Tunisia

Friday 5th December 2025
Not really part of the holiday but I had to go to Dinas Powis and donate blood, which took most of the morning. Called in on my brother but decided to get home before the rain started, which I did, and boy did it rain!
     Luckily it stopped by the evening. Which dragged and then went very fast. I was able to catch the 10.45 bus into Cardiff. The place was packed out with scantily clad girls and young people. McD was crowded and swallowed the voucher I had created by doing their survey without paying out. Night on the bus to Gatwick was OK and breakfast at McD was pleasant if unecessarily rushed. 

Saturday 6th December

It was a long walk to the gate and then a long walk to the plane but at least I had a window seat in an overwing exit so extra legroom and not too far back. Sort of dozed most of the way. The transfer was nice and easy. Clear signpost but I began to regret the whole idea of this holiday as we drove along a lot, and lot, of nothing. Got checked, paying the local holiday tax. Room is OK but low class. The sink plug is missing, and it swallowed the toothpaste cap before I really got my head around it. However, I had packed my travel plug so that was OK Had a shower and sitting in the room waiting for dinner.
     Which was rather nice, never knew I liked Radishes but the salad was nice, Lasagnia was beautifully creamy and desert was mince pie like. And so to bed.

Sunday 7th

Breakfast at 08.30 was more crowded than last night. Plenty of bread. Then back and lay in bed all morning listening to downloaded radio programmes. Eventually decided I had to get out so walked to the railway station. No information available, so on towards the Medina. Two locals said hello, one coach driver and other security they said. I was my usual antisocial self. The Medina was impressive, wandered around and through it - putting off purchase of the inevitable fridge magnet. Seashore was pleasant - tried to get up to my step target but still short by over 500 steps at the moment.

    Spent the evening trying to watch American football, but the lack of bandwidth meant that it was very, very fractured. Got pretty good coverage of Chicago at Green Bay but fell asleep and gave up on the last 3 minutes with them tied. Maybe try later.

Monday 8th

Given how late I was last night I was surprised to be up at 8am for breakfast. Got back to the room and actually got into the Tom Clancy book (Red Storm Rising) shure I haven't read it before. Had Radio 2 on the computer but that kept cutting out due to bandwidth issues. However I was able to check train times and decided to walk to Bir Bouregba. Thouht I would make it in time to see a train but just missed the one going South. There was supposed to be a train to Hammermet but it didn't happen. Walk back to hotel, it should have done the distance 2.99mls to get there but somehow I was 1000 steps short on getting back to the hotel. I even got lost and was sure I walked further. My hip hurt. Went down to the beach before dinner and now have a little green bar. Dinner was nice. Salad, Chips and battered veal? plus chocolate crepe.

Tuesday 9th

Things are settling into a routine. Breakfast about 9am, morning reading the book and checking email then out for a wander. Today I was determined to get a little green bar, ie 12500 steps. I managed this by walking along what should have been the coast road but there were too many hotels complexes to be able to see the coast. Cut up to what is shown (I thought) as a station at Hammamet Azure (turns out to be a bus station). Walked along the railway line back towards town. At least it was quieter than the noisy road I was forced onto. Lots and lots of cats around.

     Dinner and an UKTRA Committee Meeting with the youngsters. I don't think Steve was very happy with the way our desire to attend the Champs was ignored. Still I hope he got the permissions he wanted.

Wednesday 10th 

 Same routine but this time I called Steve and we had a WhatApp Chat. He suggested hiring a car and getting around. I explained that the aim was not to spend money. The afternoon walk was very short, just down to the sea and along the road (they are very noisy). Back for an evening of reading and listening to BBC radio programmes from my Sounds.

Thursday 11th

Finished the Tom Clancy - not his best - and it petered out. The objective of the walk was to get souvenirs, the inevitable fridge magnets. Wandered to the Kasbah. Got acccosted by a guy who claimed to be the cook in the hotel. Everyone starts wanting to know where you are from - the classic introduction and friendliness. This one wanted to give me coffee, tea - anything. Ended up purchasing a belt for TDR40 (£10.26) the original quote on Monday was TDR10. Then went and got magnets, the guy was willing to do it for £2 - I gave him £3 in UK coinage.

(In USA they cost £6-8). Wandered the long way round. Noticed the sun going down and got to the beach in time to take some photos. Still 1ml off getting a greeen bar so it was back around the block etc. Pretty noisy outside this evening but I guess it was the equivalent of Saturday night.

Friday 12th

Breakfast as usual (Cold scrambled eggs followed by cheese & ham in french bread) and back to room listening to radio and lying back and falling asleep. The toothpaste is gradually getting harder to get out of the tube. The pick up time came online about 13.30 and check in with Easyjet has to be done at the airport. Pick up at 0940 seems quite civilised. Also checked and there is another coach from Gatwick at

1800 in case I miss the one I have booked. Don't know that I will even bother to go out and wander past the cats. There are so many here, all sizes and colours.  I have resisted trying to pet them, although some english guys did yesterday. The other notable thing is the plastic rubbish, it seems to be everywhere. Perhaps next time make sure there is a pool and I won't have to leave the hotel.

    In the end I went down to the beach and got some more photos of the sun setting, very pleasant with the call to prayers echoing around the beach.