It took me a few tries to get the hang of it; Tunisian carpets are single knotted rather than double knotted like Turkish carpets.  But many are quite lovely. 

The man on the left was our “guide” and the one on the right seemed to be in charge and the head carpet seller.

We do have an interest in carpets so we looked.  Most carpet sellers don’t mind if you look, but here it was a mistake as we were then expected to buy something.  There were some lovely woven blankets but I didn’t dare ask about them because that would have led to more unpleasantness if I’d not bought one. 

After the tea, which you really can’t refuse without being rude, we tried to leave.  Head guy just kept going on and on so Randal got up and walked out.  I’d planned to give something to the woman but started out the door after Randal when the head guy told me I should pay for my tea since we didn’t buy anything.  We had never heard that in Turkey or India for that matter, and I was pretty aghast that he would say such a thing.  Then he fumed out of the shop probably to find more unsuspecting tourists.   I walked back in and gave a bunch of coins to the weaver and told her that the coins were only for her and said it twice.  One of the shop staff saw me so I can only hope she actually got to keep all of the money, maybe about 8 or 9 dinar, about $5.  Our initial “guide” started to walk with us and I told him that we really were unhappy and wanted to just walk ourselves.  He took the hint and left us.  So right away we’re not so happy with Nabeul.   But it got better  and walking through the Medina wasn’t so bad.    Later in the day we saw the “carpet seller” again walking through the Medina.  He called out Virginia and came to walk with me.  I told him we were very unhappy with the treatment and his behavior.  I think he looked a tiny bit remorseful, but I might be making that up.  He certainly took the hint and walked away.

Tunisia is famous for their white bird cages

I would have bought one but Rhino Randal would have been jealous.

Once upon a time these covered balconies were used by the women so they could see out but no one could see them.  

Symbols of Nabeul; pottery and oranges just outside the Medina

We made one pass through the Medina and then decided it was time for lunch so set off down the main street of Nabeul.   There were several street vendors selling interesting looking food, but we needed a place to sit down that also had a WC.  We picked Sofrat el Bey Restaurant and Pizzeria and it was a good choice as the owner was the total opposite of “horrible carpet man.”

Ben Amor Salim and Randal

We had a lovely lunch and chat and learned about the architectural details of the restaurant; traditional Tunisian designs.

he Medina and then decided it was time for lunch.  There were several street  unhappy and wanted to ju

I think we were told it took 4 men three months to create this ceiling from molded plaster from which the design was cut out. 

Each glass-topped table had some type of decoration be it carpet or scarf.  Wood door decorated with painted wood studs is traditional Tunisian.

After lunch we went to visit the Center for Tunisian Arts and Crafts

Wrought iron shop; we saw the same overhead light as had been in the restaurant, so perhaps made here.

Edward Scissorhands and friends outside this shop selling more decorative than utilitarian work.

Two different types of painted glass; these bottles were quite lovely but not made for moving boats.

We left the workshops without finding something we just had to have and walked back towards the Medina.  The pottery though hand made looked more mass produced.  We were told by Jo that pottery could be bought in Port Yasmine from the souvenir shops and it would be about the same price and perhaps more choices. 

A metal door that worked like a chalkboard

Blue is the predominant color for decoration : Sun sea and Sahara = blue and white

Repairing or maybe creating a wall.

A wedding carriage : Disney/Barby is alive and well in Tunisia

Nabeul souvenirs. 

Our first pass through the Medina I bought the bigger basket and the second time we bought the smaller one.

Tunisia is famous for woven baskets.  We’ve used the one with handles for lots of things but most recently to hold all of our chippy snacks during the passage from Tunisia to Spain.  The small one will be a good bread basket

He reminded me of the “roti man” from Sungei Rengit near Sebana Cove Malaysia. 

We did see donkeys used for transportation several places. 

You could think this was folks on horseback, or donkeyback, but it means “out of service.”

One of the souvenir shops that lines the main road in Port Yasmine. 

Flying saucer over Port Yasmine Marina.  It was the strangest cloud.

Joe and Mick showed us their favorite restaurant where we took them for all of their kind help before and during our stay in Port Yasmine.

Of course there has to be a cat, but his one lived at the restaurant so we didn’t have to worry.

Metal Camel?

On the road from Sfax to El Jem we came across a small local outdoor market.

A barbeque grill in its hump.

I might like a donkey, they’re actually quite cute.

Old fashioned scales.

I bought one of his terra cotta pitchers

I paid 2 dinar, about $1.20  but maybe it was made by hand. 

Half day tours went out on these and you heard the theme to Pirates of the Caribbean blasting away while costumed crew entertained.  This one was pulling up to the dock just past where we were tied getting fuel and checking out from Tunisia.  You can see a second one just behind ready to come into the marina area.  But the marina was relatively quiet most of the time so it was fine and folks looked as if they had a good time.

Children selling tiny boquets of jasmine flowers tried to sell them from people disembarking from the “pirate boats.”

When we first pulled up to the fuel dock about 11:15 am the small boy in the red costume was just sitting there with his basket of jasmine boquets. There was no shade.  He had no food or water with him.  He didn’t say a word to us.  He was there from the time we pulled up to the dock until just before we left which was several hours.  Each boquet cost 1 dinar, about 60 cents.  I bought 2.  I gave him a packet of cookies and a can of Diet Coke as we had no small boxes of juice or water.  Then I gave him an apple.  I would have given him all the rest of my dinars but another bigger boy came along, so I had to buy a boquet from him.  He actually asked if I’d buy some jasmine and I said I’d bought some from the other boy.  So he said,”if you can buy one from him, why not from me?’  I had no good answer other than “you’re big and he’s small,” so I bought a boquet from the bigger boy too.  The bigger boy isn’t in my photos, he was even bigger than the 3 boys here.  When the pirate boat pulled in they all ran to try to sell their boquets.  We saw these small kids selling jasmine boquets or roses all of the time by the restaurants that ring the marina.  Even late at night. Joe said the children were safe, that nobody would hurt a child here.  Childhood is so different in different parts of the world.

As Randal walked to the customs office to check us out of Tunisia there was a discussion of “a gift.”  Randal said  no and that was okay.