Great Mosque
Date: 08/11/2006
I flew down to Tunis over the holidays so I could get a picture of myself in front of The Great Mosque of Jamaâ Ez-Zitouna, the most venerable mosque in Tunis.
Carthage 1
Date: 08/11/2006
From Tunis, I took the train to the ancient Roman city of Carthage. These were the ruins of the Antoinine Baths, which must have been a massive bath complex right on the sea.
Carthage 2
Date: 08/11/2006
These were once the biggest baths in North Africa and the third-largest in the Roman world.
Carthage 4
Date: 08/11/2006
I hiked up Byrsa hill to the former Basilica Saint-Louis and the Museum of Carthage.
Carthage 5
Date: 08/11/2006
The people of this area were famous for their mosaics and there were lots of them in the museum.
Sidi Bou Saïd
Date: 08/11/2006
Not far away was the city of Sidi Bou Saïd, a tourist mecca famous for its blue and white buildings.
Tunis 2
Date: 08/11/2006
Several times throughout the day, there is a call for prayer from a tower like this in the mosque. They use big bullhorns and it sounds pretty weird.
El Djem 1
Date: 08/11/2006
After traveling about an hour south,
I came to the ancient Roman amphitheatre in El Djem.
I came to the ancient Roman amphitheatre in El Djem.
El Djem 2
Date: 08/11/2006
This is easily the biggest Roman structure in Africa and is the third largest Roman Amphitheatre anywhere.
El Djem 3
Date: 08/11/2006
Construction probably began in 230 AD but was never completely finished due to lack of funds and political instability.
El Djem 4
Date: 08/11/2006
45,000 spectators could have watched wild animals fighting to the death or munching on martyrs.
Matmata 1
Date: 08/11/2006
Much further south and much closer to the desert was a town called Matmata, famous for the underground 'pit' homes built by the indigenous Berbers. This is the view of the courtyard from the room of my hotel.
Matmata 2
Date: 08/11/2006
I wandered around, taking some photos, and being careful not to fall into anyone's house.
Matmata 3
Date: 08/11/2006
I somehow acquired a "guide", some local kid who showed me the inside of someone's home for a few Dinars.
Matmata 4
Date: 08/11/2006
One of the hotels in town was the set for Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru's home in 'Star Wars'.
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