Bardo National Museum

Museum was "originally a 13th-century "Hafsid" palace, located in the then-suburbs of Tunis...contains a major collection of Roman mosaics and other antiquities of interest from Ancient Greece, Tunisia, and from the Islamic period. The museum displays objects ranging from prehistorical artifacts to modern jewelry." (Wikipedia)

 One of the many magnificent domes...

Oh yes. And, of course, Mr. Anas was eager to take a picture with me :)

 

 I took many many pictures from our visit to this museum, but I hope the ones I've uploaded are enough to make you want to visit this place; I do encourage you to do so. People interested in art would enjoy it. Everything, from the walls, to the roofs, and even to the floor you walk on, is a piece of art!

The Day...

It was The Day when Dad and our neighbors arrived to Tunisia - our neighbors coming to our country for the first time. We were to pick them up from the airport, bring them over to have lunch with us then show them the way to the hotel. I spent the day with my family helping in cleaning the house, cooking and setting up the tables. I took care of our apartment upstairs, mopped the entire house, cut the salad, took care of all the dish washing, and set up two big tables. Grandma and mom cooked, and siblings and cousins cleaned downstairs. Airplane arrives at 4:00 PM, so whoever is going to meet them at the airport had to be there by 3:30 PM. Everyone left the house by 2:30 PM. Someone had to stay though to keep an eye on everything. So, I volunteered to stay ;) Later though, my two aunts caught up on me, after they finished work, took a shower, and changed their clothes. Luckily, our special guests arrived just in time when we finished placing all the food on the tables. We had a wonderful day, introducing our neighbors to the family (both knew each other, but never face-to-face like this!). We spent the time talking/chatting, laughing, and hugging each other - clearly in disbelief they made it to Tunisia. Clearly, brother was very happy to have his best friend with him now.

Late in the evening, we took a walk on the beach...best ever...

       

From left to right: Mr. Rami, his mother, Me....

P.S. @ Khammash family: Syria will become free, the Dictator will fall down sooner or later, and you'll all be able to go back home. Can't wait to see your beautiful country. Long live "Hamat!" Will always keep you in my prayers...

P.S.S  I am way behind in my blogging. There has been a lot going on, and I'm just not catching up. I do want to finish uploading Tunis pictures first thought, since it has been a special vacation.

An Evening at Auntie's Home....

It has almost become a "tradition" to go to Auntie (or "Khalah" in Arabic) Salma's home whenever we're in Tunisia. Since she has no children, she feels very attached to her nephews and nieces. My Aunt lives in Hammam Al-Anf, or - as Tunisians call it, "Hammam Linff," a small city about 40 minutes away from the capitol. This summer, my Aunt was so nice, in that she decided she was going to invite my paternal grandparents, as well as my two paternal Aunts over... It was like a mini family reunion that was held at her home...This was like few days before Dad and our neighbors came to Tunisia...   

Can you believe this is the view from my Aunt's kitchen's window?

- The food was SO delicious. We had dinner on the balcony. My aunt made okra stew (she browned the okra beans for a bit before letting them cook in the stew, so they were very delicious and added flavor to the stew), noodles with meat, and lettuce salad that contained apples and chopped canned pineapples and was topped with walnuts; the salad dressing was made with the liquid from the canned pineapples + creme fresh. It was the first time I'd eaten a salad like that, but it was very tasty. All dishes you see on the table above are from her wedding set. We had Tunisian sweets, ice cream, and fruits. And let's not forget the Tunisian mint tea with pine nuts! 

Al-Zaytuna Mosque, or Mosque of Olives

Wikipedia: "Al-Zaytuna Mosque, or Ez-Zitouna or Ezzitouna Mosque (Arabic: جامع الزيتونة‎, literally meaning the Mosque of Olive) is a major mosque in Tunis, near the northern coast of Africa. The mosque is the oldest in the Capital of Tunisia and covers an area of 5,000 square metres (1.2 acres) with nine entrances. It has 160 authentic columns brought originally from the ruins of the old city of Carthage. The mosque is known to host one of the first and greatest universities in the history of Islam. Many Muslim scholars were graduated from the Al-Zaytuna for over a thousand years. From Ibn 'Arafa, one of the greatest scholars of Islam, Imam Maziri, the great traditionalist and jurist to the famous Tunisian poet Aboul-Qacem Echebbi and countless others all taught there."

