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Tunisia

The inner courtyard is immense in size. We have now entered the town of Kairoun. Kairoun is the most ancient Arab Muslim base of the Maghreb, 670 AD, and one of its principal holy cities. in Tunisia. The Great Mosque, rebuilt in the 9th century, is not only one of the major monuments of Islam but also a universal architectural masterpiece.

Bread purchased daily is a staple in Algerian and Tunisian daily life. Here you can see bread just out of the oven. Still prepared for centuries in the same manner.

Preparation of dough before being placed in the oven.

Artisanship is a mainstay of small entrepreneurs all over Tunisia. They take great pride in their workmanship.

I am fascinated with the gates and doors of the homes.

Here you find a Tunisian SUV or delivery vehicle, one horse power.

Carpet making on a hand loom. For centuries this has not changed.

Fresh meat or lamb anyone. Note the temperature of the refrigeration.. oh what refrigeration? The meat is left hanging in the open air until sold.

Fresh Bread just out of the oven on its way to the souk or market. It will all be sold with a few hours. It is good too. Just break off pieces of the bread and eat with meals.

I have neglected to tell you all along our trip in cities and some highways we have had daily tourist police walking and driving, escorting us on highways and in town everywhere. Interesting. Here is one of our tourist police with us non de script. They were calling on the phone to find our locations during many of the drives. We were handed off from one person or group to another. I was fine with it.

The Mausoleum of Abu Zamaa al-Balawi was erected in memory of the great companion of the Prophet of Islam Muhammad, Abu Zamaa al-Balawi, who died in battle in the year 654 AD, while fighting the Byzantine armies and was buried at the site of Kairouan before its foundation.

Colorful tiles, columns and arcades

I was wearing shorts and could not show my knees in the mosque. I was dressed in an item to cover up my knees. .

While there a family was in the mausoleum to have their young son circumcised in a ceremony in front of all his family and relatives. He had no idea was about to happen to him.. Yikes!!

Inside the mosque portion of the facility.

Leaving a restaurant this was the view down the street walking back to our hotel.

In the evening we gather for a Home Hosted Dinner in the home of a family to experience life in Tunisia and Kairouan. What a delightful evening with many local dishes we enjoy. We had the opportunity to learn more of the day to day life living in this area of Tunisia. The family has a large popular Coffee House which is busy all day and into the evening. We walked by it several times during our stay in town.

There were two grown brothers and their families living along with the parents of the men. One of the daughters shared with us some of her handiwork sewing items. She was 10 years old and spoke English very well. Her goal was to become an English teacher. She will do very well in life. Her English was perfect.

We stopped by the shop of a local that makes incredible tile mosaic designs and works. We spent an hour or more in his business learning how he makes these tiles into works of art. Beautiful.

A number of our group purchased items that he had made.

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