Tunis International Film Festival

While popping into the local cinema I discovered today was the last day of the three-day Tunis International Film Festival,in fact this was the 4th year of the festival but the promotion in La Marsa seems to have been non existant,unless you listen to Radio Tunis.It's a pity as there had been films I would have liked to have seen:for instance "The Hurt Locker" by the Oscar winning director Kathryn Bigelow(the strange thing is that the Radio Tunis presenter at the cinema didn't know who she was!)I ended up seeing four films and the best one was the Australian production "The Waiting City" set in the Indian city Calcutta.After the film there was a question and answer session in which the director mentioned that she'd lived in Calcutta and this inspired her to set the story there.

The Waiting City - Official Trailer from The Waiting City on Vimeo.

Swimming With Fish

Opening night of local Tunisian artist Asma M'Naour's latest exhibition of abstract paintings ,which have been described as vigourous graffiti-like scrawl,part abstract and part script with the colour red an integral part of the composition.In these particular works of art fish scrawled on the top layer dominate most of them.
I also met some other Tunisian artists plus the local Paparazzi photographer!

Argentinian Film Festival

I've just seen an Argentinian film La Senal ,a detective gangster story ,the best film at the Argentinian film festival at the local cinema in La Marsa,it was free to see the films.I ended up seeing four films,on the first night there was a small reception with a few Argentinians there.

Bizerte

On Monday did a day trip to Bizerte a small sea side resort on the north coast of Tunisia.It was pleasant walking around the old port.Had a brief swim on the beach by the Bizerte Resort Hotel.
Got the louage taxi back to Tunis and then the tram to the centre.

Bilbao

Visted Martika in Bilbao for a week.Rolling hills,light drizzling rain,swirling mists,trams,the Guggenhiam museum,a boat trip and dramatic coastline are some of the highlights of my visit to Bilbao.....

Green Tunisia

Well,some parts of Tunisia are quite green at least in the sense of the countryside of the north part of Tunisia,the area of Amdram and towards Tarbaka.
A couple of weekends ago a group of us visited the table mountain,Jouratha,by the samll town of El Kef,where you are magnificient views of the surrounding countryside;unfortunatley the hazy weather made it impossible to see Algeria.
On the way to El Kef we were stopped several times by the police,I guess it's due to possible terriorist activities.
Well the view of the country from the hill sides of Amdram are quite spectacular but it's a pity that there's loads of rubbish,there were lots of burnt out rubber tyres.

The best thing about Tarbaka is the Genoese castle and the views from the other side of the castle;the jagged rocks on the coastline contrasting against the smooth castle walls.

Pat

Tunisian Jazz evening

A Tunisian jazz concert but actually more of a comedy show with music between the lead singer's jokes,playful banter with the other members in the group and interactions with the audience.In the first thirty minutes only three songs were performed and quite often during the concert I felt as if I was still waiting for the music.A wery lively audience who sang along with the lead singer David,at least I think that was his name,and there was one amusing moment when,near the beginning of the concert,an elderly woman wandered up to the stage saying quite loudly that she couldn't find her seat,later on there was more playful banter between her and the lead singer.
If my French had been better and if I had some knowledge of Tunisain Arabic I would have been able to enjoy the many jokes that were being told.
As for the theatre it was a bit claustrophobic as the seats were very close together and in addition it was hot inside the theatre.
Well an interesting experience of a night of Tunisian jazz music,though it seemed more more a mixture of jazz,Spanish guitar music and folk.