Wow! I'm proud to be a "Tunisian" Muslim!!!

Courtyard of the Mosque...

The Stunning Minaret...

 

 

View just from outside the Mosque - This is the "Medina..."

Sidi Bou!

After touring Carthage, we went to dine in Sidi Bou Said, one of the most famous tourist attraction in Tunisia. This town in northern Tunisia (it is located only 20 km from the capital of Tunisia, Tunis) is known for its use of only blue and white colors for almost all building all over the town. It might sound a bit weird that although Sidi Bou (like many Tunisians call it) is a famous attraction, staying there for a few days is not common, as the town is very small for hotels to be built in. So, most people come during the day. You can find all kinds of souvenirs in Sidi Bou Said - some not even remotely connected to Sidi Bou Said and sometimes not to Tunisia itself...I saw tourists from almost all over the world; Libyans and Syrians (lots of them escaping the hell in their countries), Algerians, Africans, Saudis, Emirates, Kuwaitis, Americans, and lots of Western Europeans...We had sandwiches and then I went to order a fruit shake. There, I met an American guy who happened to be working at the American Embassy in Tunisia, and we talked for a few minutes. Came to find out that he has done research at K-State - Small World!

  My cool fruit shake - Can't describe how delicious it was!!

Must point out though, that upon our arrival to the town, there was a group of people marching in a mass demonstration. The group called themselves "The Independent Democrats." I asked some of them about why they thought they'd ought to be here, and they said that they were just fed up and confused of the way so many groups and parties that were emerging just after the revolution, and of their agendas and conditions they place on people before they can join them. They said all they are about is protecting the country form "splitting up" and that anyone is welcomed to join! I just thought that was amazing! We me as the group was coming up the hill of Sidi Bou Said, while were going down. Cars were everywhere, so all I could get of this was a picture of the poster they were carrying...   

Carthage

Our trip to Carthage was very nice. We went to see the Roman ruins...I always think that a picture can be worth a thousand words...

Tu tu train!

On the way to Carthage...

 

 The train dropped us off at Carthage Birsa's stop station, and we walked to the Roman Ruins; I've never had a better walk while in Tunisia than this one: the whole area was SO picturesque...I had to stop to take some pictures...

 

Now, if you ask me about the name of each tomb, and what it resembles, I honestly forgot, but I do remember our guide telling us that the one above in the picture is the greatest and most sacred tomb...

An entrance to a cave...

Inside the cave

There was also this hole, which if you look in it from above, you can see inside the cave ...

Trip to Tunis, the Capitol

Habib Bourgibah Street, just steps away from the Ministry of Interior Affairs (building behind me).

Next to one of the many police cars lined along the street. FYI, I did take permission from the two police men standing behind before I take this picture; they were very nice to let me do so.

And next to the National Guard. They were very kind to open a way for me through the barbed wires/fences, so I could get to their Jeep to take this picture. Two soldiers led me through, and one of them took this picture for me.

"Revolution"  graphiti! Phrase translates to: "Down falls the dictatorship of parties." 

Court of Justice at Beb Bnet, Tunis...

At the Municipality "court yard."


National Guard after performing their daily duty - pulling the flag down and taking it away, to be raised the next morning. Hats off to them! Long live Tunisia!
P.S. I want one of those outfits. They may not be very clear in this picture, since I was not allowed to take a closer picture, and was only allowed to take a picture of their "posterior." The outfits are more sophisticated than they look here...They look kind of similar to one of "Aladidn's" outfits - They are a piece of work.

Hennah "Party?"

Sunday, July 3rd, was the graduation party for another cousin of mine. The day before, my sisters and I went with my cousin and her sister to have our hands "designed" with henna and/or "Harqous," or "Nakshah." Many are familiar with the hennah, but not the "Harqous," or "Nakshah." I'm gonna have to write a very lengthy post if I would have to explain what it is. But, the main difference between the two is that the henna is made from a special bush (i.e. its natural stuff), while the Harqous is prepared from chemical items. Also, hennah lasts longer, and Harqous can cause "skin" allergy for many people. I chose to have Harqous on my hands, because: 1) I didn't want to have it for a long time, and: 2) I don't like the smell of Hennah :-)...

I loved the design...

