On our journey across Tunisia, we have already passed Kaiouran a few times. Today is the day, the three of us climb into our Felix and make a country trip to Kaiouran.
The city is considered the fourth most important pilgrimage destination in the Islamic world after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. In fact, seven pilgrimages to Kairouan are as important to Muslims as one trip to Mecca.
We arrive very early, tourists are not expected yet. And yet, at the crossroads, we are led to a car park by the brother-in-law of a brother whose uncle is a city guide, and we already have a guide "on our hands" for an hour. OK, we think, before we get lost in the huge medina, he should show us a few things.
We run after him, learn a lot, visit the big mosque with him after the medina and then say goodbye somehow quickly. The whole thing is quite nice, but not at all in keeping with our slow-motion mode of city exploration.
Although non-Muslims are not actually allowed to enter mosques in Tunisia, we are allowed to take a look inside. What we see is impressive: the 3,200 square metre room is supported by 414 ancient columns. The columns are partly made of Roman and Byzantine building material. Even the columns in the courtyard were recycled from nearby Roman ruins.
They leave us alone, but Regula's new-to-Tunisia-ness is evident, she ends up in a weaving mill, and without her being able to do much about it, they tie half a kilometre of side cloth around her head. "Buy? Good quality." Gerd and I take photos and laugh. That's exactly how they fished us 8 weeks ago.
A little later we end up in a carpet manufactory. Yes, the carpets are beautiful, yes, of very good quality. Today we try the truth: we don't really have a good place for a carpet. Of course, they don't believe us. Okay, it doesn't work so well with the truth either.
We take a second tour of the medina, because we are thrilled by the city, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009. Slowly the alleys fill up, our gaze wanders into the side streets, which seem to be sorted by trade. Here the weavers, there the tailors (each without *ins!). Elsewhere the carpenters and shoemakers. All in small studios or workshops with a "system" invisible to our eyes.
Around noon, we settle down for a lunch break with tired feet and beaming faces, enjoying once again freshly squeezed orange juice made from fruits of the region and a "Kaffee Türk", which is once again served very traditionally here with cardamom and orange blossom water.
Yes, we are fine. And yes, Kaiouran is doing everything to make us come back.
Merci for "travelling with us
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What's that on the gentleman's face? 😂
Are they finally going crazy now, the guys? 🤣😜😂
Beauty mask for people without "inside" ? 😱
"Man" (do you feel discriminated now, Heike? 😂) this genetic manipulation of the words of my language gets on my nerves. 🥴
Sincerely
s'Racheli 😜
That's a good question, I didn't ask but I think it's either wax for depilation or a face mask.
The language is always in flux, I'm fine with including all people. And as long as there is no better and more readable option, I will continue to use this now common form.
Love from the two Vanlifers 🤣
Mask? I thought it was painted black because the person didn't want to be recognised...laugh!
That was again so nice and entertaining to read!!! I would have been "stuck" in the workshops, especially the loom!
Mosque - a story comes to mind: My father-in-law took my little son - at an age when he loved to clean out drawers - to prayer. When he bent over and looked through his legs, grandpa caught him calmly clearing out a cupboard in the mosque and it rattled. We still laugh about it 30 years later....
Warm greetings from Merseburg at -4 degrees