Camel Rides and Bloody Marys

Cherry

By luigi_pagano

Tue, 01 Aug 2017
  • 1458 reads
8 comments
 
Prior to the introduction of low-cost carriers air travel was expensive.
Luckily for me my girlfriend worked for an airline company so we were able to take advantage of the concessions that employees enjoyed and visit as many places as we could.
We had to stand-by until all the paying passengers were aboard before being allocated any spare seats. The only cost to us was the landing fees.
 
At first our ports of call consisted of European countries – the Netherlands, Italy and the Greek Islands – which involved short journeys, but as the travelling fever developed we started thinking of new horizons.
 
The north of Africa, and Tunisia in particular, seemed appealing. Having heard favourable reports, we took the plunge and plumped for the resort of Hammamet.
 
The only problem we could see was that country’s regulations regarding currency.
At the time there was a limit as to how much money one could convert into dinars and, what is more, any unspent amount could not be exported.
We knew this and we had budgeted accordingly to cover the cost of our stay.
 
The flight to Tunis was uneventful and the transfer to the resort, where we were met by the company’s courier, went without a hitch.
What the courier told us on our arrival is when we started to be concerned.
 
“I haven’t been able to book you into the hotel of your choice, he said, but I have got you a place next door.”
 
One look at the sumptuous edifice that he was pointing at and our hearts sank.
It was obvious that the cost would be prohibitive and way above our limited resources.
 
The hotel, with imposing white walls and surrounded by palm trees, stood by a crystal blue
 sea  and an amazing blond sandy beach.
 
My first thought was that we might have to curtail our visit in view of the new circumstances.
The next day, refreshed after a good night sleep, my girlfriend – much more practical than me – suggested that we should find out from the hotel manager what prices they charged in that establishment, so that we could act accordingly.
 
She couldn’t have come up with a better suggestion. I was pleasantly surprised to hear that
their rates were exactly the same as the one in which we originally intended to stay.
We heaved a sigh of relief in knowing that we could go ahead as planned.
 
Our reservation was for bed and breakfast and evening dinner which gave us the opportunity to try the local cuisine.
In addition to a delectable Tunisian tajine I sampled, for the very first time, a scrumptious red mullet.
A young waiter by the name of Abdul must have been psychic because a bottle of wine appeared on the table before we had the chance of opening our mouth.
We befriended the lad who offered to be our guide during our stay. It was an offer that we gladly accepted as it was our first visit to the country and would have been lost without someone who new the place like the back of his hand. We would have not gone to the souk without his help because we were afraid of going on our own, thinking that the market within the citadel might not be safe. As it was, it proved to be a marvellous experience.
 
By now we had become fully fledged tourists and, foolishly, I tried camel riding but the beast must have taken a dislike to me because I ended up on the sandy beach while my girlfriend, who had wisely declined, laughed hilariously at my antics.
 
On the Friday, Abdul assured us, the camel market in Nabeul was a must. I wondered whether he  would be amused or offended if he heard the advice that friends back home had given me:
 
“Accept no less than three camels for your girlfriend!”
 
She had seen the joke and had been secretly flattered.
 
Nabeul is also noted for its pottery and leather but what proved to be the main attraction that particular day was something completely unexpected.
A band playing Arabic music was marching up the main street and tourists were invited to assemble into a bar where they were served soft drinks and refreshments.
It was done to give a warm welcome to president Habib Bourguiba who was visiting the town.
We dined out on the story of meeting the great man for several months on our return.
 
On the last day of our holiday a mystery was solved. During our sojourn I had noticed many people drinking Bloody Marys. As I had just enough money left to buy a couple of drinks, I ordered two orange juices; when they arrived they were the same hue as tomato juice and I realised that the ingredients of what I thought were Bloody Marys were in fact blood oranges.
 
© Luigi Pagano 2017
 
Image Wikimedia Commons
Author Marc Ryckaert
Certificate U
Story
Mutevoli pensieri
Travel
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by celticman on

nice touch of the exotic. 

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Cheers, Jack. yes

Best, Luigi

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Sounds as if you had a lot of memorable holidays. I didn't realise that squeezed blood oranges would be quite so dark. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

It is true, Rhiannon. I have had quite a few interesting holidays that I can recall with satisfaction.  I wasn't aware either of the properties of blood oranges prior to that occasion. It was an eye opener.

Luigi x

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Lovely sense of holiday adventure. 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Discovering new places is fascinating, Helen, as is learning their history and traditions.

Luigi x

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

A fascinating and lively account Luigi - hopefully you'll write more on your travels!

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

I have plenty of material about my travels, C., all stored in my head and I have to dig deep into my memory to recall significant incidents but I'll do my best.

THanks for your encouragement, Luigi x