A closer look at the design...

That was enough - I'm done with pictures!

Burnt Bizerte Center

The morning following my cousin's graduation party, I went to the nearest grocery store, namely, Carrefour, which is located in Bizerte Center, a shopping center more commonly known as "Batam" to get some essential grocery for mom. The center is just across the street from my Grandparents' house. During the revolution, a bunch of burglars attempted to burn/destroy the center and take everything that was inside. My cousin took me on a tour to see some of the damage that took place there...

   

Can you see the effects of the burning on those balconies? They appear to be "smoky," while they should be white, just like the rest of the walls...

It was a bit dark here, so I couldn't take a clear shot, but this is just one completely destroyed boutique...

Tunisian Triplets!

On Monday, June 27th - just a day after we arrived, we went to my cousin's graduation party at his parents' house. And there, I met his amazing "triplets" cousins...

From right to left: Ghada, Anas, and Nouran. They are 12 yrs old.

Three cute "monkeys." Aren't they adorable!

Yes, they let me take a picture with them...

Greetings from Free Tunisia!

I am in Tunisia. This is so much fun - Tunisia, post revolution!  The first thing I have noticed as I landed in Carthage Airport is that, unlike what the other Arab countries are going through at the moment, things in Tunisia are getting much and much better really quick. This was the impression of all the people I have asked who came with us. I must say what a blessed country and people there are. My family and I, minus Dad have arrived to Carthage Airport, Tunisia at 3:00 PM local time. We had no problem with the "entering" procedures - that was done pretty fast. However, we stayed about two hours waiting for our luggage, which was pretty frustrating, I must say; employees were just not doing their job. When we got out, we were greeted by all of our family/relatives, minus one of my maternal uncles and one of my paternal aunts. I guess we are always greeted by the largest number of people; we're lucky, but we also have a BIG family - I'm SO proud. It was also very nice to see Grandparents again.

We are in Bizerte now (the city where my paternal family lives). So far, sooo goood. We have reserved a furnished apartment for our neighbors. Apartment is in a compound that's on the beach, includes a swimming pool, soccer field, tennis court, and a resturaunt, plus, the compound is less than 5 minutes, by car, away from our home. We have also figured out that Rami's maternal Grandma is also coming to Tunisia. Exactly 10 days till Dad and neigbors will be with us. Can't wait! Yippeeeeee!!!!!!

Other notes:

Mom started her driving lessons - Good luck Mom! I'm glad I don't have to do that, since I took my driving licence last summer; it almost ruined my vaccation - oops! Don't worry mom, you'll do just good, since you already drove back in the U.S.

We're going to the beach this afternoon. I will take some pictures and upload them here...

I have been having a great time shopping with my cousins. Clothes are much much cheaper here than in Saudi Arabia. I have been having a great time shopping in some of the luxorious boutiqes here.

Tomorrow is my cousin's graduation party...It's gonna be fun...

Monday, July 4th, we'll be in Tunis, the capitol to spend a week there. All of us are really really looking forward to be there...

Till then, I wish everyone a happy weekend and a wonderful Summer vacation!!!

Tunisia, Sweet Home

On Sunday, June 26th, 2011, my family & I, minus Dad will be in FREE Tunisia... To me, Tunisia means spending time with family/relatives, friends, attending weddings, going to the beaches, Souqs, traditional restaurants and cafes, walking on the Corniche and stopping to have Crepe; cleaning my teeth (yes - visiting the dentist :D), a new hair style, and making regular visits to the many marvelous Turkish Baths! This Summer, however, will be a lot different - for all Tunisians, I guess. This is the first Summer after the successful revolution of my truly amazing country people. To me, this will also be the first summer in which I return to my family as a proud K-State Graduate, after being an Undergraduate for 5 years. Also, this summer, our Syrian neighbors are coming to Tunisia - Oh, what a joy! Rami, thanks for insisting on your parents that you need to be next to your one true friend, my brother; You did a good job! Khala Umm Rami, don't worry! You're going to love my country!

Other notes: Three days until my family and I will be in Free Tunisia.

- We have a sparkling, clean apartment now: scrubbed floors and walls, and shampooed rugs.
- Graduate School Application submitted! Please, wish me the best this time!
- Its 12:30 past midnight, and I need to shut down my computer and go to bed...