A Week in Tunisia - 8-15 October, 2006

index -|- French french flag

Tunisia (Arabic: تونس, Berber: Tunisia in Berber characters), officially the Tunisian Republic (الجمهورية التونسية), is a country situated on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa. See more on tourism site, or wikipedia ...

We, Annie and Christophe Bignet, and Annie and I (Geoff Bachelet-McLane) stayed at the  Meliá Palm Azur hotel (****), in the Zone Touristique BP 340, Midoun - on the island of Djerba, Tunisia. 

Geoff's images: Images taken with Nikon digital camera - Coolpix 700 - The original DSCN0154-0190.JPG files were copied to a folder 20061017, and imported into word, and placed in a table, allowing word to choose the image size, and do the final conversion to the web JPG files ...

view of the main pool at Melia Palm Azur ... Hotel Melia Palm Azur - Image of the main pool, taken from the small balcony of our room ... Annie and I were on the 2nd of three floors, room 1239, and Annie and Christophe had almost the same view, but were one floor down, room 1132.
Melia Palm Azur barbeque fish restaurant ... The fish barbeque restaurant, down in the gardens, near the beach. The roof was a canvas affair, like a tent, with a central support.
us eating at the barbeque fish restaurant ... Us eating at the barbeque restaurant. For ages later we discussed what fish it was ... there was a suggestion of 'mullet', but I think we ended up deciding it was a type a sardine ... reasonable size, 15-20 cm, round type fish.
the first day with our rented car ... Car Day 1: We rent a small car ... a Renault Clio (maxi) 1.6 l., in which we end up doing some nearly 900 kilometres over the four (4) days we rented it. Christophe and I were the drivers. They only seem to have two (2) main speed signs, (50) and (90), which are for in village, and main roads, respectively.
some chameleons sunning themselves, near Ajim car ferry. Some lovely desert lizards, chameleon?, sitting in the sun, on the merchandise of a road side merchant, while we were waiting for the car ferry to take us from Ajim to El Marsa. I was reminded again what is expected in quite poor countries, where tourism is a primary source of income, in that I was asked to pay a Dinar (or 2) for the privileged of taking a photo.
us testing out some pomegranates along the road to Gabes. We passed lots of olive trees, but were fascinated by one quite large fruit, and stopped to try-it-out ;=)) It turned out to be a pomegranate (Punica granatum)  ... on the road from Mareth to Gabes ...
a roadside stall on the way up to Gabes ... A few kilometres further on, we stopped at a road side stall, which had pomegranates on large display, as well as some pottery, and all manner of other things ...
and of course they sell dates ... And of course, dates ...
lunch at the Oasis hotel in Gabes ... We had a sandwich for lunch in a nice quiet hotel Oasis, near Gabes, before heading westerly ... to Kebili ...
view of the pool of the Oasis hotel, Gabes
We had to wait a long time for our 'sandwich', but it was ok when it eventually arrived.
a dromadare wait its turn to carry ... A close-up of a dromadare - a camel of the single hump variety ...
camels to take tourists into part of the desert, near Douz ... In the older quarter of Douz, we found this quite popular tourist spot, where, for a few Dinar you could take a camel ride into the nearby desert area ... you could also take a horse and sulky, or a quad motor bike, but we chose something different ...
Christophe ready for a ULM flight ... Christophe and I found a more interesting way to survey a little of the desert - a lovely little ULM, piloted by an Italian trained Tunisian pilot ...
the desert below my ULM flight ... I was enjoying the ride so much, that I only managed to squeeze of one photo ... but it certainly gives some sense of the big sandy desert nearby ...
some dwellings cut into the hills ... Dusk was falling as we returned ... this dark image is of some building cut into the desert hills ...
a swan from blankets, done by our room maid ... Annie had mentioned this great piece of 'art' had visited their room the day before, but now, we returned to this great image of a swan, rolled out of the bed blankets ...
shopping in Tataouine ... Car Day 2: Some shopping in Tataouine ...
mosque on a distant hill ... A large mosque on a distant hillside, which we visited ...
children fetching water from the single stand pipe ... We did not walk up to the mosque at the top of the hill, but this was some children of the local village, collecting water from the single tap ... of course, we were pressured to pay them for this privilege ...
a large eagle statue of a cafe in the hills ... This statue of a large eagle attracted us to a nice cafe, restored in some old hill villages ...
restoration of some old dwellings ... The restoration was ongoing. Here you can see the state of the old dwellings, and how neat they looked after being restored ...
the restoration of a large old village ... Interestingly, they had some large model of some of the dinosaur 'characters' ...
shopping in the main town of Djerba island ... Car Day 3 : A visit to the main town on our island - Houmet Essouk.
inside a synagogue ...map of the village containing the synagogue ... A visit to the jewish synagogue ...

