After our night in the desert we took the 4-wheel drive vehicles out into the dunes where we did some pretty crazy driving and made a pit stop at the set for the Tatooine city from Episode 4, complete with vaporators.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Star Wars
The highlight of the trip to Tunisia may have been our excursions to the Star Wars sets. In Matmata we had complimentary beers at the famous Star Wars bar of Episode 4. It was not at all what I expected, but the awesomeness of the spectacle was not lost, especially with Dr. Evers walking around in a jedi costume.
After our night in the desert we took the 4-wheel drive vehicles out into the dunes where we did some pretty crazy driving and made a pit stop at the set for the Tatooine city from Episode 4, complete with vaporators.
After our night in the desert we took the 4-wheel drive vehicles out into the dunes where we did some pretty crazy driving and made a pit stop at the set for the Tatooine city from Episode 4, complete with vaporators.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
More desert, please!
About half way through the Tunisian adventure we drove into the Sahara Desert. The only way I can remember how to spell "dessert" is by saying "dessert has two S's because you always want more," but now I want more of the desert!
We had so much fun in the sand. First we rode camels in Douz - complete with Arabian Knights. My camel's name was Nishu and Erin's was Alibaba - of course. Alibaba sounded like he was bubling toxic waste. It turns out that camels have quite the personalities. Some of them were pretty mean but mine was a sweetheart. Nishu was a baby with a lot of spunk - trotting on a camel is NOT comfortable, but it is fun.
That night we took 4-wheel drive vehicles farther into the desert to spend the night under the stars! We watched the sunset on the sand dunes, danced to traditional Habibi campfire music, ate a simple meal of couscous and soup, and slept in canvas tents. A few days before this, I bought myself a sheep skin to sleep on in the desert so I wouldn't freeze. I was one of the few people who actually slept most of the night.
The next day we went out to our hotel in Tamerza, just two kilometers from the Algerian border. That was the most beautiful place we went, by far.
We had so much fun in the sand. First we rode camels in Douz - complete with Arabian Knights. My camel's name was Nishu and Erin's was Alibaba - of course. Alibaba sounded like he was bubling toxic waste. It turns out that camels have quite the personalities. Some of them were pretty mean but mine was a sweetheart. Nishu was a baby with a lot of spunk - trotting on a camel is NOT comfortable, but it is fun.
That night we took 4-wheel drive vehicles farther into the desert to spend the night under the stars! We watched the sunset on the sand dunes, danced to traditional Habibi campfire music, ate a simple meal of couscous and soup, and slept in canvas tents. A few days before this, I bought myself a sheep skin to sleep on in the desert so I wouldn't freeze. I was one of the few people who actually slept most of the night.
The next day we went out to our hotel in Tamerza, just two kilometers from the Algerian border. That was the most beautiful place we went, by far.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
All of the olives
Did you know that Tunisia's economy is largely based on its export of olive oil which is then used as the base for Italian olive oil? So when you buy really expensive Italian olive oil, you'd probably do better spending your money on really fabulous Tunisian olive oil.
On way down to southern Tunisia we saw endless olive groves and we learned that olive trees can live to be 1,000 years old while a fig tree can only live to be about 15 years old. The tradition of harvesting olives dates back to the Roman Empire which had a major presence in Tunisia. We got to see one of the best preserved Roman amphitheaters which was surrounded first by vendors, and then of course by olive groves!
On way down to southern Tunisia we saw endless olive groves and we learned that olive trees can live to be 1,000 years old while a fig tree can only live to be about 15 years old. The tradition of harvesting olives dates back to the Roman Empire which had a major presence in Tunisia. We got to see one of the best preserved Roman amphitheaters which was surrounded first by vendors, and then of course by olive groves!
Oh ciao, Africa!
Tunisia was everything that I expected, everything I didn't, and so much more.
On March 5th about 70 of the JFRC students went to Tunisia from Rome via plane (not boat, contrary to what my parents may have told you). As soon as we got into Tunis, Tunisia we drove over to the American embassy to listen to the U.S. ambassador lecture about the politics in Tunisia and the United States' relations with the nation. Being the political science nerd that I am, I thoroughly enjoyed this. Did you know that the U.S. ambassador and other scholars we spoke to (from Tunisia) say that Tunisia is part of the Middle East? Last time I checked Tunisia was in North Africa. It turns out that there is no clear definition for what the Middle East is. Since Tunisia is a Muslim country and its population consists of people with generally lighter skin than most Africans, they are considered to be culturally Middle Eastern. Of course, when we asked the Tunisian students we lunched with the next day, they said that Tunisia was not the Middle East, it's North Africa...duh.
