Tunisa - a safari adventure
Written: Sep 25 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: food, desert, historical landmarks
Cons: market shopping, many many small costs that add up
The Bottom Line: If you are given the opportunity, take it!
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| wgrubbs's Full Review: Tunisia |
My first journey to Africa was a safari trip I made with my girlfriend for New Year 2001. We landed in Tunis, the capital city of about 1.5 million inhabitants, then stayed for a few days in Hamamet before jumping into a 4x4 which took us on an adventure through the country. We visited El Jem, home of one of the most preserved Roman arenas, Matmata, where Barbar's still live in self-made caves and where Star Wars Episode IV (the first one produced) was made. We also rode camels and drove over a salt lake. Saw a zoo, and a carpet making factory.
The only glimpse of the Arab world I have ever seen before was in Bosnia, however, this is definitely the loosest Arab community in the world. Men in will drink in public and they also treat women much more as an equal than else where in the Arab world.
Our trip to El Jem was one of the most interesting for me.
To take a glimpse at such a great development made hundreds and hundreds of years ago in another time by an extinct people.
El Jem was a centre in North Africa. Known for it's olives and olive oil, the Romans used this area as a trading post. The arena was used for gladiator fights between men and even between men and animals.
After the Arabs conquered this region, the arena was basically not used and has changed very little to this day. However, concerts and theatre performances are made in the arena now.
The best part about this arena is that it has a well preserved basement, where you can venture beneath the arena. You can see individual cells where soldiers, gladiators and animals were caged.
There is also a myth that there is an underground tunel starting at the basement of the arena and extending some 60 km towards the sea-side where the stones of the arena were taken. Several people are believed to have escaped through this route. (the names of these people will be inserted here later, when I confirm some details about El Jem)
These guys here are Arabs and behind them is a shop where, if you are not accustomed to Arab dealers and are as close as 50 meters from the shop, you will not be able to leave the shop unless you buy something in it.
Yes, the talk about Arabs being aggresive salesmen is totally true. And yes, it is true that you do not pay the first price he offers you lest you wish to insult him. I found out that, in Tunisia, you can get most goods at 30% of what he first offers you, but you will have to fight for it... which he won't mind even if he says "you break my head!" and "you make me bankrupt!" And be ready for insults, ladies. Women are about as equal as a camel in Tunisia. I've heard they tend to be much more liberal than other arab nations, but my experience didn't tell me so.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Couples
Best Time to Travel Here: Mar - May
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Epinions.com ID:
wgrubbs
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Member: Wesley Grubbs
Location: Wisconsin
Reviews written: 9
Trusted by: 2 members
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