Images from Tunis

I was going through my photo albums and opened the one about Tunis and realized there were some pics I didn't post before and some were already posted but nevertheless they are beautiful. I love Tunis... it is a whole different world. Enjoy the pics ;)

The old gate still standing in the old souk.

The guy with the bald head is my brother ;p

Wonder what he says if he sees this pic ;p

A small sweet shop in the middle of the old Souk

A ceramic store in the middle of the old souk

Gorgeous bangles

The Corniche Plaza restaurant... the lights were magical

Sidi Bou S3ied. Azoz with my brother in law.

Traditional Door.

Spice shop... we were looking for Harrisa, it is the Tunisian

version of ma3bouch.

What I loved the most about this trip was the food.

Most fruits and veggies we had were seasonal and the kids

tried everything fresh!

Sidi bou S3ied Ya S3ied!!!

The evening before, we had dinner at a Thai restaurant, delicious food, with Fahad's cousin Khaled and his beautiful wife Noora. We had a great time with them. Later that evening my brother Falah returned from Kuwait very late and the kids and I were already sleeping. So we saw him the next morning at breakfast. He was sooo excited (but that's a long story and needs another post). Falah had errands to do and Fahad went with him. Fawaz, the kids and I headed to Sidi bou S3ied. If you ever go to Tunis, Sidi Bou S3ied is a must to visit. It is a cluster, of white washed traditional houses with light turquoise doors and windows, built on a high hill. I just love that place. By the time we got ready and headed there it was already mid day and the sun high and hot. Fawaz parked the car and we walked a short distance, crossing a mini bazaar and into the main street of Sidi Bou S3ied. We crossed the road and got into one of the houses that is opened for the public. I've been to that house before, and when I built my house few years ago, that house in Sidi bou S3ied was my inspiration for its design. The lady at the door who sells tickets, was astonished Fawaz spoke in Tunisian accent. For a moment she was puzzled and couldn't make out from where we come from. But then he told her we were from Kuwait. We got into the house. Very very beautiful. It's like stepping into a time capsule. The house has been restored to its old glory with mixed and matched colorful tiles, white washed walls, traditional upholstery and furniture, and old paintings. Some rooms had mannequins dressed in traditional bridal gowns. After we went around the house and snapped few pictures, we were back on the main road passing through a market and up the hill. On the way I found a tiny shop which sells "Bambalouni" Tunisian doughnuts. OH!!! They are so delicious!! With the exercise of climbing up, and the heat of the sun, poor Ahmedi turned as red as a turnip. Fawaz carried him for the rest of the way. We reached the top of the hill, which overlooked a seaport and the most beautiful view of the sea. Below there were cafes and restaurants, but the children were getting tired so we headed back down on the same way we came from. We passed a lady who does "Harkous" it is like henna but black and it smells like boukhour. Azoz wanted to have a tattoo so the lady made him a scorpion design which they believe it brings good luck. I had one in a flowery design. We passed through the mini bazaar, Azoz bought some drums for him, Ahemdi and his cousin Fahoodi. Next to it was a small stand which caught my eye. It was homemade candy. Candy of every kind! Candy brittles with different kind of nuts, Nougats, Turkish delights and many more. I became dizzy just by looking at them. I bought few bags of mixed candy. Yum! We headed back home. The boys jumped in the pool with their uncles, Fawaz and Falah. I went to rest and prepare myself for the big night! So stay tuned to know what it was about!

Getting ready to leave. Ya 7alathom 3yal Al Khaled ;)

A partial view of Sidi bou S3ied from the parking lot.

Going through the Mini Bazaar

We will be heading up the road soon!

3amo Fawaz, Azoz and Ahmedi

waiting to buy a ticket

Ahmedi resting. I love the mixed and

match tiles.

Bridal Gowns, some reach up to KD3000

because of the lace and hand work intricate beading

I just love this painting!

Azoz and a traditional door behind him.

A shot from the roof at the back of the hills.

A snap shot from the roof looking at near by houses

A view of the inside of courtyard of the house

On the way up we passed Le Haute Cafe serving

delicious sweet mint green tea and traditional sweets.

Bambalouni! The best I ever tasted!

The Bambalouni chef a very sweet man. He didn't

mind me snapping a picture of him.

Going up and up through narrow streets

A View from the top of the hill.

A Traditional Tunisian door.

A Sign for Sidi Sh3ban Cafe

Azoz is having a Harkous Tatoo

Scorpian Tatoo made in Harkous

Lutfi the Candy Man! Bags of mixed candy.

