Magic week in Tunisia
My husband and I spent an unforgettable week in Tunisia. We prepared carefully, we are especially grateful to the sites turpravda and jj tours. ru.
We planned trips to the ancient Roman ruins, the capital, not a beach holiday. Therefore, we went in early October, the heat subsided, but the autumn rains had not yet begun. We chose Hammamet, closer to the capital, from where we started our excursions. Hotel Mirage Beach Club 4 *, really liked it. Maybe because the reviews about Tunisia and its hotels are often negative, they were pleasantly surprised by the country itself, the hotel, the beach, and the food. If you make allowances for the Arab mentality, do not find fault, do not visit some places like medinas, some districts of the old city, do not respond to numerous divorces, then Tunisia is simply Eldorado for lovers of ancient Roman culture. The beach and the sea are also beautiful, a wide coastline without partitions, you can wander for hours knee-deep in the waves along the coast. But we went with the goal of wandering almost alone through the excavated ancient Roman cities, of which there are a huge number in the country, and we enjoyed it from the bottom of our hearts, having received great pleasure. It’s only a little sad that few tourists are interested in the ruins, they are sometimes abandoned and overgrown with grass, and sheep graze between the columns.
We got there on our own, using information obtained from numerous sites. Many thanks to everyone who described their quests in Tunisia in such detail and clearly. It was very useful to us. The hotel offers excursions, but, apparently, due to the lack of people, we were not taken anywhere. There was only a two day trip to the Sahara via El Jem. We were sorry to lose two days, we did not go.
Since descriptions of sights, features of movement, all necessary household information are set out in great detail on jj tours. ru, then I will not repeat myself, I will describe only our personal travels and impressions.
For those who are not interested in history, who do not know at least a little Arabic or French, my story will not be useful. You will not be able to travel on your own by public transport or taxi. Only cashiers or young people know a little English.
So, in 6 full days we visited the capital, the Bardo Museum, Ufina = Udna, Dugga, Pupput in Hammamet. We didn’t have time to get to Carthage, because, believe it or not, we got on a strike of Tunisian taxi drivers, there was a crush in the metro, we went on foot, got a little lost, in the end we just wandered around the city.
We left the hotel by taxi to the old Hammamet (5 dinars) to Bas Station Tunis or Gare Roite Tunis, took bus 105 (4.2 dinars) and drove to Bas Station South for 1 hour. The bus runs every hour from 6.30 to 20.00. Very convenient. To the right of the bus ticket office, about 10 meters away, there is a municipal excursion bureau, be sure to go in, they will give you maps for free and tell you how to get there or what they recommend to see.
The country has a developed bus service, and railways, a metro-tram in the capital, Luangi minibuses will take you anywhere, but the best thing, of course, is a taxi. Everything is very cheap. On a piece of iron, we did not dare. We planned to order a taxi or luangi from the hotel reception, but there was no such service (??? ). I had to drive up to the capital by bus. We left at 7 in the morning, sometimes in time for lunch, more often for dinner.
We returned by the same bus from the bus station south or told the taxi driver to go roite Hammamet.
If we arrange our excursions according to the degree of completeness of impressions, then Dugga is far ahead, then the Bardo Museum, Udna, Pupput, a walk through the city center.
Bardo Museum, Tunisia. 100 meters from the bus station is the Bab Aliuoa metro-tram station, number 1 or 6 to Barcelona Square one stop, change to number 4, get up at stop 8, , Bardo,, . On the way, the townspeople were actively asked again. They always responded kindly. The museum is simply huge, some artifacts are unique, for example, metal figurines, Roman boxes raised from a sunken ancient ship are exhibited. Haven't seen anything like it anywhere. An inhuman number of mosaics, the delightful very premises of the museum, the former Bey Palace of the 16th century. Ceilings of fabulous beauty and diversity. Ticket 11 dinars, photo 1 day. From 9 to 16.30. We spent almost 4 hours there. Happy.
This first trip gave us confidence, satisfaction, what happened, we were able to. In the wake of this euphoria, we continued to use public transport to the maximum. Now, of course, we would act differently. We recommend taking a taxi. It is very inexpensive - half a dinara per km.