top 

in front of a nice blue door ... tunisias favourite colour ... Some interesting blue doors on a shop in Midoune
more swans made from the bed blankets, by the room maid ... More swans ...
shopping in Zarzis ... Car Day 4: Zarzis - Wandering around the market ...
more of the market in Zarzis ... The main square of the Zarzis market ... lots of colourful cloth on show ...
the fishing port of Zarzis ... The fishing port of Zarzis
soaking up some sun beside the hotel pool ... Relaxing beside the pool ... At this time they have the fountain sprays running. These they turned on several times a day for a short while ...
annie and annie for their one and only swim ... The only time I saw Annie and Annie swimming ...
in the bar before dinner ... In the bar, before dinner ... We took the 'complete' package, so all drinks were 'free' ...
final image of the main pool on the day we were leaving ... One last shot ... we are off to the airport, for our return, shortly ... you had to go down early, 7 or 8 AM to 'reserve' the chairs ... they were nearly always fully occupied by 9 AM ...

top

 

Annie also took about two rolls of film, and below is a selection of 12 of her images ...The first 8 are on the trip south, to Tataouine, and the surrounding country side, and the last 4 to Zarzis ...

 

some of Annie's images taken around Tataouine ...
trying a water pipe, the salt plains, building in the hill side, and the drivers ...
shock image of a cows head to advertise a butcher; a mosque, and the colourful stalls ...

 

top

 

Scan of the map we used in all our car travels. Although it was heard from the passengers, that some parts were not exactly accurate, in general it was a good guide ...

 

scan of the map we used to navigate around ...

 

Summary of the Car Usage.

We got the car delivered 9:00PM evening of our day 1 in Tunisia, thus we effectively had the car from our day 2, a Tuesday, and returned it 9:00 PM Friday, four (4) days later. We planned specific trips for each day of the car ...

 

Car Day 1: Gabes, Kebili - From our hotel, about 8 AM, in the south west of the island, near Aghir, we proceeded west, across the island, to take the car ferry from Ajim to El Marsa, to Mareth, then north-west to Gabes, then westerly to Kebili, south to Douz, then back easterly, to Matmata, Medenine, taking the old roman causeway back to our hotel. A total of about 500 km, arriving nearly too late, 9:45 PM, for our dinner.

 

Car Day 2: Tataouine - Setting out at about 9:00 AM we headed southerly, down to Tataouine, with a not so short side trip out into the surrounding countryside, and a nice lunch at the Sangho(?) hotel, then back to our hotel ...

 

Car Day 3: Djerba Island - This was our day to tour around our little island. We visited the main city, Houmet Essouk, with an extensive shopping agenda, then on the return having a late dinner in Midoune, and visited the large jewish synagogue on the way home ...

 

Car Day 4: Zarzis - A short trip down the coast to Zarzis, having lunch at a large nice hotel on the sea front.

 

roads around Gabes ...

roads around Kebili ...

roads around Medenine ...

roads around Tataouine ...

roads on the Djerba island ...

roads around Zarzis ...

 

top

from: http://www.tourismtunisia.com/culture/index.html

full general map of Tunisia ...

[Masques] - old buildings ...An ideal climate, a long and gentle seacoast, Tunisia, the northernmost country of Africa has for over 3000 years witnessed the passage of Phoenicians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Turks, Spanish and French. They came as fugitives or adventurers, to conquer or to claim, warriors and missionaries, traders and farmers, each leaving a part of their story in stone or mosaics, on hills of Carthage and the threshold of the Sahara.


from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunisia - see original for up to date information.

Tunisia - Extract from Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia, Oct, 2006

Tunisia (Arabic: تونس, Berber: Image:Tunisia_tifinagh.JPG), officially the Tunisian Republic (الجمهورية التونسية), is a country situated on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa.

الجمهورية التونسية
Al-Jumhūriyyah at-Tūnisiyyah
République Tunisienne

Tunisian Republic

Location of Tunisia on a world map ...

