Mila of All Faces in Tunis

Could not resist..

La Goulet - fish paradiso

One of those sunny sundays we went to La Golett to tray the fish. After packing Mila in the sling (see photos) we set off in the train - top of the day - finding the best authentic Tunisian place with best grilled fish and starters for 12 dinnar per person and sending Gillou to the barber - authentic as comes with old chairs and haircut plus shave! What an experience - pity I was not brave enough to take photos!

Sunday in La Marsa 28th of November 09

The sun was shining and we could not resist - went off to La Marsa beach and though everyone else was wearing coats and sheepskin Gillou and Victor took a plunge in the sea - after putting the cream on of course! After we went to the local cafe for some Cafe Turc and Bric and said hello to the local camel that eats bread and small children!

After we walked around admiring local architecture and cats!

Octopus Stew!

Getting into the local grove we (Ania) decided to make an octopus stew.

take 2 octopus, few potatoes, fresh tomatoes, garlic - loads, some carrots, olives and onions,

Boil the octopus (after poking the eyes out and cleaning the head that is) for 5 mintues take out and cut in small pieces

in a big pot fry on olive oil all the rest of the ingredients - when stew like consistency add octopus and simmer for 2 hours.

there you go!!

Before and After...

Two happy man with a happy baby!

and guess who loves bathing Mila

Where do lizards sleep on cold day?

street lamps!

Things that we like no. 4 - putting the washing out!

No one will be surprised with this one - with the terrace like we have putting out washing on the line is such a treat! with the views and the sea and the beautiful wind that dries it so quick the clothes smell so could its like wearing Africa on your skin! and hey Victor enjoys it too!

Dobrze dobrze Panie Bobrze

Great surprise today! Got into the taxi with a very grumpy taxi driver..however as soon as he found out I was Polish he said..."Dobrze Dobrze Panie Bobrze" in Polish! From then on he was my best friend - mind you so far I know only one person that can say that and its Martin Plant!!

Amazing place! Need to add that we spend all day on the La Marsa beech today and Victor had a ball - Mila was sleeping. at one stage Vicio ran to me and said 'HELLO MADAMME!"

Eh...

Just to prove that we are connected to outside world - photo of skype with Pouze and Marie!

Amusing Facts no. 2 and things that we like at the same time - number 4

DRIVING!

wow - we got the car and driving is a great experience here if you relaxed enough that is.

Basically the rule is - THERE ARE NO RULES. if there is three lane road its guaranteed to turn into five lane one, people overtake you so close you can shake hands with them or nearly French kiss them if that was allowed here! We got heart attack nearly 4 times just today. You do drive on the side of the road and if you need to use the curb - use it! Forget using indicators - what is an indicator anyway. If you need to turn right and you are on the three lane road on the far left - just make a dash for it - zuuuum and you are there. Just by looking at cars body works you can tell that there was many close encounters of third degree! Oh yes - if you have the horn working - just don't take your hand off it! USE IT all the time - its all the fun.

However:

so far we have not seen a single accidents and the traffic police is excellent in directing traffic in heavy hours - really worth mentioning - they are doing great work. For some bizarre reason - that system described above WORKS and driving actually does become fun after a while.

oh yes..do not buy maps here - get one out of the country - they are not great! and sing posting not great either - but hey - thats part of adventure!

forgot to mention.. our rented car managed to get into the biggest hole that was in..the pavement - the whole wheel went into it (kids inside and all that) but three very helpful man and off the car was lifted off the hole - and happy driving again!

Weekend trip to Hammam Lif and Hammamet

We have rented a car - yes we did! With two child seats - which is something new for Tunisia as all children just ride free in the cars - no belts, seats etc. Driving is just an adventure in itself - separate post on it I guess.

Saturday we finally set off at 13.00 in 25 degrees heat for search of Hammam Lif - after missing it four times (even better road markings then in Dublin! oh no..) we found it. How to put it in one word..Hammam Lif as Bray equivalent of Tunis. A bit neglected (a bit!!) but with great beaches for kids - shallow, bay like with reddish sand -

loads of hermit crabs to keep little ones occupied.

We also ventured to the town itself but gave it up quickly as its quite neglected plus Tunisia was playing and all men were in the bars watching the match and ..unfortunately it lost! so not happy campers Tunisian men were on Saturday!

Did not take any photos - but there is not much lost in that respect.

