A NIGHT IN TUNISIA...

I. Thé à la menthe…

I arrived in this country for the very first time yesterday night. So, I’ve spent my first night in Tunisia…
I’m not sure that I experienced all the things that Dizzy Gillespie tried to convey in his “Night in Tunisia”, but a relaxed night at the Corinthia Khamsa Hotel where, from the balcony of my room (after a day of the most ghastly weather in London and Paris…) I could enjoy a brilliant starred and bright mooned sky, complemented with a lamb couscous et un thé à la menthe (… well this one only in my unfulfilled wishes, because when I asked for it they said that they only had english tea… which to me would be something like a ‘mint tea’ only without the mint, so I declined it) might have made up for it!

I came for a week, which is to be half work and half pleasure… the work part is to last until Monday, so only after that I’ll be able to fully enjoy Gammarth, where I’m staying and is described in some tourism literature as “Gorgeous Gammarth: poised at the apex of awe-inspiring Carthage and pristine beaches, Gammarth is the perfect starting point at which to explore Tunisia and its myriad attractions that include quaint villages, colourful souks, holy shrines and Roman amphitheatres. With its warm, azure waters and upscale yet laid-back sensibility, you might be tempted to make Gammarth your only destination this trip and in trips to come.” … Well, I’m already gagging for it all!


In fact, today I had a sneak preview of the said warm, azure waters and pristine beaches when I went for a short walk around only to discover that this hotel is actually located by the beach, in fact it has its own beach, which, perhaps because it’s low season, was completely deserted, in spite of the gorgeous sun it made all day today! I hadn’t realised that, because I didn’t know anything about the place beforehand and couldn’t really see much of it yesterday night… a truly breathtaking view!



P.S. 1: I’m taking notice of all the emails from those of you who have taken the time to respond to my message relating to the last post here. Thanks a lot you bunch! I’ll respond as soon as I get some more free time in my hands but, in the meantime, if you don’t terribly mind, could you be so kind as to post your comments directly here in the blog? You can sign in as anonymous if you don’t feel like identifying yourselves, ça va?
Salut et à la prochaine! … Aujourd’hui j’ai eut le plaisir d’enjoyer non seulement un, mais deux (… à ce moment) vrais thés à la menthe tunisiens!!

P.S. 2 : Jà repararam que estou a escrever com acentos, embora esse ùltimo e este também nao sejam os correctos, porque aparentemente nao se usam em Frances, assim como nao se usam tis? Pois é… mas tentem, depois de anos e anos a usar teclados sem acentos, escrever num com caracteres latinos e arabes, para além dos normais… cada tecla tem quatro caracteres e é um verdadeiro quebra cabeças descobrir como é que se consegue usar cada um deles… um verdadeiro caso de 8 ou 80 !!!

I. Thé à la menthe…

I arrived in this country for the very first time yesterday night. So, I’ve spent my first night in Tunisia…
I’m not sure that I experienced all the things that Dizzy Gillespie tried to convey in his “Night in Tunisia”, but a relaxed night at the Corinthia Khamsa Hotel where, from the balcony of my room (after a day of the most ghastly weather in London and Paris…) I could enjoy a brilliant starred and bright mooned sky, complemented with a lamb couscous et un thé à la menthe (… well this one only in my unfulfilled wishes, because when I asked for it they said that they only had english tea… which to me would be something like a ‘mint tea’ only without the mint, so I declined it) might have made up for it!

I came for a week, which is to be half work and half pleasure… the work part is to last until Monday, so only after that I’ll be able to fully enjoy Gammarth, where I’m staying and is described in some tourism literature as “Gorgeous Gammarth: poised at the apex of awe-inspiring Carthage and pristine beaches, Gammarth is the perfect starting point at which to explore Tunisia and its myriad attractions that include quaint villages, colourful souks, holy shrines and Roman amphitheatres. With its warm, azure waters and upscale yet laid-back sensibility, you might be tempted to make Gammarth your only destination this trip and in trips to come.” … Well, I’m already gagging for it all!


In fact, today I had a sneak preview of the said warm, azure waters and pristine beaches when I went for a short walk around only to discover that this hotel is actually located by the beach, in fact it has its own beach, which, perhaps because it’s low season, was completely deserted, in spite of the gorgeous sun it made all day today! I hadn’t realised that, because I didn’t know anything about the place beforehand and couldn’t really see much of it yesterday night… a truly breathtaking view!



P.S. 1: I’m taking notice of all the emails from those of you who have taken the time to respond to my message relating to the last post here. Thanks a lot you bunch! I’ll respond as soon as I get some more free time in my hands but, in the meantime, if you don’t terribly mind, could you be so kind as to post your comments directly here in the blog? You can sign in as anonymous if you don’t feel like identifying yourselves, ça va?
Salut et à la prochaine! … Aujourd’hui j’ai eut le plaisir d’enjoyer non seulement un, mais deux (… à ce moment) vrais thés à la menthe tunisiens!!

P.S. 2 : Jà repararam que estou a escrever com acentos, embora esse ùltimo e este também nao sejam os correctos, porque aparentemente nao se usam em Frances, assim como nao se usam tis? Pois é… mas tentem, depois de anos e anos a usar teclados sem acentos, escrever num com caracteres latinos e arabes, para além dos normais… cada tecla tem quatro caracteres e é um verdadeiro quebra cabeças descobrir como é que se consegue usar cada um deles… um verdadeiro caso de 8 ou 80 !!!