INK? Enjoy an evening in Sidi Bou Said

Tunis, Tunisia

I had to travel to Tunisia for work after our trip to Morocco, and we had events scheduled all over the tiny country.  Located on the Mediterranean and Atlantic Oceans, Tunisia is a unique mix of European and Arabic cultures in a North African country.  In recent decades it was most famous for its abundance of seafood and island lifestyle, luxury relaxation and exotic local.  Today of it is known as the birth place of the Arab Spring – the series of revolutions that have taken over the Middle East and North Africa region.

Our first stop was Tunis, and we checked into the Moevenpick Hotel, which offered stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea.

The first night in town the hotel concierge recommended a trip into nearby Sidi Bou Said for dinner and some drinks.  From our hotel in Gammarth just outside Tunis it was an easy 20-minute taxi ride.

First images of Sidi Bou Said

My first thought upon arrival was that we had taken a wrong flight somewhere and ended up in the Greek Isles.  Almost all of the buildings were perfectly painted white with blue doors, and the only thing that reminded you that you were not in Europe was the fruity smell of sheesha everywhere.

Just like in Santorini or Ios, the taxi couldn’t make it through the tiny walkways.

Streets of Sidi Bou Said

We had directions for a restaurant but quickly gave up when we got lost in the maze of restaurants, cafes, and street food vendors.  Open-aired dining areas with pillowy couches and flowing curtains invited us in kids darted through the crowds with blinking jewelry and noisemakers.  We followed our noses through the summer evening to finally find a delightful outdoor cafe overlooking the bay that flows into the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Tunisian Tea

We dined on huge fish caught fresh that day, and washed it down with sweet tea with pinenuts.  Then we smoked some of that Tunisian sheesha, as the sun set over the balmy Med.

Sunset on the Bay

Evening in Sidi Bou Said