Tunisia 2008: 05 A Walking Tour Around Town...

"Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it..." 

(Medina main Gate, Bab el-Bah)

Day o5: 13 March 2008

(Tunisia)

We rested well last night. This morning we stayed in bed longer and had a late breakfast. By noon we checked out, left our luggage in the hotel and spent the rest of the afternoon touring the city of Tunis on foot. Our flight to Rome is at 8.00 pm and catch the connecting flight to Athens. 

Tunisia’s capital city is one of North Africa’s most easygoing and laid-back cities, still full of exotic appeal. Most of the main sightseeing is in the Medina old town.

From Carlton Hotel we walked to the medina. The last time we came it was late in the afternoon and most of the shops were already closed. This time of the day the souq was crowded with locals and foreigners. Being the oldest part of Tunis, the medina is packed with shops and stalls selling everything from spices to carpets. Jewellery, pottery, hand-carved olive wood and babouche slippers were genuinely made locally and all are good buys. Although there are a couple of fixed-price shops, most places will expect buyers to haggle.

(The narrow street of Medina)

(A quieter part of Medina)

(An old door in the centre of Medina)

There are a number of historical mosques in the Medina. The first mosque we visited was the Al-Zaytūnah Mosque. It is also an important Muslim university in Tunis. Dating to the 8th century, the mosque was rebuilt and subsequently became one of the most important mosques in Tunisia and was the source of the intellectual elite in the early 20th century. Some prominent members of the contemporary Islamist movement, such as the leader of the Nahda Party graduated from the university.

(The oldest mosque in Tunisia)

(Inner corridor with pillars and columns)

(A blue clock in Medina)

Another historical mosque is the Youssef Dey Mosque. It was the 11th mosque to be built in the capital city. In the late 11th century, it underwent extensive restoration and become an annex of the University Ez-Zaytunnah.

(The alley leading to Youssef Dey Mosque)

(The main minaret of the mosque)

Next to Al-Zaytunah Mosque is the Madrasa Slimania. The porch is located at a higher level compared to the street which offers access to a richly decorated entrance with an Ottoman touch. Columns hold its beautiful stone arch with its green roof tiles cornice.

The courtyard is surrounded by four galleries: one of them gives access to a prayer room and the three others to 18 rooms formerly hosting students. The prayer room has a colourful marble mihrab. It has an octagonal dome covered with green tiles. The walls of this room are covered by panels deploying the Basmala and the 99 Names of Allah. Madrasa Slimania is nowadays the head office of many medical associations.

(Another interesting minaret)

(Arches and columns of the courtyard)

Another nearby mosque within the vicinity of the Medina is Almohad Mosque of the Kasbah. It was the first mosque to be built in Tunis after Al-Zaytuna Mosque and was at first a place of prayer, only for the rulers who lived in the Kasbah. Later it became a public mosque for the Friday prayer of the city.

We visited the National Monument, Monument de la Kasbah situated at the kasbah Sqare. It is a concrete monument dedicated to a local martyr who fought against the Spanish Colonial rule.

(Almohad Mosque of the Kasbah)

(Monument Place de la Kasbah)

Surrounding the paved esplanade of Kasbah Square are the new City Hall, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Place du Government and Ministry of Finance.

(The Government Offices)

(Tunis Ministry of Finance)

After a few hours of the self-guided walking tour, we were exhausted and our feet were hurting. It was already late afternoon when we walked through the Medina and entered Le Palmarium Shopping Mall to cool off. Le Palmarium is one of the many modern shopping malls in Tunis. We had hot coffee and pancakes at one of the road-side bistro while waiting for the transport for the airport transfer.

(Another door in Medina)

(Le Palmarium Shopping Mall)

(Taking a rest before we walked back)

(Hot cup of coffee with pancake and honey)

(Waiting for our Airport transfer)

(Goodbye Tunisia! Hello Athens!)

We arrived early at Tunis-Carthage International Airport. Check-in activities were smooth until we were at the Immigration counter. We had problem with our passports as the Immigration officers-in-charge did not recognized the entry stamping from their own port of entry, Port La Goulette. Because of their incompetent and ignorant, we were made to wait. There were no seats so we sat on the floor and feel like illegal immigrants. After much arguments and making a complete fool of themselves, the made some checks with higher authorities. A higher-ranked officer were called to clear the confusion and apologized. Red-faced and embarrassed, the Immigration officers at the counter finally cleared and stamped our passports. We were allowed to use the fast lane to board our plane to Rome as the gate was already closing.

What a drama…

👈 2008: Athens, Greece

2008 Tunisia: Carthage/Sousse/Sfax 👉