After finishing in Gabes, we began the final portion of our North African journey. From Gabes we took a louage--a mini-van taxi with seven or eight passengers--back to Sfax, and from there we rode another louage about two hours to Kairouan, a city west of Sousse in north central Tunisia. We had heard a lot about these louages during our short time in Tunisia regarding the speed of their drivers and their accident rate, but we had no problems. At one point during the ride to Kairouan I did wake up from a nap and notice the van was really bouncing because of our speed and perhaps the erratic driving of our driver, but instead of worrying I just decided to go back to sleep.
Kairouan has a population of about 120,000 and is one of the holiest cities in Islam. Founded in the late seventh century, it is the oldest Islamic settlement in Tunisia, and has the oldest mosque in North Africa, with the world's oldest minaret. Like most other cities we visited on our trip, Kairouan has an old city surrounded by walls as well. Although the original walls of the city were built in the late eighth century, most of the current walls are from the 18th century. We spent one night here.
Finally, the last part of our journey was spent in Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, where we arrived after a four hour louage trip from Kairouan. The population of Tunis is about 700,000, and it of course includes an old city, which was founded in the late seventh century not long after the Arab conquest of the area. Tunis had a European flavor as well, with a long, pedestrian friendly main boulevard lined with sidewalk cafes and restaurants filled with people. From Tunis we took day trips to the picturesque seaside village of Sidi Bou Said--which actually had a Greek island type feel--and the ruins of Carthage, an ancient city where the important Christian theologian Augustine lived for a time.
After all this, it was finally back to Amman.
Kairouan has a population of about 120,000 and is one of the holiest cities in Islam. Founded in the late seventh century, it is the oldest Islamic settlement in Tunisia, and has the oldest mosque in North Africa, with the world's oldest minaret. Like most other cities we visited on our trip, Kairouan has an old city surrounded by walls as well. Although the original walls of the city were built in the late eighth century, most of the current walls are from the 18th century. We spent one night here.
Finally, the last part of our journey was spent in Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, where we arrived after a four hour louage trip from Kairouan. The population of Tunis is about 700,000, and it of course includes an old city, which was founded in the late seventh century not long after the Arab conquest of the area. Tunis had a European flavor as well, with a long, pedestrian friendly main boulevard lined with sidewalk cafes and restaurants filled with people. From Tunis we took day trips to the picturesque seaside village of Sidi Bou Said--which actually had a Greek island type feel--and the ruins of Carthage, an ancient city where the important Christian theologian Augustine lived for a time.
After all this, it was finally back to Amman.
A gate into the old city of Kairouan.
Carpets hanging from a shop in Kairouan. The city is the carpet capital of Tunisia.
An alleyway in Kairouan, and another biker.
Rows of Fez--the national headgear of Tunisia.
A synagogue in Tunis. Tunisia still has a tiny Jewish community.
A group of women in Tunis.
A statue from the museum in Carthage.
Annamarie posing in Carthage.
Looking out to the Mediterranean Sea in Sidi Bou Said.
A cat sleeping outside a doorway in Sidi Bou Said.
Carpets hanging from a shop in Kairouan. The city is the carpet capital of Tunisia.
An alleyway in Kairouan, and another biker.
Rows of Fez--the national headgear of Tunisia.
A synagogue in Tunis. Tunisia still has a tiny Jewish community.
A group of women in Tunis.
A statue from the museum in Carthage.
Annamarie posing in Carthage.
Looking out to the Mediterranean Sea in Sidi Bou Said.
A cat sleeping outside a doorway in Sidi Bou Said.
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