TUNISIA

Location - North Africa; Capital - Tunis; Population - 10 million; Currency - Tunisia Dinar MORE TUNISIA

There's plenty of cheap flights from London to Monastir, from where I headed for the capital Tunis in March 2008.

The Tunisian Dinar

The picturesque clifftop village of Sidi Bou Said is just up the road from Tunis

There's a lot of blue in Sidi Bou Said and throughout Tunisia

The entrance to Dar el-Annabi, an 18th century house in Sidi Bou Said

The quiet side-streets of Sidi Bou Said

Orange and blue - Sidi Bou Said

Sidi Bou Said

Looking down from the village to Sidi Bou Said's marina

The centre of activity is Place Sidi Bou Said - go up the steps to a cafe

Sidi Bou Said looks out over the Mediterranean Sea

Sidi Bou Said

The former naval port of the legendary Phoenician and Roman city of Carthage

More info on Carthage here and the great Carthaginian military leader Hannibal here

Stelae cover the Sanctuary of Tophet, where it is believed children were sacrificed to the Phoenician gods - Carthage

The Acropolium, set on Byrsa Hill, was built by the French in the 19th century - Carthage

The view from Byrsa Hill includes some remains of Carthage in the foreground, and the naval and merchant ports on the shores of the Mediterranean

The Antonine baths were built by the Romans and featured, amongst others, a tepidarium, caldarium and frigidarium (warm, hot and cold rooms) - Carthage

Carthage was built by the Phoenicians in the 9th century BC, the Romans razing it to the ground in 146 BC following their defeat of the Phoenicians (Carthaginians) in the 3rd Punic war. Over a 100 years later Rome resettled the city.

A reconstucted section of the Roman villas - Carthage

Mosaics, mosaics and more mosaics - Roman villa site, Carthage

A statue of philosopher Ibn Khaldun stands in front of St Vincent de Paul cathedral in Tunis

Also on Avenue Habib Bourguiba is the clocktower - Tunis

Early morning on Avenue Habib Bourguiba - Tunis

There's lots of cafes lining Avenue Habib Bourguiba, a perfect way to spend a lazy afternoon/evening (and some serve beer) - Tunis

Place de la Victoire is one of the entrances to Tunis' 7th century medina

Place de la Victoire, Tunis

I was surprised how quiet the medina's shopping district was at 8 in the morning. I guess they're waiting for the tourist hordes later on - Tunis

Tunis medina

The souqs busy up soon after - Tunis medina

Zaytouna mosque, or the Great Mosque, lies in the heart of Tunis medina

There's excellent views of the mosque from the shop roofs in the medina - Tunis

A shop roof - Tunis medina

A residential area of Tunis medina

The eerie streets of Tunis medina at night

The minaret of Hamuda Pasha mosque in the medina, close to Place de la Kasbah - Tunis

There's many government buildings close to the medina's exit on the west side - Tunis

The Tunisian flag is raised in a ceremony at Place de la Kasbah - Tunis

A horse and cart carry palm leaves from the huge palmeraie in Tozeur, an overnight train ride south west of Tunis

A real dinosaur at Chak Wak park, Tozeur.
Mind you it didn't move so it could be a model..

The old quarter of Tozeur is known as Ouled el-Hadef and dates to the 14th century

A lovely place for a (non-alcoholic) drink is down the steps of Chechkhane, on the way to the tacky Tozeur Park - Tozeur

Ong Jemal is a 4-wheel drive trip from Tozeur or Nefta

Standing in front of one of the lesser Star Wars sets near Mos Espa, which itself is close to Ong Jemal

All 4 wheelers in the area head for the Star Wars set of Mos Espa

The set was used in The Phantom Menace - Mos Espa

Mos Espa

The Mos Espa set is in good shape considering how long ago the film was shot..

But look at the buildings from behind and you'll notice the 'Blue Peter style' nature of the structures - Mos Espa

A local in his back garden - Mos Espa

The palmeraie and spring-fed pool at Nefta

Taking the bus through the vast salt lake of Chott el-Jerid from Tozeur to the coastal city of Gabes

Matmata is famous for its underground Berber troglodyte homes, helping inhabitants to stay cool in the Summer and warm in the Winter

Matmata

I recommend staying the night at a troglodyte hotel, after the tourist groups have left.
Hotel Marhala is a good place to stay - Matmata

Hotel Marhala, Matmata

The grounds of Hotel Marhala, Matmata

Matmata is also famous as a Star Wars location, the Hotel Sidi Driss being used in several of the films

More info on Star Wars sites and the Sidi Driss hotel here

The trogolodyte home of a Matmata local

Matmata's museum is a former troglodyte dwelling

The bedroom of a traditional Matmata home

The landscape surrounding Matmata

Website and content Copyright © 2008-2011 Mark Wilkinson. All rights reserved.

LINKS

www.cometotunisia.co.uk - Tunisia tourist board

www.tourismtunisia.com

www.tunisia.com

www.sncft.com.tn - Tunisian Railways website, currently in French and Arabic only

I am not responsible for the content of external websites.