المدينة

So the Medina [or basically downtown esk area] in Tunis was lots of fun! [pictures will come later]

We had our own personal guided tour by an ex-journalist who grew up there. So rather than just exploring the more touristy parts, or the souks we actually got to see what the area was like [and even go into a shop and onto the roof and have a view of the entire area. One thing that I've decided is amazing about Tunisia--everything is SO CHEAP.

هده المدينة

For example. Lunch/dinner costs typically 2 dinar MAYBE 2.500 dinar after a drink--which roughly translates into $1.40 to $1.75. And even better the program gives us 20 dinar/day to spend on food. Which means lots of money left over to shop. While I haven't made any real purchases yet, *hopefully* I'll be headed back to the Medina this afternoon to buy a purse or something. [Tunisias --surprisingly high quality fake purses, scarves, etc.--are [depending on how good of a haggler] are between 2 and 15 dinar, and at .7 dinar to a dollar thats pretty cheap] Basically, I now completly understand why tunisia has a pretty sizable jewish popluation for being in the middle east.

I've also enjoyed chatting with Tunisians in 'not english'. One shop we decided that we were hispanic. And only chatted with the shop keeper in spanish [which was actually a success despite our broken spanish] Another shop we decided to be french tourisits who knew a bit of arabic. Over all quite entertaining.

After the Medina a few of us took the TGM to the beach and went and had fresh fresh fresh fish that was delish; however we were pestered forever by this little kid who was probably 6 or 7 who wanted us to buy these jasmine flower things. But over all fun experience--minus not getting back to the hotel till 10:30ish and begining my paper for today, but all was done and *hopefully* it will be successful.

B'slema!