Inshallah, I will have more time to write more thoughtful entries for this blog later this week. Until then I can offer some photographs around the Sidi Bou Said (pronounced "City Boo Siyeed") region of Tunis where I have Arabic classes. With its gorgeous views overlooking the Mediterranean, its winding cobblestone streets, white stucco walls, bright blue windows and doorways, and suq (open air market and little shops) Sidi Bou has long attracted tourists, particularly from Europe. Sidi Bou has the ambiance of a travelogue, but even the locals enjoy hiking up the hill, stopping at cafes along the way, or meandering through the suq. (Hm, maybe I should write travel guides for a living.) This afternoon I enjoyed walking through Sidi Bou with a couple friends and practicing a little
tunsie (local Arabic dialect).
One of the characteristic Tunisian doors
Breathtaking views of the Sea
The Suq dishes out some local color...
...and some amusing Orientalist kitsch.
I couldn't resist the tourist-trap of taking a picture with a bird of prey on my shoulder.
Sunset over La Marsa (near Sidi Bou Said) on the walk home
