk (more or less the market). Depending on the time, we may also try to take in the Bardo Museum or the Zitouna Mosque. I think it will be neat to just see a country that should be quite a bit different from the others we’ll see during our crusie.
So here is our final cruise itinerary:
- Start: Barcelona
- Day One: Cannes / Monte Carlo / Nice
- Day Two: Livorno / Florence / Pisa
- Day Three: Rome
- Day Four: Naples / Capri / Sorrento / Pompeii
- Day Five: At Sea
- Day Six: Venice
- Day Seven: Venice
- Day Eight: Split, Croatia
- Day Nine: At Sea
- Day Ten: Tunis, Tunisia
- Day Eleven: At Sea
- End: Barcelona
I still have some research to do for Barcelona, since we’ll spend a night there before the cruise, but we are definitely in good shape for the majority of the honeymoon. Now if only I could skip over the next week.
Dude !! Tunis, are you kidding me !! .. I spent alot of time there during my days in the Peace Corps back in the early 90’s. My village, Sakiet Side Youseff (City of Joseph) was about 3 hours from Tunis, but I used to venture up there whenever I got the chance. Tunis is actually a very cosmopolitan city and offers quite a bit of culture. You have the obvious Arab culture but also alot of French influences with the cafes’ and restaurants.
Definitely check out the Medina and absolutely, positively venture to Side Bou Said. That was THE actual town where I spent 6 weeks for “in-country language training”. There is a cafe’ at the very top of the hill, overlooking a 1000 ft cliff, which has the best view of the Meditarian Sea on the planet. I cant think of the name but you can take the train from Tunis directly to Side Bou. The cafe’/restaurant has to be mentioned on any travel book you have. That place is a MUST !!..
Also every cafe’ in Tunisia have these water pipe “bongs” that you can rent to smoke this awesome tobacco. Its called Shesha and basically its leaf tobacco dipped in honey water.
These bastards put a handful of this shit in the “bowl” of the bong of the water pipe and then put a piece of lit charcoal on top of the tobacco. We’re talking Midieval here.
The tobacco is so sticky and wet you can’t light it with a bic. All I can say is do not … And I mean DO NOT inhale this tobacco … Smoke it like you would a cigar … You should definitely try it, if nothing else for the “experience”. Also if you do decide to partake in this local custom be sure to wipe off the mouth piece with alcohol or put a flame to it because they provide it for whoever wants it and then they put it back in their closet for the next toothless sheik …
Also do not think that you’ll be getting any Starbucks Frappacinnos in Tunisia. All the coffee served is very thick and black… You can tell this immediately from the black stained expresso cups they serve you and by the black stained teeth of every person in the country.
Also, if you do go to the Medina and decide to buy from one of the vendors, you can expect to be high-balled at least 200% in price for being an American so keep that in mind when negotiating … Dont take pictures of official buildings and if you’re a woman dont travel in large groups with other women without a male presence … Other wise you’ll be harrassed, hit on, and followed by large groups of Arabic men …
There used to be an awesome restaurant right on the main drag called “The Baghdad Cafe” that served an awesome curry goat sandwich …
Enjoy !!! …
Thanks for all of the advice, Todd. I think we’ll head straight for Sidi Bou Said first thing upon our arrival. I was planning to take the train there, so I’m glad you mentioned it. Surprisingly most of my travel books I’ve been reading haven’t included any of the Tunisia, and are mostly geared toward the European side of things. From quickly searching online, it appears that the famous tourist trap cafe is Cafe des Nattes. But I’ve also been reading of another cafe, higher up the hill, called Sidi Chabaane, which is supposed to have amazing views. I bet that is the place you are talking about, so we’ll check it out.
Thanks for the advice on the coffee, perhaps we’ll go for the mint tea instead. Is that any good?
I don’t think we’ll be with any large groups at all, though the cruise provided excursions are much cheaper in Tunisia, I think we’ll enjoy getting out on our own even more.
Did you ever go to Carthage? I’m still not sure what’s the best things to see there.
PS I think we’ll skip the goat.
Unfortunately although the city of Carthage has biblical and historical significance the Romans basically bulldozed and razed the entire city back around 200 B.C….. It is basically a tourist trap … From my memory you enter a 100 X 100 ft square of the “city” and experience about 2 dozen rocks sticking up about 3 feet above the earth …. Now… the good news is .. the train ride (from my memory) is right on the way to Sidi Bou Said … So if nothing else you can stop off, pay your $20 … see the 3 foot stones, and head off to the cafe on the hill in Sidi Bou … However.. Carthage is right on the ocean and the scenery is magnificant.. From my memory …. (again I was carefree and wild, and quite possibly MIGHT have had a beer or 2 on my way there) … so if nothing else you should go there and experience the place…. but dont expect anything Grand … a la Stone Henge ….
Also there is an ancient ampitheatre near by the Carthage “memorial” where.. at least back in 1990 Sting and Madonna allegedly had performed at years earlier …. Depending on what day/night you visit that also might be an opportunity … Dude, this is bringing back memories!!! …
That would be sweet to see a concert there, though I’m having problems finding a schedule online. We’ll probably be back on the ship anyway, we are only there from 8am to 6pm.
I’m trying to picture you and Kim hanging out in the first cafe’ you run into, bellied up to the bar sharing a water pipe.
Tell you what … Theres $20 in it for you guys if I get a picture of you 2 sucking down some smoke !!! Hows that !!!
Yeah I’ll go another $20 on that deal.