A Discussion about Tunis

I met with a friend few days ago who happened to be in Tunis at the same time I was there. She asked me how I found the country. I told her I love it. It is my fourth trip to it. She made a face of disgust, "I hated it! There wasn't anything to do, and the food is awful and there isn't much to eat." I shook my head very puzzled, in Tunis I had the best food ever because it is all local produce, seasonal, and very clean. Even the seediest of street vendors sell clean delicious food. "Have you ever heard of a country where they don't have Rocket!" She exclaimed. Now I think her very shallow. She left all the good products sold there and concentrated on Rockets! It isn't the end of the world if she doesn't eat Rocket for a short period of time. "And the restaurants! Very awful. Their food isn't good." She continues. "Now come on! I had the best food ever, maybe the people you were with don't know the good places." I protested. "I was with the wives of ministers and dignitaries." She argued, "Who were you with?" Ah…it has become into 'My horse is faster than your horse'. "I was with my brother in law and my brother, with Fahad and the kids." I replied. "Unfortunately my friend Um Talal, she is Tunisian married to a Kuwaiti, left on the day after we arrived, I always eat the best Tunisian food when I visit her." She gives me this look that my brother and brother in law are nothing compared to the people she was with, and my Tunisian friend is insignificant(If she only knew). "My brother has been living in Tunis for the past nine years, and my brother in law for the past two years. They know the country better than anyone." I elaborated. "Yes, but it is boring there isn't anything to do there." She tells me. "Well, it depends on why you went there in the first place. There isn't much shopping there unless you are looking for artifacts, or handmade objects and traditional items. Tunis during summer is time spent relaxing at the beach, and the weather is spring compared to Kuwait. I guess wherever you go around the world you have to keep an open mind about it." "Why did you go?" "To have fun, of course. I had the kids with me. We spent most of our time at the beach. We went sightseeing here and there. It is fun to do something different and let the kids learn new things. One day we went Harrissa hunting in Nabul, searching for a certain store which sells the best Harrissa. It was fun for them." I explained. Since she felt I will not agree with her, she changed subjects and we drifted into other topics. I always tell my friends who ask me about Tunis, you should at least know someone there, who knows the right places to go. For example, Ghar El Melh, travel agencies wouldn't know about it, only the locals. I'm not only defending Tunis, I'm talking about anywhere you travel around the world. It is a blessing which sometimes we take for granted. Travel isn't all about shopping or raza bel gahawi, a6al3ek oo et6ale3nee. You should keep an open mind when you travel to new places and go with the flow. You'll have more fun like this. You should break your normal routine and ready to try and experience new things. Coming soon, Sidi Bou Sied. So Stay Tuned.

Tunis 5 - The Quest for Harrissa

Harrissa or what we call here ma3booch is my second purpose for this trip. Since deciding to come to Tunis I've told Fahad I wanted to get Harrissa. The most famous Harrissa in Tunis is Harrissat Nabul. It is freshly made smoky and hot. I just love it. it goes with everything. Since Nabul is only a couple of minutes away from Hamamat, on the day we checked out we headed that way. Nabul my favorite town in Tunis, it is small and crowded, but I love this town. The last time I was there, I was with an employee from the embassy, Bin Mahmoud, who took me to a place in Nabul which is famous for its Harrissa. It is what they call Harrissa Diyar (Homemade Harrissa). We drove into Nabul, and into its main street. I can't remember where exactly is the store but I do remember it was a small store on the right handside. "Ok, Bin Mahmoud told me it is at Duwar Al Burtaqala." Fawaz, my brother in law said as he drove into the main street of Nabul. "Where is Duwar Al Burtaqala?" I ask. "Just ahead." He points in front of him. But then, I spot a small store with herbs and dried red peppers hanging out. "Here! Here! I think that is it." I say. Fawaz takes a U-turn and park the car in front of the store. We go in and we find out it is a small store but not like the one I've been to before. This store looks clean and new. There were canned goods on shelves, and large glass jars filled with herbs and spices. On the side was a disply for pickled vegetables, lemons and peppers, and olives. We asked the store keeper and he showed us the Harrissa but it wasn't like the one I remembered. His Harrissa is fresh and homemade, but it was filled in a large bucket instead of jars. But because he was welcoming we bought few of the herbs and spices at his store. We told him that we will go look for jars and come back to him. We continued on our way and reach Dawar Al Burtaqala (I still can't believe I didn't take a picture of it!) and we saw the store there nestled between equally small stores. We got in and it was a big difference from the one we just been to. It was old and looked very dirty and flies were flying everywhere. Fawaz asked the shopkeeper, who looked harassed and out of patience about something, about the Harrissa. The shopkeeper pointed at huge buckets in the corner, some were dripping with oil. I shook my head to Fawaz. The previous shop looks cleaner and fresher. Even the herbs and spices smelled better. So we returned to the previous shop and bought a bucket from him. The shopkeeper asked us if we found any jars, but Fawaz was quick enough to tell him that we decided to fill it ourselves back home. On the way out of Nabul, we made several stops. First at a ceramic factory we bought several pieces from there. Second, we passed by farms and some farmers had their goods displayed out of the farm. We bought amazing grapes and figs! Tastes like honey! Third we stopped at a distillery, where they make fresh rosewater, blossom water & spearmint water. I bought a bottle of blossom water which they call 'Athrachia'. Our last and fourth stop was before we reached home, was at Monoprix a mini market. Fawaz got fresh chicken and cream to make us a lunch/dinner of pasta with chicken & mushrooms Alfredo sauce. It was a YUM. Teslam eedick Chef Fawaz. Enjoy the pictures!

The famous Harrissa, tastes a lot better than it looks

Nabul

Ceramic wear displayed on the street

The Harrissa Shop

A veiw from the inside

Jars filled with spices and herbs

Fragnant dried rosebuds.

Spice called Fa7, very nice.

Pickled vegetabes and olives

The enterance of the old Souq of Nabul

A buliding decorated with Nabuls famous ceramic

hand painting.

At a ceramic factory. Ya 7alathom 3yal Al Khaled! 3amo Fawaz, Ahmed and Azoz

A colorful carmic Tagine

Another angle of the factory

Olive grove

Grapes displayed in front of the farms we got us a

couple of buckts. Very fresh and delicious!

At the distillery I got me Atrachia water.

Veiw as we drove back to Tunis

Finallay home and Pasta with Chicken & Mushroom Alfredo

made Chef Fawaz!