Bristol vs the world

An intense MA (me) and year of working (John) meant that by July last year all we wanted to do was lie on a beach for a week. Taking advantage of cheap package prices due to the earlier revolution, we ended up in Hammamet, Tunisia. Incidentally, for anybody concerned about whether the area is safe – please don’t be. In Hammamet, the only way you could tell that a revolution had taken place was through the almost-unreal stories of locals working in the hotel and running shops in the medina.

Although we went with little intention of leaving our sun loungers (something I probably shouldn’t admit on a travel blog…), we did see a little bit more of the country than our hotel. Although Hammamet is predominantly a tourist resort full of all-inclusive hotels, you will find Tunisians enjoying the beach in the town centre. Dating from the 15th century, the medina is also worth a visit – you could of course buy everything in here in your hotel, but where’s the fun in that when you could be haggling – though to be hassled by shop owners wanting to get you into their shops (also, heck out the prices of items in your hotel or online before visiting – the shop owners will start very high!). Our trip was rewarded with two ceramic bowls and two wooden pestles and mortars which now take pride of place in my kitchen.

See the photos on Flickr