20170518_XQC_QNE_p061

QC105182017

FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MAY 18, 2017 • BUZZ • THE QUEENS COURIER 61 Welcome to Tunisia! A Jewel in North Africa! Our trip will take us to various places throughout the Tunisian geography. A journey by its culture, paradisial beaches as well as colorful motifs and Tunisian craftwork and stupendous gastronomy! The Republic of Tunisia, commonly known as just Tunisia is a small country located in Northern Africa between the Atlas mountains, the Mediterranean Sea and is just a few kilometers from Sicily. Great part of its southern territory is covered by the Sahara Desert. Its capital, Tunis, is a city with an immense history and serves as the political, administrative, economic and commercial center; all of which befits the largest and most populated city in the country. Tunis is a beautiful city, full of welcoming people who are friendly and very proud of their country as can be noticed by the flags flying throughout. It is a city of contrasts where colonial style buildings are mixed with Arabian style architecture. The center of the city (The Medina) was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979 and is made up of narrow streets and covered alleyways. The famed SUCOS line up to make rows of traditional bazaars and offer all sorts of local crafts and African art. The Tunisian craftwork is varied and includes mostly decorative articles which are of course made by hand. In some of the shops you can directly see how they are made and how proudly they carry the tag: Made in Tunisia. Continuing our trip we cross the Door of France, known previously as the “Door to the Sea”, and we enter into the modern city with its grand avenue Habib Bourguiba. This avenue is known by many as the Tunisian Champs Elysees. It is surrounded by buildings, stores, restaurants, cafes, banks and more that all at once invite both the locals and the visitors to sit and drink a cup of coffee and watch the comings and goings of the population. The beautiful Tunisian capital is not only special for being so modern and boasting a great range of hotels but also for its amazing beaches. Among the more highly recommended are Goulette, Pedruchillo, and Marsa. All of which can ideally be visited between June and August when summer weather is at its height. If you wish to delve into the history of Tunisia it is important to visit The Bardo Museum. One of the biggest museums of the Mediterranean. This museum keeps in exhibition a large variety of historical and archaeological pieces related to Tunis and shows an impressive mix of cultures throughout various millennia. Thanks to great archaeological digs in places like Carthage, Utica, Hadrumentun, and Dougga this museum offers one of the largest collections of roman mosaics. It also hosts a large number of Greek works, ceramics from North Africa and Asia Minor as well as Christian and Islamic art. Tourism is a very important resource for Tunisia. Not only because of the facilities that are in place for tourists from all over the world, especially Europe, but also because it has many archaeological sites of great value like the ancient city of Qairuan, the Roman city of Dougga, and the great city of Carthage, which though it lays in ruins has thousands of visitors pass through it every year. Another place that has cultural significance is the Roman amphitheatre of El Djem. This place has historic, architectonic and religious significance and is located in the south of the capital. It was built about 1700 years ago during the Roman occupation. It was used as an arena for gladiators as well as for fights between humans and wild beasts. This and all of the other places of interest are easily accessible and can be visited with various tour operators. When talking about the Republic of Tunisia it is important to mention its beautiful beaches. Hammamet is an excellent touristic destination. Only one hour outside of the capital it is renowned for its great clime, fine sand and ideal water temperature. It is surrounded by room and board of all types and prices. Within the marvelous geography of Tunisia there are various cities worth visiting. One is Monastir. A city with easy access since it boasts an international airport and has a large amount of options when it comes to hotels. It also has fantastic beaches. Another is Sousse (Susa). This city is a dynamic college town. It is a fishing and commercial port situated about 140km from Tunis. Its historic Medina is surrounded by large walls that were meant to be an Arab monastery and is in the heart of the city. This too was named a World Heritage Site back in 1988. From the ramparts of the Medina one can see spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea. The beaches here, with their deep blue, are considered by many to be the nicest along the Mediterranean. A short distance from Sousse is Port El Kantaoui, another small paradise of Andalusian style. Its atmosphere of Mediterranean party is fascinating and beaches spectacular. Another jewel in Tunisia is Sidi Bou Said. I would say this is the most picturesque of the cities and is known as the balcony of the Mediterranean. It is found atop cliffs from which you can really appreciate the Mediterranean Sea beneath you. The mix of colors from the facades, the reflection of the sea upon the windows and the myriad colorful flowers that hang from the balconies make it a truly beautiful and pleasing place. A walk down the steep principal street of Sidi Bou Said is very nice. All along the way you see a great variety of restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops where you can practice haggling. The walk is conducive to mixing the locals and the visitors. The gastronomy of Tunisia is very diverse. Like most Mediterranean countries it is based on olive oil, spices, meats, and vegetables and legumes. Couscous with beef or chicken and greens is the traditional and delicious plate. Tunisians are very fond of sweets as well. They have a wide array of cookies and pastas made from nuts and dates and honey. This beautiful paradise in the North of Africa is an ideal destination for your next vacation. It’s not only attractive and secure, it is also easy to get around once there and offers many different options for your stay. Keep Tunisia in mind for your next trip. By Maria E Paredes A FIJET- International


QC105182017
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