The Revolution's 2nd Birthday

My sincerest apologies, I had an essay to write and I spent weeks, literally doing EVERYTHING but write it, until it was the very last moment, then I had a little freak-out. I never learn and ever nothing changes. I actually think that I quite enjoy the intense pressure.

Anyways kiddos, not too much to report from this end. Last Monday was the two year anniversary of the overthrowing of the government. Revolution Day! 

 

Naturally, we had a public holiday (any excuse, Tunisia, eh?). Rather than knuckle down with the essay, my friend Jasmin and I headed on over to the Roman Bath ruins, to celebrate quite a different period of oppression in Tunisia.

The Antoine Baths are in Carthage, about 15 minutes from Tunis and 10 from my house. Given that it was a public holiday, all of the historical sites were free - not that this incentive drew in the crowds or anything. Tunisia national heritage sites are the saddest things in the world. Incredible Roman ruins from the second century stand unseen and unappreciated, while direct flights fly from the UK and Germany straight into the all-inclusive resorts in Hammamet and Sousse. You can't blame the tourists, sight-seeing in Tunisia is a labour-intensive exercise, You need to come with your own books and your internet print-outs. There are no leaflets, no tour guides, audio tours, and the only plaques that have been put up are in French and the writing has washed off them anyway. I told Jasmin about the Somerset town of Bath, and how the remains their are about a tenth of the size and you pay a tenner (update: just looked it up £13.25!) to get herded around like sheep, whereas in Carthage, we didn't see another soul.

So while we rocked it out in the third largest bath complex in the Roman world and walked in the footsteps of civilisation as we know it, there was a little party on Habib Bourguiba, and they covered the clocktower with the Tunisian flag.

 

National celebrations were happy and peaceful, with most people choosing to stay at home and celebrate with their families. I'm no political commentator, but disenchantment remains in New Tunisia. People believe that the Government is still not working hard enough to increase employment, improve trade links and facilitate the economic growth that this country feels she deserves. And evidence of this frustration is everywhere...