tour 50 + "Legends of Tunisia"
A friend invited me to this trip. Before that, she wanted to drag me to London. But really, what did I forget there? ! But I was always drawn to Africa, I was interested. Again, a friend calls and says, let's go. Well, let's go.
We flew to the city of Monastir, spent the night at the hotel. Early in the morning we set off to conquer the expanses of Tunisia.
On the way south.
El Jem. African Colosseum. The place where the shooting of the film "Gladiator" took place. Part of this place has been restored and concerts are even held here. Under the square of the amphitheater there are dungeons of people and animals. Here you can well-designed sewerage and a well. Animals were raised in cages to the square, and people climbed the stairs. Spectators around the battle area are as high as a 10-story building, and the stairs are three flights in total. The panorama of the town opens from the top places.
Matmata and troglodytes. It's amazing how people adapt to nature. In the desert, they came up with the idea to settle in mountain caves so that it would not be cold in winter and hot in summer. Troglodytes are cave people, some still live like that. Adjusted for the modern world with a TV, a car...
Sahara Desert. Until the evening we had a camel ride. Lived to her age to still ride a dromedary. Here it rises first on the front, then on the back. Moved on the road. Three camels are led by one driver. Some chose a horse and cart. The city of Duz is the "gateway to the desert". In the sands we spent the sun.
Dawn was met on the largest saline lake Chott el Jerid. Don't forget to buy dates here. Around the oases of date palms. In one of the settlements, they moved into a jeep to continue to surf the expanses of the desert, up to the conditional border with Algeria.
Tataween. Familiar name. And not by chance. The planet Tataween from the movie "Star Wars" is taken from here. Here among the sands are the scenery for one of the episodes of the film. The sun has already risen and the desert sparkles with plates of glass. So the dust of the desert melted under the hot sun.
Shebika. Another location for filming the film, but already modern. I don't remember what it's called, but it doesn't matter. Here is something else interesting. A small waterfall hid among the Lesser Atlas Mountains. I did not deny myself the pleasure of swimming here. The water is surprisingly warm. Here they are refreshed. Tried after swimming and freshly squeezed pomegranate juice. Lyapota.
Kairouan. Place of pilgrimage for Muslims. A seven-time visit to this place is equivalent to the Hajj to Mecca. This city is also famous for its carpets. Silk carpets, when viewed from different angles, change color. There are no carpets in the store! Traditional, with symbolic patterns. From simple to the most complex. From small bedspreads on chairs to carpets, which should be put in a large hall at the right time.
In the evening, having made a circle around the southern part of Tunisia, we returned to Monastir. The next days we were waiting for the northern part of the country.
Dugga. Well-preserved ruins of an ancient city. Great theater on top of the hill. Whispering from the stage can be heard at the highest places. Wind area. Market. Temple. Educational institution. The houses of the rich. Thermae. Here you can see and go through the entire infrastructure of the ancient city.
Ain Darakhim. Tunisian Switzerland. A town with tiled roofs in the mountains, lost among the forests. What a contrast to the desert we visited just yesterday.
Tabarka with needle-shaped rocks emerging from the sea. Fortress at the top of the hill. Sea and forest in Tunisia. Not only the desert.
Morning of a new day and the continuation of our journey.
Reserve Ishkul. Wintering place for birds on the lake near the mountain of the same name. In the reserve there is a museum dedicated to the inhabitants of this place. The fog was lost at the top and froze in small droplets in the air. Time stopped.
Bizerte. Lunch time. Near the old port there is a market with vegetables, fruits and a variety of seafood. Having bought fish, vegetables and fruits, they settled down in a restaurant nearby. Here they cooked a grill from the brought, cut a salad. So we ate.
The night was met in Hammamet. And on the road again in the morning. We are waiting for Tunisia - the capital.
Medina. The heart of the capital. The streets of the bazaar move away from the mosque like arrows. Closer perfumes, wedding baskets, away chasing.
Bardo Museum. A unique museum that has collected truly amazing mosaics collected from different parts of the country. On three floors on the floor, on the walls there are mosaics from simple ornaments to complex paintings. In addition to the mosaics that make up the main collection of the museum, there are sculptures, amphorae, coins. . .
Carthage. We traveled by bus from one ruin to another. The city is hidden under residential areas and only a part of it is open during excavations. If Dugga is a miniature city. Then Carthage after Dugga is striking in its scale. Some terms are worth it. Although there are only basements left, the scale allows you to understand.
Sit boo Said. White-blue city. City of poets and artists. Here we visited the mufti's house-museum. Courtyard, living rooms, library, kitchen. From the roof you have a good view of the whole city. At the end we walked through the streets. This was the last place we visited during our trip across the country. It was the last day in Monastir and the flight home.
One day it was evening when the group got together and we talked, sitting by the fireplace. All the way with us was an escort from the airport in Moscow and back.