During my time cruising the Mediterranean, we pulled into the North African port of La Goulette, Tunis. Unfortunately, the timing was horrible due to the recent attack at the American Embassy, but that didn't stop me from attempting to have just a little fun. Once off the boat, I decided to go shopping at the nearby market.
As I walked through the market, the smell of spices filled the air. The sound of mizwad and darbouka , a type of instrument that is commonly played in Tunisia, echoed from every wall. Mezwed is a very popular and traditional style in music in the region, not to be confused with mizwad, which is a kind of bagpipe. The darbouka is the Tunisian drum. The merchants were particularly friendly as they "guided" us towards their stores. During my time in the shops, I had the chance to purchase spices, amber necklaces, and other forms of assorted trinkets to weigh down my suitcase. I also had the time to grab a personalized hand-made ornamental plate.
Passing all of the vendors, I happened upon a women weaving rugs. We starting talking, she spoke only a little english, which combined perfectly with our lack of any language that would have allowed us to communicate. But in the end I figured out that she wanted to teach me how to make a rug. As she taught me the correct way to hold my hands and thread each piece of yarn through, I suddenly grew a deep appreciation for her craft and ability to see a beautiful pattern where I could not. This was the highlight of my trip. To be able to connect with the people here, even for a short amount of time, it was quite priceless.
Outside of the shops I had a chance to connect with a few of Mother Africa's creatures. I was allowed to hold and pose with one of the largest birds I have ever seen up close. A Falcon native to Tunisia. The strength in the talons of this falcon made me glad that its handler let me use his gauntlet. Birds of Prey can be fickle and demand respect, so our time together was brief.
I did, however, take the chance to ride a camel. Easily nearing five feet at his belly, I was on top of the world as he lifted me high above the crowd. Needless to say this was my first camel ride and by far the best.