TOTO, I DON'T THINK WE ARE IN KANSAS ANYMORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fully aware that we create our own reality and life experiences whether it be landing in Kansas, Oz or Tunisia, we have to admit that the Tunisian trip was quite a surprise.
Many of you are probably wondering why Tunisia at all so here is the logical, easy explanation. Since we have an American boat not registered in the European Union we have to leave the EU every 18 months or we have to pay an exorbitant tax. Soooo, our 18 months were about up and the easiest way to alleviate this situation was to make a quick trip to Tunisia (the closest non EU country). So we picked EcsaSea up in Sardinia where she had wintered and traveled south.
We are wanting to share our Tunisian experience with you, fully aware that it is just "a story", albeit "our story" without conveying the negativity and challenges we had. Thinking that we are pretty open minded and hearted, we were surprised at how quickly the circumstances challenged that assumption. One of our purposeful intentions is to "have an opinion" without "being our opinion" and to be aware of our judgments. Tunisia reminded us that we still have a ways to go on that one.....
Several surprises for us were:
Entering the harbor at Side Bou Saiid we ran aground as there was a shallow sand bar that no one had bothered to mark in any way. Who's to know? It was a rude start but no damage and no problem thankfully.
Going through customs upon entering a new country we were surprised as the customs agent inquired if some of our liquor was for him. Particularly the unopened Vodka bottle. So the price for an easy entry was 1 bottle of vodka for a Moslem man, plus a bag to disguise it as he took it off the boat. This practice continued with every one we met. Does forced tips = bribes?
Willow as well as Richard was painfully aware of the yoke of patriarchy prevailing through out the land. Richard always being the free thinker that he is, wants to start a new business here. "Rent a Birka" or possibly paper disposible birkas, cheap. Affording the western woman traveler the opportunity to fit in, without the unnecessary expense of buying her own. After all, it's unlikely that a western woman would ever again wear her birka to a prom, social event or even a halloween party. No birkas were seen but lots of head scarves and no man would address Willow---always asking for her husband. You know how well that went over for her.....They are pleased that they are the first Moslem country to outlaw polygamy but there still exists a heaviness in regards to women.
They are a secular country but a young one so old customs still prevail.
Flies........Everwhere flies, annoying, buzzing and irritating as hell. Did we mention the flies?
Richard broke the flyswatter and Willow couldn't find anyone who understood or anywhere to buy one as it doesn't exist in their awareness and apparently flies aren't a problem for them.
Willow got a tattoo on her hand before she could protest as she was just walking d
own the street. It supposedly shows she is married but we aren't quite sure as one of the dock hands was always pointing at it and laughing. Hopefully it will fade in a few weeks.
What's up with this toilet thing? No toilet paper but a funny little flexible tube with a valve. Kind of a crude do-it-yourself bidet.
There's so much more but we think you get the idea........
Tunisia is a very young country. Only 50 years old and has had only 2 presidents during that time. And we did have a great time sightseeing in the Medina (the old city of Tunis) as
we strolled through the underground maze of little shops set back in time. It is set within the boundaries of 7 mosques, which unfortunately we weren't able to go into. We also visited the ancient ruins of Carthage. Once it was one of the largest cities in history founded in 814 BC it was well known for for it's size and fame and was the capital of the huge Punic Empire which covered the whole Mediteranean for centuries. Very impressive.
Museum of ancient relics, statues, and mosaics found in Carthage.
Carthage bath houses still standing by the sea.
We realize it is unfair to evaluate a place after only 3 days but 3 days was totally enough for us
and we were happy to sail away.
After traveling a hair-raising night with tankers and freighters all trying to run us over as we sailed north, we realized that we were bringing with us all of the negativity we had created while in Tunisia. We had small but significant challenges on the boat, one of which had Willow going up the mast to fix the problem. EcstaSea has a carbon pole which Willow was hoisted above resulting in millions of carbon fibers like little prickly cactus stuck in her arms and legs by the time she was finished . We finally just had to laugh out loud at the irony of prickly, irritating stickers all over us --physically, emotionally and even spiritually.And with that awareness
a strong desire to "let it go".......
And to help us with that intention 8 dolphins appeared to playfully remind us to let go. The stayed and jumped and played along the bow for a very long time and we knew they were there to remind us to clear the energy and start fresh again. So we ceremoniously made a gift of the prickly clothing to the sea.
What a view!!!!!
And feeling free and clear of the darkness we had conjured up we continued sailing north peacefully and easefully.
PS..... Did we remember to mention the flies????????
Traveling south from the Italian Island of Ischia we made straightway for the Island of Stromboli. How we love the islands!!! Stromboli is probably the "oldest lighthouse in the world". It is the oldest "active" volcano from ancient times to the present and guided Odysseus towards the Strait of Messina. Unlike Vesuvius, Etna, and Mt. St. Helens it releases its pressure bit by bit, day by day, instead of building up to a big bang. A beautiful island with a very small village that we anchored off of.
But you'll just have to take our word for it--- it was fiery and spectacular and quite a celebration for Mother Moon........
It was an unusual experience to wake up and see volcanic ash all over the boat. We have had lots of "things" dirty the boat....... but ash......that's a first.
