Africa Within Reach by Ship

For a first encounter with Tunisia we decided to take the ship from Genoa to Tunis with the return (and a half-day stop) in Malta. We set off from Florence and the car stays in Genoa. We realise that leaving it for a week in this city is a real problem. In the end everything goes smoothly (at a cost of 100 euros!) and we board with Grandi Navi Veloci. The sea crossing is a very human-scale affair. You have time to read, sleep, watch a film etc. At 4 pm the next day we're at La Goulette in a blinding sun and a sky of an almost fake blue. We're in Africa. A taxi takes us to the Carlton Hotel for just 4 dinars and the "discovery" begins. Excellent hotel on Av. Bourguiba, art deco style, three stars that are worth four, clean and air-conditioned for just 50 euros a night (for two!) with breakfast (visit the website to believe it).

Another great discovery is the Al Mazar restaurant on rue de Marseille a few steps from the hotel. Frequented only by Tunisian men, but local (very clean) cuisine and very good fish at incredible prices. We were the only tourists but our "courage" paid off. Good! The rest can be found in all the guidebooks: the Great Mosque, the Medina, the souks, the Bardo Museum, Sidi Bou Said with the Café des Nattes etc. Oh, I almost forgot: don't let yourself be enchanted in the Medina by those who want to take you to see or buy things. They don't do it to please you; they're stationed at various points and tolerated by the Police. They're friendly and never aggressive, but it's better to give a nice smile and move on. Next year, again in April or May, southern Tunisia will certainly be waiting for us!!