So May 15th turned into a very long day, having not had any sleep since Saturday evening, and not managing any sleep on the plane, the plan was to just keep going until bedtime.
After my lovely walk along the beach I decided to head off into town, and although in 'All inclusive' at the hotel, I thought that I would go to Le Bonheur, opposite the Ribat and souk , for a snack. I have had some very lovely meals here on last few visits.
That was the plan but the pull of the souk was too strong and I went for a walk through the tiny streets taking in the sights and the smells of the walled city.
The alluring smell of spices laid out for all to see, was mixed with the various aromas coming from the cafes where men were smoking hookahs, throw in fragrant coffee and the whole olfactory experience was a little over powering, which is good to have experienced ( more of this later).
Shops full of leather good, brass plates being engraved by hand and colourful ceramics where there for all to see.
I need a much larger suitcase!
I headed out of the souk past the Sula Centre,a huge indoor modern day souk aimed at tourists who don't want to walk the narrow streets on their own ( obviously not a shop that I go into!! I then crossed the main road and headed to the restaurant.
This was my chance to have some of my favourite things Starting with ordering a half bottle of Magon Rose, Magon is one of the best Tunisian wines and named after the Carthaginian agronomist who wrote the first guide on how to make wine. ( not quite as dumb as I look!)
Tunisia has 7 AOC's pretty impressive for a Muslim country
To accompany this I had a plate of harissa ( fabulously spicy paste not to be confused with the poor imitations sold in the shops in the UK) olives and bread.
I was super impressed with the napkin too, anywhere with a linen napkin rates in my books
I then had a staple Tunisian snack, brik a l'ouef
this is a thin disc of pastry/dough. Think the thinness of filo pastry and you are close. An egg is broken into the centre and the edges are sealed and the now semi circle is quickly fried, it is served with fresh lemon, I cannot tell you how good this is, the crispness, the cooked egg and the lemon taste, its very moreish. This can also be served with a filling of tuna, although I have also had it with veal and potato inside.
It was wonderful to sit outside and watch the world go by.
I then started to head home and set off walking, seeing one of the former 5* hotels ( and believe me in the 70's and 80's this hotel was the choice of the rich and famous) now empty, windows removed walls crumbling, paintwork peeling, a sad demise to a stunning hotel. This hotel sat on the Rue de Corniche with stunning views over the sea, such a sad end.
After clocking up over 14K steps I decide to jump in a taxi to go back to the hotel, ahhh, the best laid plans of mice and men!.
Taxi stops, I go to get in the back, door swings shut quickly contacts with my nose as I am still trying to get in, a flash of incredible pain, masses of blood and a trip to hospital where it seems I have a hairline fracture just about my septum which was badly cut. I am still having ice packs on it and I await the bruising !!!
So as first days go it was pretty eventful.
Lets get day two underway.
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