Tunis
I took the Express train to from Sousse (116 km/ 72 miles in one hour and 30 minutes). It's a two car diesel train (we call them Sprints) with smart interiors including electrical outlets for computers.The guidebook makes arrival in Tunis sound easy but the reality is something different. No maps are posted and although the station is theoretically in the organised 'European' district, the Medina is pressed up hard against it and you are pitched right into a melee of traffic, vendors, noise and confusion. I wandered for an hour without getting my bearings and had to return to the station to consult the Information Office. Even with good advice it proved difficult because access to the station is so limited ; it is hemmed in with fences, tram lines and barriers. Once I found the grand boulevard (Blvd Bourguiba) I was quite stunned ; this is city planning of the grandest type and immediately made me think of Paris. The Municipal Theatre is a Beaux Arts building of high quality, the nearby hotels and cafes are all very fashionable and well maintained. It would be very easy to think you are in Paris.
Museum Bardo
The Bardo Museum is housed in the former palace of the Bey of Tunisia and the building is almost of as much interest as the collection. What a collection! There are mosaics from over 6 centuries depicting the gods, hunting, fishing, the seas, marine life, and farming. My favourite mosaic was a peacock located on a wall near a hallway - not the best of locations for viewing or photographing. Scattered through several rooms with mosaics on the walls and floors, there are also display cases with statutes, and a small collection of gold jewellery. At the entrance, there is a very impressive baptistry in the shape of a cross ; it dates from the 5th or 6th Century AD and is from the island of Jerba in the south of Tunisia. In spite of the fact that large parts of the museum are closed due to expansion and refurbishment, this is a must for any visitor to Tunis. It is a high quality collection in a spectacular setting. I also appreciated the fact that it is easily accessible by tram.
Bardo Museum on the Web
Bardo Museum on the Web
Bardo Museum on the Web
Bardo Museum on the Web
Photo Gallery
Theatre Municipal