July 25- Tunisia

This morning as we sailed into Tunis- actually the port of La Goulette- camels and traditional music greeted us. The temperature was nearly 100 degrees and the sun was beating down. We boarded our bus with wonderful air conditioning and a terrific guide named Ben.

Tunisia has a long and interesting history. Africa was named for the Berber Afri tribe who lived near Carthage. In early Tunisian history, the expanding Sahara Desert separated Berber tribes from ancestral Egyptians by 3000BC and cultural distinctions began to emerge. Egyptian civilization flourished on the fertile banks of the Nile while Berbers were forced to live nomadic lives following scarce and shifting water and food supplies. During the era the Carthage-based Punic Empire grew powerful for a time, but after Hannibal was expelled, the civilization declined. Roman soldiers destroyed Carthage in 146BC, but Roman rule was undermined when Roman Emperors tried to suppress Christianity. Despite their best efforts, the faith spread across the empire- including Northern Africa- but Christians were supplanted by 7^th Century Islamic armies who brought Muhammad’s messages to the region.

Ottomans also invaded along the southern Mediterranean coast. Their 16^th century incursions brought stability and prosperity. The thriving Tunisian economy was also fueled by piracy. Bandit bases once lined the Tunisian coast but in 1815, the US Navy attacked Tunis and effectively halted the practice.

Today was actually the national holiday to celebrate 52 years of their being a republic. The year before the French government turned to country to the people of Tunisia. Tunisia is a Muslim country but at the time they became a republic they declared polygamy was illegal. Women serve in government, the military and on the police force. Education is compulsory for boys and girls from age 5 to 16. The literacy rate is very high in Tunisia. The population is about 92% Muslim, 4& Tunisian Jews and 3% Christian. The overview of the town has a prominent church steeple and the minaret of a mosque.

Our guide kept saying we were so lucky that this is a holiday because the traffic was so much better. We saw the flower market, the fruit and vegetable markets, and the main market. We traveled in the old town- the Medina- with ancient walls and doorways. The Medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We also visited the charming town of Sidi Bou Said. It was lovely with white house and blue trim. We stopped and did a little shopping and also cooled down with some water and a coke.

We saw big fields that have been cleared to begin an excavation project of Carthage. This is also a UNESCO site. We could see the remains of a Roman Aquaduct that has already begun to be uncovered.

We visited a beautiful old cathedral- Saint Louis- which isn’t used for worship anymore. It is a museum and was naturally surrounded by vendors very similar to the aggressive vendors in Egypt.

The most surprising thing to us was a visit to the North African America Cemetery from WWII. There are 2,833 headstones in this hallowed place. There are 240 unknown soldiers buried. The American Embassy is responsibility for the upkeep and the place was perfectly maintained.

We enjoyed our day in Tunis even with the hot sun and the steep temperatures. Our other companions took a longer trip so it will be interesting to hear how they fared.