Diary entry number twenty - Tunisia Position 36'52:01N 10'21:17E
California of London
Allan and Ruth Dooley
Fri 25 Sep 2009 17:54
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Charles Hutton-Potts (friend from Grant
Thornton) arrived on 14 Sept followed by Harriet Brown (return visit!) on 16
Sept. These few days were spent with me up the mast 3 times
trying to sort out the masthead and tri-light that the 'cherry picker' had
put on completely incorrectly in Malta. I gained a qualification in
rewiring but could not walk afterwards! Inbetween we did more sightseeing, socialising and eating at
excellent restaurants concluding that Malta really does have a lot to
offer.
Finally departed Grand Harbour on Thurs 17 Sept
into yet more lumpy seas so went into quiet anchorage where St Paul is reputed
to have been shipwrecked. Peace was shattered that evening by the arrival
of two loud party boats. Retaliated with our own music! Next day up to the Blue Lagoon on Comino which is very
beautiful and therefore very popular with tourist boats. Over to Mgar on
Gozo for the evening and a taxi trip to the main town Victoria where we
visited the very impressive citadel - in the dark.
Up early on Saturday 19 to go the 200 miles to
Tunisia. Flat calm to start with and wind
behind. Later wind went round to northwest and we were going west so able
to sail the last third of trip to Yasmine marina at Hammamet. Arrived
Sunday evening and left on Monday for trip north to fishing port of
Kelibia. Rainstorms arrived in the evening so did not go ashore but
instead had drinks with our neighbours onboard their lovely old fashioned
style (but brand new) motorboat. Pushing onwards the next day we had a brief stop for a swim at
Cap Bon (north east tip of Tunisia) before going to Sidi Bou Said
marina, near Tunis.
For the next two days we hired a car and a
driver to explore inland. On Wed 23 Sept we visited the spectacular site
of Dougga which is a wonderfully preserved Roman site. It was pouring with
rain but still well worth the trip. On our return we saw the Punic Port at
Carthage. The next day we visited more sites of Carthage which has modern
day Tunis on top of it and therefore only has small areas 'exposed'. Onto
the Bardo museum which has many amazing mosaics and a quick visit to the
'Sauk' (or Medina/centre of Tunis) before dropping Charles at the airport.
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