More of Tunisia

Police enjoying breakfast in front of the Medina at Tunis

I thoroughly enjoyed our stop at Tunis while on the Med Glamour cruise. I have heard others say it is dirty and crowded, and even though it is, the people are lovely and the country is fascinating. Information on the Medina of Tunis can be found on Wikipedia here. We arrived early on a Sunday morning. The government offices are covered with barb wire as they had a revolution only a year or so ago. The police presence was strong, except it was a pretty laid back affair, with the policemen enjoying a breakfast of fried meat in pita bread around a cart. Reminded me of the breakfast taco stands in Cozumel.

Tunis architecture

Blue doors of Tunis

The architecture of Tunis is amazing, with beautiful blue and yellow doors. The stonework is also quite impressive. The homes in the Medina area are some of the most expensive of the country.


Also don't miss the Bardo Museum. It was undergoing a move that I believe had been going on for a while. I snapped a few photos of the local people, really beautiful. I especially liked the one of this little boy.

Adorable boy at Bardo Museum

More information on visiting Tunis can be found here.

Sardi's Restaurant New York: Still Great

Postcard from Sardi's Restaurant

What's not to like about a restaurant that's been around for 90 years and hasn't changed much in 30. Don't get me wrong! The carpet and furniture are new, the waiters top-notch and the food is delicious. What I mean is the same level of quality and wonderful ambiance I found at Sardi's as a naive 30 year old still exists today. 


My friend Lisa had planned a wonderful lunch for us in the theater district of New York. I found the area too crowded and run down. The restaurant we attempted to eat at was too crowded and loud. And then, there it was ... a place that holds a special place in my heart. We left the first place, each of us dragging one of my suitcases, fighting the crowd, the wind whipping around, looking like rain. Like an oasis in the desert, I saw the sign ... wow, Sardi's. 


I had a romantic dinner there 30 years ago before going to a show on Broadway. The food was still as good, the atmosphere divine. Lisa had Caesar salad and I had the tomato and mozzarella salad. They were both perfect. If you would like to try it out when in New York, here is a link to their website. Enjoy and tell them I sent you! (Just joking, they would have no idea who I am.)

New York, New York

My friend Lisa at a midtown diner 

My travel to Rome included a stop at New York. I had not been to the city in over twenty years, and I was excited to see it again. I watch scenes every week in one of my favorite shows, Gossip Girl. Unfortunately I saw neither Blair nor Serena, but I did meet up with a good friend and client, Lisa.


The taxi ride in was quite eventful. The driver, who was new to the city and from Africa, kept asking me where my hotel was located. I kept telling him I had no idea. I gave him the exact address, and the whole way there he sweated if we were going the right way. When we finally arrived on the street in midtown where the hotel was located, he told me we had passed it. But I told him no, as I fortunately had google mapped the location earlier and knew it was next to Ruth's Chris steak house. I saw the steakhouse a bit up the street. I have to say I was never so glad to get out of a cab. 


I stayed at a four star hotel which was fine, but the price seemed outrageous to me for what I got. Welcome to New York! The bed was comfortable and the room was decorated tastefully. I did get a kick out of where they locate the safe though.As you can see in the picture below, it was located on a shelf in the closet way over my head. I had to get on a chair to use it.

Safe location at the hotel

Lisa met me at the hotel the next morning and we went to breakfast and did some shopping. The little diner we went to had a great omelet and even better service. I snapped a few photos going to the bathroom though. It was really creepy and felt like something out of Criminal Minds. I kept waiting for someone to pop out and grab me.

Staircase to diner bathroom

Written on the inside of the stall at diner bathroom

Thanks again, Lisa, for your hospitality and taking me shopping. Per my pleading, we even took a ride on the subway!

Me in the subway NYC

Tunisia: Worth a Look

Wall detail in Tunisia

On my cruise of the Western Med from Rome to Rome, one of our stops was Tunisia. I had heard varying comments from not worth getting off to the best port on the cruise. Since the cruise was full of awesome ports, I don't think I can say that it was my favorite spot, but I can say that I liked it and that is was the most exotic place we went. It is a Muslim country, but the people drink wine. It is mostly laid back with bothersome vendors, so I felt right at home. Cozumel is the same.


I did the Best of Tunisia tour, which was probably too much. If I ever go back, I would like to do a more extensive ruins tour, and I refused to go up for the Turkish rug presentation. I am allergic to wool, and I could feel the sneezing coming on when I hit the stairs. But the shop owner chit chatted with me while the presentation was being made, and I liked the people. They were heartfelt and warm.

Hat making demonstration in the Medina of Tunis

We went to the Bardo Museum, the Souk of the Medina (basically the Market), Carthage ruins and had a great lunch at what seemed to be a country club. The president of Palestine was at the Bardo when we first arrived, so our guide took us to the Medina before most of the shops were opened, and then we returned to the Bardo. It was a great way to see the Souk without all the crowds. Finally, we went to Sidi Bou Said, a village with blue and white houses. That felt like the tourist trap to me, but the houses were interesting. 

Shop in the Medina of Tunisia

Friends I met on the Best of Tunisia tour

I met a great couple on this tour that I spent time with throughout the cruise. Thanks for the great memories, Mee Len and Spencer.

Camels at the port of La Goulette

I will report more on each of the spots we visited. But I want to say, do not shy away from Tunisia. After just going through a war, they need the business and it is really interesting. To me, the people make the place and I liked the people of Tunisia. Our guide was especially nice.

Guide at Tunis

The Amazing Faces: Memories of Paris

Statue at Paris, France

My memories of Paris are backed up on those little square plastic disks that fit in my first digital camera. It was a Sony camera that was big and heavy, and I never could get a straight picture from it. Moises became the photographer that trip of 2002. He sure took some great shots of faces in Paris, with all kinds of expressions and in various mediums. I really don't remember where we took all of them, but it is fun to reminisce.

Wall of Arc de Triomphe, Paris

Who is this?

I love the bust above, but who is he? Can anybody tell me?

Paris

Also, I would love to identify the below painting at the Louvre. It is fabulous.

Painting at the Louvre, Paris

Oh, and here we are with the infamous camera!

Moises and me with our first digital camera photo taken at Versailles

Romantic Rendezvous: Memories of Paris

me at Louvre 2002

It has been 10 years since Moises and I made our one and only trip to Paris. I may never go back as the trip was so perfect, it could never be topped. We could not have had better weather. It was cool but not cold until the last few days. Our hotel, Hotel California, could not have been nicer nor better located. It was a romantic rendezvous. I hear people say Parisians are not friendly, but we did not find this at all. My husband speaks French, enough to get by in restaurants and grocery stores. We had a warm welcome from everyone we met. The city could not have been cleaner. Every day at 5pm, the street cleaners came by and hosed down the streets. Due to the economic climate in Europe now, I've been told that is no longer possible. I don't know as I haven't been back, but our memories are of the best trip of a lifetime. We love Paris!

A few other gems from that trip ....

face in stone at Louve, Paris

Lion statue at Louvre, Paris

Wall detail at Louvre, Paris

Mona Lisa

The crowning jewel .... the Mona Lisa. She is so small and used to hang in a bathroom, but no trip to Paris is complete without her! More information on this painting can be found here.

Ces53: A Great Graffiti Artist

Graffit by Ces53 in Cholula, Mexico

I stumbled across a great graffiti artist from The Netherlands. He goes by the name of Ces53. He now does a lot more than graffiti, but his graffiti is great and can even be found in Mexico.

Graffiti by Ces53 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Check out his website at www.ces53.com