Travel Pig

Founded in the 9th century BCE by Phoenician settlers from Tyre, Carthage rose to become one of the most powerful cities of the ancient Mediterranean. According to tradition, it was established by Queen Dido, who secured the land through diplomacy and cunning. Positioned on the North African coast near present-day Tunis, Carthage developed into a dominant maritime and commercial power, controlling trade routes across the western Mediterranean.

At its height between the 6th and 3rd centuries BCE, Carthage commanded a vast network of territories spanning North Africa, southern Spain, and parts of Sicily. Its wealth came from trade in metals, textiles, and agricultural goods, supported by a formidable navy. Carthage’s greatest rival was Rome, and their struggle for supremacy led to the three Punic Wars (264–146 BCE). The most famous Carthaginian general, Hannibal Barca, shocked Rome by crossing the Alps with war elephants during the Second Punic War, winning several major battles before ultimately being defeated.

In 146 BCE, after a prolonged siege, Rome destroyed Carthage at the end of the Third Punic War. The city was later rebuilt as a Roman colony and flourished again, becoming one of the most important cities of the Roman Empire in Africa. Under Roman rule, Carthage featured grand villas, forums, and monumental bath complexes, including the impressive Antonine Baths that still overlook the sea today.

Carthage remained a major center through the Roman and later Byzantine periods until it was conquered in the 7th century CE during the Arab expansion. Over time, its prominence faded as nearby Tunis rose in importance.

Today, Carthage is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where layers of Phoenician, Roman, and later civilizations coexist in a landscape of ruins that reflect over two millennia of history.

I wanted to go to Carthage ruins including the baths and theater. My driver and I negotiated and agreed on a price and also to end the trip at the airport. His English was pretty good. This always make me want to practice Spanish.

My taxi did exactly as I asked, for the price we agreed upon. He wanted to come back to California with me. Lol. I arrived at the airport. The international area is very glam but the domestic area is not. I decided to look around for a little food, and maybe a cocktail. Way in a corner, upstairs I found a place called Areo Club like San Diego. They had pizza and beverages. There are many little smoking rooms. The Muslims may not drink, but they love to smoke. We all have our vises. There were many comfortable looking seats. I found one but realized that is was too close to some rowdy children. Everyone was glaring at them. The staff even put a soccer game on loudly to drown them out. TheMom had no control but as soon as daddy arrived, they were quiet. I still have time to wait, and download too many photos to this site.

I will fly to Tozeur, in the South and stay a few nights, in hopefully, a nice place.

Last night at the Dar, or place to stay, was very loud. Several loud men were having a good time below my room it seemed, with noise and smoke coming up from below. The room was spotless but not much heat. I didn’t sleep well and sometime in the night there was a lot of banging on the doors and a cat fight. I am wondering if I dreamed of the banging on the doors. Another gorgeous day. Perfect temperature.

What I love about travel and sometimes hate is that sometimes you need to cancel one booking because something better comes up or plans change.

I planned to stay in a different hotel tomorrow but realized that it was just down the street. I was struggling getting to the oasis’s near the desert, south of here. I looked at private tours with a driver but flying seemed to make the most sense. But flights are not everyday. So I fly to Tozeur tomorrow until Thursday. I booked a nice hotel and will find fun things to do from there. Excited to have a better plan!!

Tomorrow I will see ruins of Carthage

In the morning, I had breakfast in the roof top bar. Nothing special but I had asked about taking a tour in the Médina. My guide arrived early so I didn’t eat much

My guides’ name was Fatty. He was very pleasant and informative. His native language was Arabic, then English, German and French

I don’t usually like to do tours but I liked him and he was very good. After a few minutes he asked if a German couple could join us. They were also nice.

Fatty took us though the Médina which means old city. He showed us the interiors of some famous palaces. Most of the Medina are small palaces. The large doors opened for horses and camels and large celebrations. The first room after you enter the house is for livestock. Even those on caravans many years ago had a central room for meals and deals and to provide shelter for the animals. There were tiny rooms off the main room for men to stay in.

So many pictures. We walked by the gold souks. Fatty told us about the bride to be’s going in with their Mama’s and picking out jewelry for their dowry. If the husband couldn’t afford it he had to pay back the mother in law.

I wandered down the hill. The hotel Dar Fatma was on the top of the hill. Great views. I had directions for a place for an appetizer and wine and walked very far past it. Had to walk back up the hill. It’s cold when you walk down and hot when you walk up. So many tourists. The Resto was closed when I got there so I decided to go the next place ChatGPT and I found. She has been wrong a lot lately and the shortcut I found was closed off by a wall so back down the hill and I asked a few taxi drivers to take me to Le Pirate. I got dropped off near it, but had to search for it, most signs are in Arabic. I asked a man and he pointed across the street. It was 5 pm so no one was there, but they were open. The English speaking person helped me. ChatGPT is great at translating the menu and has offered her selections of what to eat. She was wrong about this place having wine. She did not know that they didn’t have their papers! Ate some calamari fondue, not so great. They helped me get a taxi and I had to help the driver with directions. Kinda funny especially leaning way into the front seat trying to show him my phone with oncoming traffic and him looking at my phone.

