Ass of Mutton & Bulla Regia (Northwest Tunisia)

[Author's Note: I arrived in Tunis on September 10^th, 2010 and left two months later. The Arab Spring began in Tunisia on December 18^th, 2010, a day after the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi. I missed the festivities by about a month or so. Some would say I dodged a bullet but I cannot help feeling like I missed the boat. How often do you have the chance to watch history unfold from the front row? It is interesting for me to go back and read about my experiences at the time. Yes, I could almost taste repression in the air but if you told me the powder keg was about to ignite I would have been incredulous in the extreme. Yet, there it was boiling just beneath the surface. Keep this in mind when reading my Tunisia posts. It makes for a fascinating subtext.]

Oct 29^th, 2010 - The north of Tunisia is worth a look even if the glimpse entails merely passing through via a slow meandering drive. Rolling hills, vast tracks of picturesque farmland, seaside cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean, nearly deserted country roads, and an all around mellow vibe make it worth a peek (with your own transport of course). While making a pit stop in the small city of Tabarka we stocked up on necessities, namely six bottles of wine, two bottles of gin, a bottle of vodka, and enough tonic water to bath in. 

As you might guess alcohol is sometimes difficult to acquire in an Islamic country like Tunisia (although not as difficult as you would think). As Tabarka is a tourist town certain allowances are made. We took advantage. Tunisian wine is not only fabulous, but fabulously cheap to boot. A deliciously smooth bottle of vino will only set you back $2 to $4. No 'cheap wine' bite and minimal hangover. It's an alcoholic's fantasy. So we threw the box of spirits in the Punto and skedaddled.