Sunday - after three hours of attempts of leaving the house early we finally left the house at 11! We headed straight off for Cap Bone - the Garden of Tunisia and motorway (1.20 DT - not M50 price thats for sure!) Hammamet is an hour drive away and its absolutely beautiful - the best beeches so far that we have visited. The Centre Ville is right on the beech front with great Medina - really relaxed atmosphere. We found a small beech restaurant (plenty of photos of that!) where we had fab food and Victor played in the sand. Hammamet is definitely a place to visit and we are going back there!

Enjoy the pictures!!!

Brazilians are everywhere we move ;)

On our recent trip to Sidi Bou Said we discovered that Brazilian Ambassador has his residence there - and what a residence it is - overlooking the Tunisian Bay oh wow! Maybe he can tell me where I can do capoeira other then my roof terrace!!!!

Things that we like no. 3 - and we could not go without it

SLING!

And Mila in the Sling - having to use public transport and taxis it would be impossible with the buggy but with this piece of cloth - yes yes yes

BTW - 12 degrees today - peaking at 18 - weekend 26!!

Things that we like no. 2

our kettle!

and mint tea..

Things that we like! no. 1

Number 1 - Harrisa - spicy spicy mash of red peppers that you eat with bread and oil before main meal - I eat it by spoon full!

Prickly pear - I like Baloo Bear!

Time has come for Figue Barbarique! Prickly Pear! Its everywhere as its the season and the grumpy man in the veg shop - who turned out not to be grumpy after all - showed me how to cut it and eat!
So here it goes!

First its on the cactus

Then you buy it in the shop

Then you cut both ends off (careful - do not touch - I did...took me three days to find all the little pricks! - no offense!)

then cut the skin in the middle and peal off to discover delicious sweet - papaya like interior!!!
Yummy!!

Amusing facts no. 1

Here it goes:

Taxis - when they are free - the RED light is on, when occupied - GREEN
Light switches - when off - the position is ON - like we use in Ireland, when on - the other way round - really confusing!
Light railway - very light - costs different depending who sells me the ticket - tiny difference but still ;)
National sport of young guys is to chase them and hang off them - I actually saw one of them being whacked by tree branches but he still hanged on!

oh yes and the special one! if you need umbrella - and you do for those winter months - BRING ONE WITH YOU! Cause its impossible to buy here.
More surely to come!

2.11.2009 Victor's First Day in School

Today was a big day - Victor's first day in new school that we found (or rather Gillou did) in La Marsa. School is very nice (pre school rather) with nice garden with some fruit trees (no not apples - orange and lemon trees!) and very nice kids. We were all very nervous about this first day. First logistics of getting there (see below) then language - how will Victor cope etc - and then for me FOOD - I have to cook him lunches! Actually need to thing of something nutritious and nice for him to eat and prepare it a day before.
So...
on the menu was biscuit and yogurt for snack and pasta with fresh tomato sauce and chicken (you should see tomatoes here..) and fresh pear to follow - not bad he?
In the morning we packed Mila in the sling (on Mama) packed Victor lunch Spiderman bag and off we went - we took a taxi to La Marsa. After a bit of a leg hugging and little show for our sake Victor decided to stay and we wandered off - me nearly crying - Gillou a bit nervous. We wandered back for a bit to find ourselves on the beach front - so decided to take a coffee on one of the terraces - as it was 27 degrees today that made a nice break. (NOTE: Mila still on my belly in the sling!) Gillou took taxi to work and I ventured into public transport. Train - (have to take the photo of it - its not Luas thats for sure!) costs 20 cents and this time it was comfortably empty. On the way back I bought a
Kilo of Tomatoes
2 aubergines
Kilo of Spinach
3 pears
All for 2 Euro (had to write it hope you are all green with envy)
By three Mila back in the sling - and off to the train. Walk back to preschool for 30 minutes (I am getting impossibly fit in this country) to find our Victor happy as Larry - wanting to go back and no bother on him at all! Caught a taxi back (no way Victor would hack 30 minutes walk through traffic and cafes full of tea sipping men) with the nicest taxi driver on earth.
Reports were saying that Victor did great - even kids accepted him and talked to him in Arabic - I bet our son will still be fluent in it.
Very very relieved..
A&G
PS Mila spend 4 hours in the sling today - she did well our little girl!

Sidi Bou Said

Sunday - sunny Sunday we went to Moorish village of Sidi Bou Said - the beauty of this place is striking. Its only 5 minutes from our house and you can really get lost in its beauty - few photos to wet your appetites!!