Friday, July 23, 2010

Friday night at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Tunis, Tunisia North Africa


That 12 hour layover in Frankfurt is just a killer. First thing I did was check out the bed room in the Lufthansa lounge and sure enough there was an empty one so I managed to sleep for 5 hours. I'd left Vancouver the previous evening and spent 10 hours being served delicious meals and drinks by the friendly Lufthansa in-flight staff. I love business class on Lufthansa. There's the little overnight kit containing a toothbrush and paste, clean socks, eyemask and ear plugs for the light sleepers, a dark chocolate treat and other various odds and ends. Last trip it came in a cool tin container but this time the usual grey zipped bag. I like to walk around the Frankfurt airport checking out the duty free and various restaurants though I always end up in the same gift shop with all the tacky Germany souvenirs. The one thing I'd like to buy is the huge beer stein that must hold about 5 pints and costs something like 150 euros. Its a serious piece of equipment and I can't imagine raising 5 pints plus the weight of the mug with one hand. We're definitely talkin' two hander! On the way home in September I'll make room in my bag for a German Beer Stein.
The flight to Tunis takes about 2 1/2 hours and arrives at 11:30pm. My driver Nuceur always greets me with a smile and though he knows very little english and I know limited french we seem to communicate with hand motions and lots of laughter. Tunis is a very cool little city and I always wish I had time to explore the Roman ruins and especially the souk.The gift shop in the airport has some good souvenirs but expensive so the souk is the best choice for pottery and other local crafts. No giant beer steins though!

 I stay at the Golden Tulip Hotel which is in Carthage just to the northeast of Tunis. If you get the right room you have beautiful views of the Mediterranean and if you find yourself in the wrong room the barking dog and yapping goats will keep you awake till all hours. If you arrive on Friday night the music from the mosques just down the road will entertain you way past midnight and drown out the dogs and goats.    
The goats live down in those trees with the dogs and other unidentified screaming lifeforms.Its a nice contrast to the lovely rooms provided at the Tulip complete with beautiful wooden desk inlaid with the Mecca directional arrow. Price of a cab to the airport is $20US or 20Tunisian DT

Heres the beverage list from the Golden Tulip. French Champagne anybody?