Cafe Saf Saf

Lively place especially in the evenings but I bet that camel is fed up with all those stupid kids making fun of it.First visit for Jess and Barbera to Saf Saf.Jess really enjoyed her evening in La Marsa!

Hot in Sousse

Yesterday we went to Sousse.Weather scorching hot.Took the 'Dotto' train to the marina at Kantaoui.Had a cool dip in the sea by the marina.Later we caught the 'Dotto'train to the centre and visited the Medina.Spent most of the day in the shade or air conditioned cafes.In the Medina we visited the Souks,which reminded mum of the shopping area 'The Lanes' in Brighton.
The train back to Tunis was jam packed with many of the seats double booked and also the Tunisians not respecting the seat numbers and sitting wherever they wanted.I managed to make one Tunisian guy give up his seat for mum.We finally got home around midnight.

Sidi Bou Said

Yesterday went to Sidi Bou Said.Felt like the hottest day of the summer so far.Visited the house that Laurie gave such a scathing review of.It was nice relaxing there,peaceful and quiet except for the odd tourist group.The waiter at the cafe opposite the Cafe de Nattes wasn't very friendly. This morning Judy told me of the time that she went to Sidi Bou Said with her mum,the owner of a shop mistook Judy's mum's friendliness for her wanting to buy something.The shop owner turned extremely aggressive when he realised he wasn't going to make a sale,so was he slow or just stupid? Window-Shoppers beware!
Sidi Bou Said is very picturesque but I actually prefer it in winter and spring.

Spain win World Cup in extra time

Andres Iniesta scored a dramatic winner late in extra time to give Spain World Cup glory for the first time but gave the unlucky Netherlands their third defeat in a final.It seemed that Spain would never score and like David Villa had said in an interview all it could take was one goal to win.Spain seemed nervous just like in the previous matches and it seemed the final would be an anti climax and be heading towards a penalty shootout until Iniesta finally got his match winning goal.

Night at the Opera:El Jem Colosseum

The El Jem Colosseum provides a spectacular setting for a night of Viennese opera,torches from the top tiers to the bottom ones illuminating the arena,with some of the arch ways also filled with a ghostly reddish orangery light.There was a packed audience last night ,many people had travelled on the special train from Tunis.Mum and me met Laurie and Jes at Barcelonate Station yesterday evening for the two hour journey to El Jem,a small city near the Coastal resort of Sousse.
The night's entertainment was also enhanced by some beautiful dancing ranging from waltzes to a lively Polka.
The local Tunisian,Yasmine Azaiez,a young violinist,who played with the orchestra,was well received by the locals,even her slightly odd inclusion of her singing part of the song 'Bohemian Rhaposody'(a massive hit by the group Queen) was a hit with the crowd.

Mum enjoyed the night out,it was exciting and interesting to see the Colluseum at night in fact the whole town seemed more lively.
We all got back to Tunis ,around 3 o'clock this morning!

Mum on holiday

Mum's flight to Tunis delayed nearly 3 hours but mum didn't find out the flight was delayed until having gone through customs.I got Tony's text message after I'd arrived at the airport so lots of hanging around at the airport.Finally got home at 1 am.

Monday, showed mum around La Marsa including the camel at the Saf Saf cafe.In the evening met Kate,Ted,Sarah,Janet,Laurie,Tom and Dawn for a drink at the Plaza Corniche bar.
Tuesday visited the Souks in the Medina of Tunis and also had tea on the roof top terrace of a hotel in the Medina;good view of the city.

Thursday took a louage taxi to the seaside resort of Hammamet;we didn't stay too long on the beach as it was too hot for mum.
Later we visited the Souks by the fort.Many of the alleyways were decorated with an abundance of sweet smelling flowers.Less claustrophobic than the Souks in Tunis but the same hassle from the sellars insisting/inviting you to look around their shops.There are always lots of nice things to buy but the constant 'Take a look.Just a minute.' is very wearying.

Hard Rock Calling Paul McCartney

Flying visit to London.
Sunday 27th June Hyde Park Hard Rock Calling 2010 concert:Paul McCartney headlining the final concert of the concerts in Hyde Park and his current tour.The support acts were Elvis Costello,Crowded House,Crosby,Stills and Nash.
The weather was really hot so with no rainclouds on the horizon a perfect day for a summer concert.
Nice summery atmosphere with a mix of young and old people.

On a big screen in the centre of the audience the England v Germany match was being shown.While Crowded House were performing,England got comprehensively beaten by Germany in the second round of the World Cup.Unfortunately the ref made a massive blunder and failed to see Lampard's shot clearly cross the line;which would have it made it 2-2 and a chance for England to get back into the match.

Paul McCartney thrilled the crowd for over three hours,a true superstar.The highlights of the show included the fireworks accompanied 'Live and Let Die' and of course ' Let It Be ' And 'Hey Jude'.McCartney played a good mix of old Beatles classics and Wings material including Let Them In'.