Motto: Order, Liberty, Justice Anthem: Humaat Al Hima
Capital Tunis, 36°50′N 10°9′E Largest city Tunis
Official language Arabic Government Republic
President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi
Independence from France March 20 1956
Area Total 63,170 sq mi 163,610 km² (92nd) Water (%) 5.0
Population  - July 2005 est. 10,102,000 (78th) 1994 census 8,785,711
Density - 161/sq mi 62/km² (133rd (2005)) GDP (PPP) 2005 estimate
Total $ 86.67 billion (63rd) Per capita $8,255 (71st)
HDI (2003) 0.753 (89th) – medium Currency Tunisian Dinar ( TND)
Time zone CET (UTC+1) Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Internet TLD .tn Calling code +216

top

 

site: http://www.solmelia.com/solNew/hoteles/jsp/C_Hotel_Description.jsp?codigoHotel=6856
Hotel overview: The Meliá Palm Azur hotel (opened in 1997) is located in the south of the Island of Djerba, in the middle of a marvellous oasis, and bordered by a spectacular beach. It is 6 km away from Midoun, 23 km from the island's capital Houmt Souk and 30 km from Djerba Airport.   

location of our hotel, Melai Palm Azur ...

the front view of Melia Palm Azur hotel ...

the beach at the back of the hotel ...

one of the many hotel pools ...

the childrens pools at the Melia Palm Azur hotel ...

the main pool of the Melia Palm Azur hotel, with the fountains running ...

one of the several restaurants of the hotel

image of a typical room in Melia Palm Azur ...

top

Return Flight Plans (approximate only).

Generated by plandevol-eng01.pl, Mon Oct 16, 2006 ...
THIS SCRIPT *DOES NOT* GIVE REAL INFORMATION TO BUILD A REAL FLIGHT PLAN!
IT IS ONLY A WAY TO SHOW A POSSIBLE FLIGHT BETWEEN TWO POINTS IN THE (FLIGHTGEAR FLIGHT SIMULATOR)
WORLD AND DOES NOT GIVE OR IMPLY ANY WARRANTY ABOUT THE VIABILITY OF THE GIVEN INFORMATION.

From DTTJ - Zarzis (Melita) - 33.875446,010.777134

To LFPO - Orly, Paris - 48.728016,002.339488

Flight Plan: DEPART: DTTJ - Zarzis ARRIVE: LFPO - Orly, Paris
Useful frequencies for departure TWR: 118.15
Code - Complete name
       | Frequencies| Heading | Course/RNW | Distance in nm
DTTJ - Zarzis (Melita) - 33.875446,010.777134
       | NAV 114    | 355     | 355        | 51
SFX - Sfax VOR - 34.716114,010.688892
       | NAV 113.1  | 3       | 3          | 63
MON - Monastir VOR-DME - 35.754917,010.748056
       | NAV 113.1  | 339     | 339        | 1
       | NAV 116.5  | 339     | 339        | 70
TUC - Tunis VOR-DME - 36.851583,010.230333
       | ADF 310    | 327     |     --     | 34
BC - Cap Blanc NDB - 37.330000,009.836111
       | ADF 310    | 352     |     --     | 81
       | NAV 115.1  | 352     | 352        | 27
CAR - Carbonara VOR-DME - 39.111389,009.508056
       | NAV 115.1  | 291     | 291        | 1
       | NAV 113.4  | 291     | 291        | 22
CAG - Cagliari VOR-DME - 39.249000,009.054083
       | NAV 113.4  | 336     | 336        | 10
       | NAV 113.8  | 336     | 336        | 81
ALG - Alghero VORTAC - 40.628056,008.243889
       | NAV 113.8  | 335     | 335        | 145
       | NAV 116.5  | 335     | 336        | 27
STP - St. Tropez VOR-DME - 43.219472,006.601806
       | NAV 111.4  | 30      | 31         | 24
CNM - Cannes VOR - 43.560361,006.870944
       | RW 04R/22L | 69      | RW 04R/22L | 16
       | RW 04L/22R | 69      | RW 04L/22R | 16
       | ILS 109.95 | 69      | RW 04L     | 16
       | ILS 110.7  | 69      | RW 04R     | 16
       | ILS 109.95 | 69      | RW 22R     | 16
LFMN - Nice Cote d Azur
       | NAV 111.4  | 249     | 250        | 16
CNM - Cannes VOR - 43.560361,006.870944
       | NAV 111.4  | 332     | 333        | 104
       | NAV 115.55 | 332     | 333        | 27
LTP - Tour Du Pin VOR-DME - 45.488972,005.439056
       | NAV 114.75 | 316     | 317        | 21
LSE - Lyon/saint Exupery VOR-DME - 45.745528,005.090583
       | NAV 114.75 | 306     | 307        | 60
       | NAV 109.6  | 306     | 306        | 22
MBY - Moulins/montbeugny VOR - 46.541333,003.499556
       | NAV 116.7  | 29      | 31         | 11
MOU - Moulins VOR-DME - 46.706778,003.631667
       | NAV 116.7  | 313     | 315        | 12
       | NAV 113.4  | 313     | 316        | 27
NEV - Nevers VOR - 47.153000,002.929361
       | NAV 113.4  | 336     | 339        | 39
       | NAV 116.5  | 336     | 339        | 27
PTV - Pithiviers VOR - 48.155556,002.264778
       | RW 06 /24  | 5       | RW 06 /24  | 35
       | RW 08 /26  | 5       | RW 08 /26  | 35
       | RW 02 /20  | 5       | RW 02 /20  | 35
       | ILS 110.3  | 5       | RW 02      | 35
       | ILS 108.5  | 5       | RW 06      | 35
       | ILS 110.9  | 5       | RW 24      | 35
       | ILS 111.75 | 5       | RW 26      | 35
       | ILS 108.15 | 5       | RW 08      | 35
LFPO - Paris Orly - 48.728016,002.339488

total distance: 1053 nm (direct flight: 976)

