Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia


Today was a good day. I had intended to check out of The Hotel Carlton and relocate to Sidi Bou Said. I read on the Internet how expensive hotels are in Sidi Bou Said and how the hotels are not that great.

At the last moment I decided to keep my hotel in Tunis and hop on a train and make a day trip out of Sidi Bou Said. First I cleared it with the hotel front desk and they said no problem with my staying here longer.

I left my hotel and thought that it might be a good idea to get a ticket for Malta for the next part of my adventure. I wanted to take a boat to Malta but the travel office I stopped in told me that there is no longer a boat going to Malta. I don't completely believe that but I went along with it and I bought a plane ticket to Malta for Sunday. While at the travel office I met a Brit from London that lived in Tunisia. We chatted for a bit and went our separate ways.

Ok now on to Sidi Bou Said. I walked up Habib Bourguiba Avenue to the TGM train station. I bought a ticket for about $1 U.S. and waited for the train. When the train arrived in the station people crowd the doors before they open up. When the doors open people rush in from one side while passengers are still exiting from the other side. There are limited seats so the rush is on for seating.

The Rush for seats is not a pretty situation I did manage to get a seat as the train car became very crowded. I looked up and there was the Brit that I had met in the travel office. His name is Patrick. I called him and he came over and we talked about Tunisia all the way to my stop. We said a quick good by and I got off the train.

Sidi Bou Said. It is a nice small town of white wash houses with blue trimmed windows and shutters. It is a pretty and picturesque town. I did what I usually do in a new town I just started walking. It was a very hot day. After perhaps a mile of walking I found my self at a very crowded beach. I found a spot in the shade to sit and watch and take it all in. There were lots of people on the beach and in the water.

It is interesting to see some Muslim women fully dressed in traditional clothing swimming in the sparkling blue green water. I enjoyed the beach and then started walking again. Sidi Bou Said is a nice small town full of tour groups. Lots and lots of tour groups.

This is a pretty town but seems to be a real tourist trap. There are all the usual hawkers selling their pottery and artwork and T-shirts and more. The place is set up to sell to the tourist and the tour group. I am very happy that I did not relocate to Said Bou Said although I do like the name and the colorful homes. Sidi Bou Said does not require more than a days visit. Even the restaurants seem to be tourist traps.

After a few hours I am done and I walk back to the train station and make my way back to Tunis. I had dinner at a restaurant in Tunis called La Mama. I had a very good salad and a plate of Spaghetti, for 11 Dinars. I met the owner Mr.Ali, I will eat there again.
It was a good day.