Tag: Tunisia

BY OKORIE UGURU

Just back from Tunisia, OKORIE UGURU, highlights the features that make the North African country a tourist haven.

Tunisia, a country that sits as the tip of North Africa, is only a few kilometres away from Europe. It is separated from Spain only by the Mediterranean Sea. Seen by many as an Arab nation, the citizens are proud of their heritage and rich history. They take pride in their identity as Berbers, a race the ancient Romans derogatorily regarded as Barbarians in the period that preceded Arab civilization and even the Romans.

Tunisia is a country littered with small and huge pieces of ancient terra cotta, relics of hundreds of years when the area was an active part of the ancient world. The country has survived waves and waves on conquerors from the Greco-Romans to the Arabs. After each experience, they survived to rebuild their cities and towns.

The largest number of visitors to Tunisia is from Europe. They come in their thousands to deep in the salty Thalassa water of the Mediterranean and tan under the North African sun. Key cities of this oasis in the Maghreb sprawl on the shores of the Mediterranean. They include Tunis, Sousse and Hammamet, among others.

For tourists desiring a visit to Tunisia, there are two key attractions. One is the Mediterranean beach which runs through Tunis, Hammamet, Sousse and other seafront cities. For this writer, however, visiting the ruins of city mentioned by Virgil, the ancient Roman writer, in Aeneid and also the home of the Carthaginian war general, Hannibal, was at the top of the to-do list.

In Tunisia, there is so much to see, so many places to visit and so much to experience and enjoy. It is more like a vast oasis in the tip of the Sahara desert.

For many Nigerians, Tunisia is glimpsed from the lens of the country’s national team and football clubs which have had a healthy rivalry with their Nigerian counterparts. Tunisia was also in focus many years back when it kick-started the political revolution in North Africa and Middle East called the Arab Spring. The country has had its own share of the global scourge of terrorism, but that has not in any way dampened the pride of this Berber nation in her rich history. It is currently in the process of transition.

For first time visitors to Tunisia, there is the usual apprehension that they would be going into a dour, closed country, and the first assignment would be to internalise its dos and don’ts so that they would return in one piece. But such misconceptions fly through the window the moment one touches down at the Carthage International Airport in Tunis, the nation’s capital.

From the plane above the Mediterranean, one could observe the sea’s white skyline as most of the houses in Tunis are painted white.

Compared to a place like Lagos, Tunis is relatively not a big city. But there is no denying the fact that it is a functional city with well-developed social amenities. There is a good road network linking the different parts of the city, some of which are built in form of boulevards; the most interesting being the Habib Bourguiba Avenue. It has a paved, expansive walkway with trees on both sides. Under them are seats arranged for people who want to sit and relax. It seems a favorite spot for many residents.

Most buildings in Tunis are Arab style with decked roofs. The French influence could also be seen from the old buildings. They are painted white, probably to repel the scorching sun and cool the interior. Tunis is an admixture of ancient and modern.

The modern city of Tunis was built under French rule which lasted from 1881 to 1956. During their occupation, the French built a modern European quarter and the population of Tunis increased significantly. The city’s booming commercial and industrial activities attracted many settlers, including both Europeans and non-European Muslims.

Tunis has the fingerprint of its past history. It has both the old (Medina) and the new built by the French colonial lords during their occupation. The old city boasts a number of prominent markets such as Souk el-Attarine and the Souq Birka, as well as a collection of buildings with historical importance in the city’s history.

Tunis, for a first time visitor like the writer, is a little surprising with its cosmopolitan ambience. Walking down the Habib Bougourba Boulevard to the Medina, there is this feeling of moment de détente, pure, undiluted relaxation only French speaking countries’ citizens can effectively capture. The restaurants on both sides of the boulevards all enhance the ambience.

Here, there is no hurry, no stress, and life is lived in full swing. Tunis does not exude affluence that one sees in a city like Dubai, but there is a certain amount of stress-free contentment perceivable on the faces of many.

A tour of the Medina is like scene from Aladdin movie. Traders hustling for patronage, the very narrow walkway and the effort made not to barge into the oncoming person all make the experience surreal.

Also in the ancient Tunisia area are the ruins of ancient Carthage with the Anthonine Bath built by the Romans. The ruin of ancient Carthage is awe inspiring with the huge boulders and marble pillars. It also shows the level of architectural development and good life people enjoyed then. In the Anthonine Bath, one could bathe as a kind of arts process from one stage to another. It is like going to the bar to have the best of drink.

Sidi Bou Said is a must for the any visitor to Tunis. The city on the cliff of the hill, painted blue and green with flowers all around it, is a delight to the sight.

Sidi Bou Said is a few meters from the ruins of ancient Carthage. It captures the feeling of grand, ancient and affluence all in one place. There is a major road that goes to the top. At the end, there a beautiful view of the blue sea. On both sides of the roads, shop owners with beautiful crafts and unique art works display their wares. Despite this huge merchandising all around Sidi Bou Said, the area still maintains its patriarchal feels.

Sidi Bou Said got its name from a Tunisian Muslim cleric Abu Said Ibn Khalef Ibn Yahia El-Beji, also known as Abu Said. He was born at Beja, a city in North Tunisia, in 1156. He studied science and religion at the famous mosque located in Tunis, called Zitouna. After living for a long time in the Middle East, he returned to Tunis and stayed in a small village called Jebel El-Manar, which is located at the top of a mountain, as his sanctum. Abu Said died in 1231 and was buried in the Jebel El-Manar. His shrine became a holy place. After that, Sidi Abu Said was built around it. In the 18th Century, Sidi Bou Said progressively got its nowadays representative architecture.

If Tunis captures a large chunk of the essence and history of Tunisia, the Sousse is the leisure capital of the country. Sousse is about 118 kilometres drive from Tunis. It is a holiday destination that tourists troop to in their thousands to enjoy the sun, sea and sand of North Africa. Sousse has world class hospitality facilities. Most of the hotels and resorts are by the beachfront. Tourists on tour packages come in their numbers. At peak periods, mostly summer, hotels enjoy boon from tourist arrivals.

Most day period in Sousse is spent at the beaches with different watersports, including skydiving, on offer.

At night, Sousse comes alive with very active night life. Casinos, eateries, restaurants come alive. Most tourists who had spent the whole day at the beach used the evening to walk around, shop and generally enjoy the feel of the town.

A very interesting place to enjoy night life in Sousse is the Marina area.  This writer stayed at Hasdrubal Thalassa Resort. It is a kind of strategic location that gives one easy access to all the action spots. Opposite the resort is the Acquapark amusement centre with all kind of fun facilities. The centre lights up the night with multi-colour, flashy lights. Beside the park are other fun spots that make night life fun. However, a stay in Sousse without experiencing night life at the Marina area overlooking the exotic tourist boats might just not be complete. The area has its own feel with the sea breeze and the general ambience of adventure all around. One could also walk through the flashy shops, pick up one or two souvenirs and generally drench in the mood of relaxation. Such is the mood that that Sousse elicits.

Such feelings make one understand why Tunisia could do more than two million terms of tourism numbers.

A single trip might not just be enough to experience all there is to Tunisia. With places like El Jem, home of the 30,000 capacity ancient Roman amphitheatre, the Great Kairouan; the Medina of Hammamet; the desert experience…there is so much to see and so much to experience. And Tunisia has her doors open to welcome sub-Saharan tourists with open arms.