Useful frequencies for approach
ATIS: 126.5 | ATIS: 131.35 | PREFLIGHT: 121.05 | GND: 121.7 | GND: 121.82 | GND: 121.82 |
TWR: 118.7 | TWR: 120.5 | APP: 118.85 | APP: 123.87 | APP: 123.87 | APP: 124.45

To LFST - Strasbourg Entzheim - 48.538318,007.628237

Flight Plan: DEPART: DTTJ - Zarzis ARRIVE: LFST - Strasbourg Entzheim
Useful frequencies for departure TWR: 118.15
Code - Complete name
       | Frequencies| Heading | Course/RNW | Distance in nm
DTTJ - Zarzis (Melita) - 33.875446,010.777134
       | NAV 114    | 355     | 355        | 51
SFX - Sfax VOR - 34.716114,010.688892
       | NAV 113.1  | 3       | 3          | 63
MON - Monastir VOR-DME - 35.754917,010.748056
       | NAV 113.1  | 339     | 339        | 1
       | NAV 116.5  | 339     | 339        | 70
TUC - Tunis VOR-DME - 36.851583,010.230333
       | ADF 310    | 327     |     --     | 34
BC - Cap Blanc NDB - 37.330000,009.836111
       | ADF 310    | 352     |     --     | 81
       | NAV 115.1  | 352     | 352        | 27
CAR - Carbonara VOR-DME - 39.111389,009.508056
       | NAV 115.1  | 9       | 9          | 36
       | ADF 289    | 9       |     --     | 13
ARB - Tortoli NDB - 39.921444,009.678667
       | NAV 113.9  | 352     | 352        | 59
SME - Olbia Costa Smeralda VOR-DME - 40.890039,009.501183
       | NAV 113.9  | 333     | 333        | 19
       | NAV 116.7  | 333     | 333        | 22
FGI - Figari VOR-DME - 41.502194,009.083417
       | NAV 114.8  | 319     | 319        | 21
AJO - Ajaccio VOR-DME - 41.770528,008.774667
       | NAV 114.8  | 2       | 2          | 26
       | ADF 375    | 2       |     --     | 22
CV - Calvi NDB - 42.576972,008.806583
       | ADF 375    | 341     |     --     | 71
       | NAV 116.95 | 341     | 341        | 22
ALB - Albenga VOR-DME - 44.048169,008.127617
       | NAV 114.5  | 348     | 348        | 54
TOP - Torino VOR-DME - 44.925417,007.861658
       | NAV 116.75 | 333     | 333        | 20
CSL - Caselle VOR-DME - 45.219722,007.649572
       | NAV 116.75 | 355     | 355        | 44
       | NAV 115.85 | 355     | 355        | 22
MOT - Montana VOR-DME - 46.313361,007.503333
       | NAV 115.85 | 0       | 0          | 22
       | ADF 335    | 0       |     --     | 13
BER - Bern NDB - 46.899117,007.510483
       | NAV 113.2  | 11      | 11         | 35
HOC - Hochwald VOR-DME - 47.466556,007.665444
       | RW 05 /23  | 359     | RW 05 /23  | 64
       | ILS 108.55 | 359     | RW 05      | 64
       | ILS 109.55 | 359     | RW 23      | 64
LFST - Strasbourg Entzheim - 48.538318,007.628237

total distance: 913 nm (direct flight: 890)

Useful frequencies for approach
ATIS: 126.92 | GND: 121.8 | TWR: 126.87 | APP: 119.45 | APP: 119.57 | APP: 120.7

The airport, navaid, etc. information came from the files in the root folder
[c:\FG0910-2\FlightGear\data] ...

Some options set - only vor =  
| vor-ndb  = 1 | dev max  = 10 | dist min = 20 (minimal distance between two navaids)

A copy of the above Perl generated 'flight plan' ...

An image, cut from Google World, showing the approximate routes taken by our plane to Paris, and that of Annie and Christophe to Strasbourg ...
Clip from Google World with estimate route marked

Index -|- Top

EOF - annieb-03.doc

Valid HTML 4.01 Transitional