I had grilled grouper that had a side of Cacio e Pepe pasta. Again amazing bread with very good olive oil and olives. The fish was excellent

Back to the hotel, felt like Everest climbing the hill Lol. Tomorrow I change hotels and see some sights. Making plans, also back up plans. Kinda longing for Venice….

Getting very sleepy

I asked where the restaurant was when I was leaving the hotel. The receptionist said to go right and look for a yellow door like the one to the hotel. Four wrong doors later, a handsome man asked if I was looking for the restaurant. I said yes and he pointed to a different door and knocked loudly and towards the top of the door. So this signifies that he is a man. Top knocker and loud, so in the past, a woman would get a man to answer to door or cover herself. The lower knockers and softer are for women.

My suite is beautiful, didn’t know I was having one! Dates, oranges and chocolates. An actual mini bar with alcohol. The hotel is very old with beautiful tiles everywhere. The plainness of all of the white buildings is balanced by the intricate interiors. So much detail.

I made reservations at the hotel restaurant. It was highly recommended as the most authentic restaurant in Tunis. Everything was delicious. I had Bric a l’oeuf. It was puff pastry deep friend with tuna capers and a raw egg. Very tasty. They served bread with chili sauce and a platter with anchovies, capers and olives. My entree was called Kabkabou which was fish, olives, capers, preserved lemon in a tomato sauce. Both were very popular and traditional dishes. It goes very well with their local Rose.

Some of the tiles:

Starting to get sleepy!

I had a three hour layover in Dallas and while we were boarding they announced, “ Boarding Aborted.” Interesting choice of words. It was only a 20 minute wait. All the dread about TSA and ICE was for nothing. Everything was smooth and everyone polite. There are a lot of travelers so it’s busy.

The flight was 10hours or so. My seat mates were two young girls that didn’t speak English and slept the whole time.

Sometimes I want to save miles and fly in the back. I might rethink this! But the last few times that I have flown first class on flights especially to and from India, I have so disappointed by the service and crying infants. As I boarded there was a crier in first.

I mostly read and slept. I had a few hours in the airport in Rome, so I ate at their Eataly, like in Chicago. I set an alarm and slept in a chair with my feet on my suitcase. Jet lag hit me!

The flight to Tunis was an easy hour. The city from the sky is all white buildings. It is very densely populated.

I ordered a car to drive me to the airport. Long lines for passport control.I am now on my way to the hotel.

It’s April 2nd and time for a vacation! After six weeks of work, it’s time to reboot and recharge. As usual, my last day of work before a vacation, the crazies come out and boy did I get a doozy yesterday. Bat shit crazy with terrible dental work that she wanted me to perform miracles with! And of course she had another appointment, so I had to hurry! She ended up cancelling her appointment with her therapist that she is seeing because of this terrible experience. I said no warranties, no guarantees and no one will be in the office for the next ten days. When she left, I told my team that I couldn’t wait to be included in her lawsuit! We were already planning a tiny send off to a team member that is leaving us, so we had a dixie cup of champagne and a toast to the future.

Just had to get that off my chest. Now I really deserve this time off! After work, I had to get a nail fixed, annoying…and then I met several of my dearest friends at the Yacht Club for a quick cocktail and laughter!

So where am I going??? Tunisia!

In the Mediterranean Sea just South of Sardinia

Why, I have been asked over and over! Why not! It’s a country that is safe, so much culture and incredible Roman ruins. Some of the seaside cities look like Santorini.

French and Arabic are the main languages. 98% Sunni Muslim, but moderate, maybe 1500 Jewish people and less Christians. The currency is the Tunisian Dinar. It is a closed currency, which means you can’t bring it in, because you can’t take it out. The are a few ATMs but cash is Queen!

I know only one person who has been to Tunisia and he loved it! It’s popular with Europeans because it is so close to Europe. I fly to Rome and the flight is about an hour from Rome.

I have the first few nights booked and then who knows. I know that Tunisia is very popular for Star Wars tours. Several of the movies were filmed in Tunisia. English Patient, a favorite movies of mine was also filmed here. Not a Star Wars Fan and I have been to the Sahara and other deserts so not a real draw for me. There are several interesting Oasis’s. I could see three in one day with waterfalls and Date palms.TBD

I am on the island of Exuma in the Bahamas with my children, their significant others, my brother and his wife, his daughters and their spouses and two babies. We rented a big, beautiful house on the beach and we are having a wonderful time.