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Sousse
Sousse is an enchanting resort town on the eastern coast of Tunisia, only a couple of hours drive from Tunis, the regions capital. From the 9th century onwards the Phoenicians, Byzantines, Arabs and Romans discovered the delights of this fertile spot, dubbed 'the pearl of the Sahel' in ancient times, and today the mild climate, beautiful Mediterranean shoreline and warm people work their magic on holidaymakers from Europe. Sousse is also favoured by Tunisians themselves as a get-away destination, and the friendly natives enjoy mingling with the visitors on the sandy beaches and busy promenade. The proliferation of modern resort hotels along the beachfront has not detracted from the charms of the inner city, and Sousse is still regarded as having probably the finest (though not the largest) old city, or Medina, in Tunisia. A warren of narrow covered alleyways nestling below the Ribat, or fort, hide hundreds of colourful shops selling a myriad of local goods from carpets and porcelain to leather bags and olive oil. Outside the Medina there is also a vast modern shopping complex. Sousse is not all just shopping and beach bathing, however. The town's museum, situated in the old castle or Kasbah, is renowned for its collection of mosaics, masks, statues and other relics of the Roman occupation. There are also several miles of well-preserved ancient Christian catacombs and marble tombs in the town. Sousse offers it's many package-tour visitors all the facilities and surroundings of a relaxing seaside holiday, overlaid with the undeniably foreign and exotic atmosphere of North Africa, all at extremely affordable prices.
Sousse offers a wonderful range of shopping bargains in the old city, where visitors can practise the art of haggling and get attain some fabulous deals. Carpets and leatherwear are favourite buys for tourists, but there is also a vast stock of cheap souvenirs on which to fritter away the holiday budget. Some visitors are intimidated and do not enjoy bargaining with the canny souk shopkeepers, who usually begin negotiations with a price inflated up to ten times the value. These visitors would be better advised to do their shopping in the adjacent modern shopping mall, which is crammed with shops offering local goods and wares from all over North Africa, on sale at fixed prices.
Dining in Sousse boasts a vast variety of cuisine, including international and local cuisine at varying prices from snacks like pizza and tapas to gourmet French cuisine, but most rave in particular about the popular local staple dish, Couscous (steamed semolina grains), which comes in various combinations. Most of the better restaurants are located inside the luxury hotels; others are within walking distance of wherever you are staying.
Sousse nightlife is best enjoyed in the safety of the resorts with dancing and live entertainment, however for the wilder side, the area also houses several seedy bars where prostitution is offered with the beers. If in doubt before entering any club or bar question the doorman or take a good look. Nightlife generally for tourists is confined to the apartment resorts and hotels, which offer dancing and entertainment. Young Tunisians tend to gather on the beach promenade after dark.
Like many Tunisian resorts the beaches are the main area of daytime activity, with water sports like scuba diving, fishing, water skiing and windsurfing all available. There are also numerous excursions on offer for those keen on exploring more of the Tunisian coastline. In the town itself shopping and delving into the town's ancient Roman history at the excellent museum are interesting diversions.
The old Medina is home to some pushy shopkeepers who can bee quite frightening to visitors, and the alleyways in the busy markets also house some active pickpockets, so visitors should be wary when shopping in the crowded streets.