Udna. From the bus station in Tunis take bus 840 half an hour (30km) to Udna. Ticket 1.04 dinars. Along the way, you will see the grandiose remains of a Roman aqueduct. Then a local taxi to the ruins themselves. They also agreed with him to return for 30 dinars to Tunisia. It should be noted here that we immediately bought a local SIM card. We exchanged phone numbers with taxi drivers, called him when we were ready to return, and talked to the hotel guide. Definitely needed. It costs 8 dinar. We were lucky, there was a promotion - we got it for free, and 100 dinars in the account. They rejoiced like children. Little has been preserved in Udna. But worth a look. Impressive circus like the Colosseum. But if you are planning only one long trip, then choose Dugga! It's like St. Petersburg against Novgorod.
Sunday is a day off in Tunisia. We were afraid to run into closed doors. We stayed at the hotel and, finally, swam in the warm gentle sea, a little algae did not spoil the bathing. In October, there are few people, sunbeds, mattresses in bulk, the sea is deserted. Occasionally a cameleer will pass by and offer to ride. If you don't want to, turn away, just don't enter into the conversation. Hands are not enough. After lunch we decided to get to the local ruins of Pupput. We just walked along the coastline, reached forty minutes. Behind the bright orange hotel, the passage is perpendicular to the sea. On the right you will see a fence made of metal rods, this is the fence of the ruins of Pupput. Walk along it to the entrance. There grandfather is a watchman, desolation and not a single soul. Ticket 5 dinars. Heavily destroyed, but still has its own zest, in addition to mosaics, the remains of baths and a rather large house, we saw many tombstones with mosaics from early Christianity. I was struck by huge amphoras, I have never seen them in nature, the thing is fragile, few have been preserved. I wonder what was in them? Wine? Butter? Corn? It's amazing that it's only you, the silent ruins, and above it the blue sky, the same as it was two thousand years ago.
And finally, Dugga!! ! It's very far. After unsuccessful attempts to hire a lounge at a hotel, or buy a tour, we ventured to go ourselves. We go from the bus station to the metro as in Bardo, but we get up at the Bab Saadun station, where the language brings us to the luanzhey station, repeating there, Dugga Teborsuk ,, , we get to the luange, which takes us to the town of Teborsuk for 9 dinars 1.5 hours . On the way, the luange driver calls a taxi driver, who takes us to the ruins themselves, and then, on a call, takes us back to the local luange station. The town itself seemed charming, clean, beautiful houses, friendly people, the streets winding along very steep mountains. Liked it very much.
Everything is amazing in Dugga. The city is located on a mountain, surrounded by olive and orange groves, vineyards. The beauty is breathtaking. Ticket 7 dinars, photo 1 dinars. Those almost 3 hours that we were there was not enough to examine everything in detail. The excavated area is vast, and still dig and dig. Lots of well preserved buildings. I was struck by the theater, for the first time I saw a preserved floor with a mosaic on the stage, a very high bowl with seats for spectators. The spirit is captivating. For the first time I saw the preserved portico on the temple of Mercury. An exciting feeling - you are walking on marble slabs of roads, Phoenician merchants, Numidian kings, Roman patricians used to walk here. For lovers, a well-preserved toilet with a washbasin in the thermal building. And, of course, mosaics, true, copies, originals - in Bardo. Amazing, I wanted to stay there forever.
It remains only to tell about walks around the capital. These are Habib Bugrib Avenue, the gates of the Medina Bab el Bahr (were under the grid), and the surrounding streets, the Cathedral of Saint Vincent de Paul, the French Embassy. Entire blocks in the French style, cafes on the street, the French influence seems to be very strong. Young people dress in European style, everyone speaks French, and there are few women who are wrapped up. The buildings are often shabby, reek of garbage, a lot of people, beware of pickpockets, but everyone is friendly. Colorful, we do not regret that we walked all day. We ventured to have a bite to eat in a cafe like McD with shawarma and coffee. There were a lot of decent-looking locals there. Delicious. Shawarma 5.5 dinars, coffee 3.
On the eve of departure, they discovered that they had not bought gifts. Jasmine Hammamet did not like anything in Costa Mola or nearby. They waved to Nabeul, this is the center of pottery. Taxi from the hotel 17 dinars and we are at the Suk Juma Bazaar. Huge selection of local ceramics and leather goods. Not China. Cheap. Of course, you need to know the prices, but it is not difficult to find shops with price tags there. Bought bowls!! ! Tagine, dishes, plates! Leather wallet with an ornament. Shopping Satisfied!
In the end, we really liked it! Never regretted.
Have a great holiday and justify your expectations!
