If you are in the mood to explore some fabulous attractions a scant few have ever seen by comparison, Tunisia is one place to investigate. Despite the negative reports, even Thomas Cook has rated the country one of the biggest coming trends for UK travelers. Based on the numbers of searches people make online, Tunisia is a lot more interesting than many have considered for travel.
The marvelous seaside Sidi Bou Said, Tunis - courtesy © hypnocreative - Fotolia.com
Recreation, sport, sightseeing, cultural activities, art, or archaeology Tunisia is simply amazing. Year round Summer is another benefit tourists to Tunis and other areas will benefit from here. The land of the Carthaginians and Phoenician holds so many undiscovered wonders. Most people today do not realize, Carthage was once the gem of the ancient world controlling a territory that included almost all of North Africa and parts of Europe. The map below tells of the influence of this magnificent civilization.
Carthage - courtesy Javierfv1212
Attractions you never heard of but which have inspired awe throughout the ages await here. Places like; the site of Carthage, the medina in Sfax, Dar Hussein, Kairouan, Tourbet El Bey, even the contemporary Club Tahar Haddad (image below) sits atop a site steeped in history. The list of attractions is actually too broad to list here.
Club Culturel Taher Hadded
And if you are wondering what to eat and how to travel about while in Tunisia, get ready for the most succulent lamb you ever tasted, and the wonderful bread called Khobz Tabouna, not to mention little fried sausages you won’t be able to resist called Merguez. For finishing libations, most visitors really enjoy the Boukha, a brandy made from figs. Oh, and there’s Tunisian cappuccino, about as strong a coffee as you can get. To get to and from all these wonderful places the first time visitor may be a little discouraged. Bus service is not all it is cracked up to be, and at the airport you’re best advised to only take the “yellow” taxis. That said, renting a car is a great choice here if you are a decent driver. You can see an awful lot of Tunisia via auto, particularly the four wheel drive variety.
El Jem amphitheater - courtesy © adisa - Fotolia.com
Nightlife, dining, chic spas, whatever you can imagine the princes of Carthage partaking of, it’s all still here in Tunisia. Tunis and other Tunisian seaside communities are perhaps the most interesting transition points in between what is ancient world richness and emerging modernity to be found. Aside the arid climate and untouched beaches here, the place that was peopled in between the Punic Wars with Rome and the Arabic conquests of the 7th century forged a place on Earth imbued with the imprint of a great many cultures. Tunisia is a melting pot of fascinating dynamics.
View from The Lounge at Dar Zarrouk
From the remote Roman city of Dougga to Saharan Matmata where part of Star Wars was filmed, visitors to Tunisia enjoy everything from camel rides to windsurfing the aquamarine waters of the Med. Five star luxury, way out back desert adventure, like I said – you cannot imagine this place, you have to see it.
Lastly, we would be remiss if we did not mention the political atmosphere of Tunisia in light of the past overthrow of the regime there. While many tourists are more concerned since reports of violence in the recent past, no violence against tourists has been recorded in Tunisia anytime in the immediate present. While demonstrations do still occur, being safe in Tunis or other cities is not much different from being safe in any major metropolis.
We so encourage you to visit the links we have provided, to connect with the people at Come to Tunisia’s Facebook here.
Ruins at Dougga - Courtesy © Running Man - Fotolia.com
