Summer Hits La Marsa

Sunday morning and the seaside resort La Marsa was packed with local weekenders.The beach looked quite nice with the many thatched sun umbrellas,it's a shame there was a load of rubbish too.During my stroll along the shore I nearly stepped on some dog shit - disgusting!

On the green bus back to La Marsa a young woman at the front of the bus opened the window and threw out her empty drink can! I couldn't believe how casual she was about chucking out her rubbish onto the street.
(By the way it was World Environment Day on Saturday but I'm sure not many of the people in La Marsa realised or even cared.)This morning something good was happening,the local workmen were putting blue litter bins along the promenade of La Marsa(but it would be good if they put them on the lower promenade by the beach as well,which is where most of the rubbish is.)

Age of Stupid: DVD: Copenhagen Kids from Age of Stupid on Vimeo.

World Cup Fever Hits Tunis

'Les Bleus' ,in a pre World Cup warm up game,last Sunday were held to a draw by Tunisia.With just five minutes after the kick off Tunisia took the lead.However,the celebration was in a half empty stadium.In a few minutes the stadium was crammed with supporters,the entrance gates had suddenly been opened with the many supporters outside the Tunis National stadium allowed in free;this must have really annoyed the fans who'd paid to see this match.
Despite this increase of support,Tunisia let this golden opportunity of beating the ex-World champions slip and France managed to claw back an equaliser.

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.....