The play I’ve been working on (a devised adaptation of Andersen’s The Little Match Girl, no dialogue, live music throughout) might go to Tunisia. It’s still a huge “maybe” as it depends on funding, but it sounds amazing!
We’d be performing in Tunis, so far, but I’d like to see some more while I’m there.
So, has anyone been to Tunisia? Any tips, must-sees, warnings, advice?
As it’s not really a top destination, feel free to throw in any experiences of the general area! I might be able to extend the travel plans anyway
Make sure you take a side trip to the ruins at Carthage. You don’t say when you’re going, but it’s one hot mothersticker in the summer. As in, you walk out of your air conditioned hotel and think your going to pass out hot. I didn’t get to see much of the town, but I’m sure there must be a bazaar for shopping.
Oh yes, Carthage! I’ve only just been told, and have literally not thought about it at all.
We’d be going in July, but I like boiling hot! I used to live in Brazil, where it would go 45 C. Wikipedia says Tunis would be a mere 32, which sounds good
Zebra, I heard that in light of the current economic situation, the light at the end has been switched off. So I think we’ll fly.
:eek: Wow! That’s on the list then! The website also shows there is a puppetry festival going on, amazing as our show uses puppetry. Shame we can’t make it there in time.
Sidi Bou Said is a lovely place to visit. All buildings are white/blue. I can recommend it. Kairouan with its mosque and little bazar streets is not that touristic and a nice town to visit as well! Hopefully you can go. Enjoy your stay!
I took a 10-day trip to Tunisia two years ago and had a wonderful time. I spent a few days in Tunis and took a tour of a good bit of the rest of the country with a private driver, who ended up being a great driver/tour guide/translater. I can give you his name if you PM me.
Language was a problem for me there - very few people speak English, so if you don’t speak either French or Arabic be prepared to use a lot of sign language.
Around Tunis I recommend seeing the Bardo Museum, Carthage, and Sidi Bou Said, and spend some time getting lost in the medina.
I really enjoyed my short tour around the country with Abdoul. We went far enough south to go to Ksar Ghilane in the Sahara, then up through Douz and the great salt lake of Chott El Jerid. I saw lots of Roman ruins at Sbietla, Dougga, and El Djem; ksars and troglodyte homes in Matmata and Medinine where Star Wars was filmed; and beautiful beach resort at Hammamet. If you have any questions about my travels, let me know.
Oh yes, it’s definite now: we’re taking Little Match Girl to Tunisia! All other dates and places are still a maybe (so please keep fingers crossed for New York!)
I google Sidi Bou Said, it looks so pretty! I just can’t believe a town would look that beautiful. Thanks, Miss Einighausen & Walkabout!
I do speak French (it’s a bit rusty as it got confused after I learned Spanish, Portuguese and Romanian, all also romance languages) so hopefully I’ll be able to communicate a little bit. The driver might be a good idea, I might PM you about him when I know more about travel plans. Is he affordable (I’m pooooor)? I don’t mind driving in dodgy places though, I’ve around Eastern Europe and South America so I used to a bit of lawless insanity on the road…
Ooh, Walkabout, all this is getting me so excited. Those troglodite homes are definitely on the list now, and well… pretty much all the stuff you mentioned.
I haven’t allowed myself to really research the country yet as I’m finishing my dissertation, so this thread is all my information for now. It’s really helpful! Please keep it coming!
Does anyone have an experience of being asked to tea by locals? Does anyone want to add the experiences of a woman travelling there?
I am a woman, so I can comment on my experience traveling as one. It was not the most comfortable reception I’ve ever gotten. I was never really harassed, but I was constantly stared at. The streets and cafes were filled with men, and there were very few women to be seen walking around alone, or even in groups, especially in the more rural areas. I felt uncomfortable going out by myself in some areas, so I ate most of my meals in my hotel room. You might be braver than I am though.
My excursion to the south was for five days and cost 870 Tunisian Dinars. This paid for the car and driver, and I paid for all gasoline, tolls, entrance fees, food, and hotel rooms for myself. Abdoul had made a plan of what sites to take me to before we left, but he had no problem changing plans and taking me wherever I wanted to go. He drove me around all day and found a decent hotel for me each evening.
I stayed in pretty inexpensive hotels and ate mostly sandwiches, so this was the cheapest vacation I ever took. I think it cost me a total of $2600, including airfare from the US, for the ten days I was there.
Walkabout, thank you, I’ll be prepared for the staring. It’s what I’ve heard before. I’ve seen a bit of Africa before, and had a bit of staring, so I’ll be able to handle it I think. It’s just a bit annoying at times, but I’m sure the beautiful country will make up for that.
The prices overall sound pretty good then. XE tells me the Abdoul & car cost the equivalent of £430, which sounds reasonable for such a service. I will let you know if I have an idea of travel plans where he might be able to help, as a good reference is always great.
Koxinga I feel like I’m being whooshed
I googled Roman Coliseum at El Jem: wow! Thanks Desert Nomad!
Seconded. IIRC it’s the second biggest amphitheatre after the Colosseum.
One piece of warning that I picked up from a guide book before I went there in the eighties (things may have changed since then, though). Tunisian food is quite spicy (and in my experience very good) but they think that tourists don’t appreciate it, so instead the food they serve visitors is totally bland and horrible.