Our first night in Tunisia, they took us out to a 300-year-old shisha (hookah) cafe in the Tunis suburb of Hammamet. We smoked on the traditional mats with the most gorgeous view of the Mediterranean Sea. The evening could not be complete without our tour bus bumping into a few cars on the way to our fabulous hotel. The next day we ate with the Tunisian English students and then forced them to babysit us in the Medina (downtown/market). I have never been so intimidated in my life! There were so many shops, each selling the exact same things, but each shop keeper came up with his own original compliments. It was in Hammamet that my friend Katherine was called "Snow White" and Matt was called "George Bush" (they seemed to think that was a compliment...we were confused to say the least). Even though I was terrified I was going to get robbed and I just couldn't bring myself to haggle, I had a great time. I fell in love with all the colors right away, and I'm a sucker for the smell of leather - camel leather, very good. It really helped that the Tunisian student I was following made sure not to let anything happen to us.
On the 7th, we made our way south, stopping at the famous Bardo museum to see a fraction of the world's largest Roman floor mosaics. The mosaics were impressive, but I really loved the hand-carved ceilings and the hand-painted tiles. I know how I'll be decorating my house! We had lunch on the water at Carthage and then visited the Sanctuary of the Tophet (the sacrificial site of the Carthaginian Empire), Byrsa Hill (the spiritual center of the Carthaginian Empire), and the only American military cemetery in Africa. Unfortunately, it rained a lot this day so we were all pretty cold, but it didn't dampen our spirits too much. Who knew that it rains in Africa?
*If you don't have a facebook and you want to see all of my pictures, send me an email and I'll give you a link.
On March 5th about 70 of the JFRC students went to Tunisia from Rome via plane (not boat, contrary to what my parents may have told you). As soon as we got into Tunis, Tunisia we drove over to the American embassy to listen to the U.S. ambassador lecture about the politics in Tunisia and the United States' relations with the nation. Being the political science nerd that I am, I thoroughly enjoyed this. Did you know that the U.S. ambassador and other scholars we spoke to (from Tunisia) say that Tunisia is part of the Middle East? Last time I checked Tunisia was in North Africa. It turns out that there is no clear definition for what the Middle East is. Since Tunisia is a Muslim country and its population consists of people with generally lighter skin than most Africans, they are considered to be culturally Middle Eastern. Of course, when we asked the Tunisian students we lunched with the next day, they said that Tunisia was not the Middle East, it's North Africa...duh.
Our first night in Tunisia, they took us out to a 300-year-old shisha (hookah) cafe in the Tunis suburb of Hammamet. We smoked on the traditional mats with the most gorgeous view of the Mediterranean Sea. The evening could not be complete without our tour bus bumping into a few cars on the way to our fabulous hotel. The next day we ate with the Tunisian English students and then forced them to babysit us in the Medina (downtown/market). I have never been so intimidated in my life! There were so many shops, each selling the exact same things, but each shop keeper came up with his own original compliments. It was in Hammamet that my friend Katherine was called "Snow White" and Matt was called "George Bush" (they seemed to think that was a compliment...we were confused to say the least). Even though I was terrified I was going to get robbed and I just couldn't bring myself to haggle, I had a great time. I fell in love with all the colors right away, and I'm a sucker for the smell of leather - camel leather, very good. It really helped that the Tunisian student I was following made sure not to let anything happen to us.
On the 7th, we made our way south, stopping at the famous Bardo museum to see a fraction of the world's largest Roman floor mosaics. The mosaics were impressive, but I really loved the hand-carved ceilings and the hand-painted tiles. I know how I'll be decorating my house! We had lunch on the water at Carthage and then visited the Sanctuary of the Tophet (the sacrificial site of the Carthaginian Empire), Byrsa Hill (the spiritual center of the Carthaginian Empire), and the only American military cemetery in Africa. Unfortunately, it rained a lot this day so we were all pretty cold, but it didn't dampen our spirits too much. Who knew that it rains in Africa?
*If you don't have a facebook and you want to see all of my pictures, send me an email and I'll give you a link.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Aslama!
I went to AFRICA!!!
We got back last night and guess what I have to do this week - HOMEWORK! Big surprise... As soon as I want to procrastinate I'll put up a fantastic blog. Ciao!
We got back last night and guess what I have to do this week - HOMEWORK! Big surprise... As soon as I want to procrastinate I'll put up a fantastic blog. Ciao!
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