Day 18 Mediterranean Adventures: Tunisia and Northern Africa

We have not escaped the heat as we arrive in North Africa.  National Geographic Traveler magazine describes this area as "the other Mediterranean"----different continent, different cultures, same sea. Tunisia  is the smallest of the North African countries, but its strategic position has ensured it an eventful history. The Phoenicians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Arabs, Ottomans and French have all picked at the region at one point.  The earliest inhabitants were probably here about 200,000 years ago. It is believed that in those days that what is now desert was covered in forest, scrub and savannah grasses, much like the plains of Kenya and Tanzania today.   This is a Sunday Marketplace.

Our guide is quick to point out all the beautiful plants and shrubs, many of which we have in tropical USA.  We saw yucca, jasmine, hibiscus, plumbago, moss rose, oleander, jacaranda, lantana, poinsettia, bottle brush and century plant.

Tunis has a population of 2.5 Million and Tunisia 11 million. Production of olive oil is a huge industry, employing over 300,000 during harvest time next month.  This is welcomed as Tunisia has a 20% unemployment rate.  It is quite tropical here even though we are 200 miles from the desert. The breezes are great.

Our visit includes the city center of Tunisia, the Roman ruins in Carthage and the seaside resort of Sidi Bou Said.  Remains of the Roman aqueducts and on the right, the storage tanks for water.  We enjoyed this as we did not get to see much of this in Rome.  Remains of an ancient Roman Amphitheater.

We all enjoyed the WWII North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial.  Over 2800 deceased are identified with thousands more missing, sleeping in unknown graves. 

The highlight of the day was Lydia and Joyce riding the camels. More fun than we thought and a total hoot for the both of us. Second highlight was FREE INTERNET near the ship. Lydia says it is time to go home when this event becomes a highlight.