After I wrote about some places in Tunisia, I think it will be unfair if I don’t write about and show pictures from Tunis, capital city of Tunisia, where I spent most of my time during last one year. This post will also be the last mlaku-mlaku series of Tunisia.

According to wikipedia, it has population of less than 1 million in year 2007. city centers around Medina and Habib Bourguiba avenue. The Medina is the old town of Tunis with monuments from early time of Tunis such as Zitouna Mosque and souks (traditional market). Bab el Bahar (Sea Gate) is the gateway to Medina from Habib Bourguiba and Avenue de France on the east where the new Tunis built by the French. Habib Bourguiba area hosts many important buildings such as Ministry offices, main railway station Barcelona (La Garre Barcelona) and some hotels like El Hana and EL Africa hotels.

Further to the east of Habib Bourguiba is Tunis lake. One area facing the lake on northeast of Tunis city center is Les Berges du Lac. This is a new and upscale area built from land reclaimed from lagoon. There are embassies and ambassador houses in this area, as well as multinational company offices. Dining in this area costs double or even more than it is in city center. For example a lunch in restaurant in Habib Bourguiba area costs around 5 - 7 DT ( 1USD = 1.78 DT) while in Lac area it can costs around 10 - 20 DT depending on the restaurants.

Going further northeast we can find Gammarth and La Marsa, both are coastal resort facing Mediterranean sea. People go to Gammarth to swim on the beach and since it’s close to Tunis it becomes popular destination. There are good hotels in this area as well.

As for me, I stayed in an area called An Nasr. It’s on the north of Tunis (An Nasr belongs to Ariana town which is part of Grand Tunis) and it’s considered as new area; it’s an array of apartment buildings on the hilly area built less than 10 years ago. On weekend nights, Tunis young people gather in An Nasr, especially on the main road, Heidi Noura street . Yes, it’s busy and noisy during weekend, even more after footbal match as usually they celebrate it here if Tunis’ footbal club win a match! But it’s also dynamic environment, has a lot of facilities like groceries, restaurants, cafe gym and banks/ATMs. So if you are foreigner and looking for an apartment to rent, An Nasr is the place where you can find one relatively easier than other places in Tunis. Just don’t rent low floor apartment on the Heidi Noura road otherwise you won’t be able to sleep after the football match!

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