2000 October 17 : Tuesday

I didn't spend too much time in Tunis. It seemed to be a kinder, gentler version of Naples. I stayed only long enough to get my laundry done and rent a car: a Citroen Saxo. Then I headed south.

01) TUNIS | The Hotel Du Lac. I first encountered this building in the February 1980 issue of National Geographic (pp. 196-7). It reminded me then of the Jawa Sandcrawler from STAR WARS. It still does.

02) OUTSKIRTS OF TUNIS | The remains of a Roman Aquaduct. Many people - including those I work with in architecture - are ignorant to the fact that the Roman Empire was far-reaching. It went as far north as the UK and as far south as North Africa. This particular aquaduct supplied water to the Roman city of Carthage (now a suburb of Tunis).

03) THUBURBO MAJUS | Thuburbo Majus was once a Roman frontier town. It's not nearly as large as Pompeii or as well preserved, but it still is something of a shock to come upon Roman columns in the middle of the Tunisian plains.

04) THUBURBO MAJUS | You can't tell it from the photos, but there were snails everywhere. Millions of them. I noticed that they covered the ground at every Roman site I visited in Tunisia.

05) THUBURBO MAJUS | This is what's left of the amphitheatre. The eighth one I visited, for those of you still counting.

06) THUBURBO MAJUS | On the top of a low hill, I heard a rustling noise in the grass next to a ruined wall. I thought to myself, "Ooooh! Maybe it's a cobra - or even a large scorpion." This turtle emerged instead. I picked him up - he immediately sucked himself into his shell - and placed him on the rock so that I could take his photograph. As soon as I put him down, he wiggled his parts out and took off as fast as he could. It took several attempts for me to get him to remain still long enough for me to focus and take the shot. In the end, I kept him in his shell by gently blowing on him, while I set up the camera.

07) THUBURBO MAJUS | What's left of the forum and the capital.

08) ZAGHOUAN | The "Temple of the Wells." A spring at this location was harnessed by the Romans and fed the aquaduct that ran some 50+ miles to Carthage. Incidently, the rocks in the background are called "mountains" in Tunisia. The one at the right is called Jebel Zaghouan and is the highest point in the country (1,295m).

09) ZAGHOUAN | The steps and pool have been restored.

10) ZAGHOUAN | Looking north towards Tunis. The two guys at the left are walking towards me to offer their services as guides. "Spring," they said, pointing at the well behind me. No kidding, I thought to myself.

It was now about 3pm and I decided I had better make for Kairouan if I was to find a hotel before dark. I arrived roughly an hour and a half later. After several attempts, I found hotel just outside the medina and was able to check in just before dusk.