Sidi Bou Said Marina & Tunis Carthage Site<< >> A visit to Tunisia Sidi Bou Said used to be a pilgrimage to the tomb of Abou Said ibn Khalef ibn Yahia Ettamini el Beji. He was a 13th-century Sufi holy man from whom this lovely blue and white village takes its name. Perched on the cliffs overlooking the Bay of Tunis and the twin peaks of Mount Bou Kornine in the distance. It enjoys a spectacular setting. There is a story that the twin peaks are the petrified heads of two pilgrims returning from Mecca. When they stopped to marvel at the beautiful medieval village.
Nowadays the pilgrims have been replaced with sightseers who arrive on the daily coach tours. As an increasingly popular excursion destination in recent years, its cobbled main street throbs to the sound of the daily tidal waves of visitors. Situated just 18km from the capital Tunis , the "Blue Train" leaves there every 20 minutes or so on its 35-minute journey to the village and Sidi Bou Said Tunis return. Cars are prohibited in the village's historic centre so there is around a 15-minute, uphill stroll to the old village. Those who want more than just a day’s visit seek out the Sidi Bou Said hotels. They say the secret to getting the best experience from this jewel is to stay for a few days. Because as the sun sets and the day trippers leave, the village really comes in to its own. In the summer you can enjoy evening concerts of traditional Tunisian music.
The village is also known for its doors. Some are ancient and studded with traditional motifs of crescents, minarets and stars. There is also a wide range of plants in pots, on balconies and in courtyards and gardens.
The village is really just the one main cobbled street, going up the hill, which is a succession of white shops with latticed blue balconies festooned with bougainvillea overhanging the pedestrian walkway. Off this main street of shops selling carpets, pottery, ornate bird cages, jewellery, inlaid boxes, brassware, leatherwork, aromatic oils and perfumes are countless small alleyways, gardens and courtyards. There are some street vendors, selling handicrafts, sweets, traditional sugarcoated doughnuts and miniature jasmine bouquets known as a mashmoum.
At the top of the hill of there is a little square where the cafes overlooking the Gulf of Tunis and the Sidi Bou Said Port take over from the shops. Here you will find the legendary Cafe des Nattes, which is a Tunisian institution. You can sit and sip sweet mint tea with pine nuts floating on the surface while you marvel at the interior. Its wonderful. You can recline on rush mats spread on raised stone platforms like four-poster beds. Or sit on one of the many couches to admire the low painted ceiling and the amazing Tunisian water smoking pipes scattered around. Why not try your hand at pouring your tea from the pot, high up, into your small glass.
From here you could climb down to the sea via steps. Or go on to visit Sidi Bou Said Carthage site. Whether you visit for a day or longer you will have a marvellous time. << >>
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