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Tunisia

How I Experienced Tunisia Like a Local

Nine years ago, while studying in Paris, I made a group of Parisian friends who became my passport to a travel experience far beyond the landscape of France. Many of the young men in the group came from the “Dix-neuvième”, the 19th Arrondisement of Paris, home to the majority of the city’s North African immigrants. Some of the guys — with musical names like Walid, Ouissem, Mouldi, Anis and Sami — were born in France to parents from Tunisia. I was 22 years old when I met them. Embarrassingly, I wasn’t even sure I’d ever heard of the country before, let alone contemplated going there. Eventually, however, I learned about Tunisia: that its cuisine sounded delicious — savory lamb dishes,…

Getting Lost in MaHdia, Tunisia (Photos)

Tunisia is a fascinating place to experience off the beaten path and go exploring through small towns. And that is what I did during a recent trip. (Of course, accompanied by people in the know.) I visited the country last summer in one of the more accessible ways to travel to Tunisia. I stayed in the tourist enclaves of Sousse and Monastir (Watch Video Here) filled with tourist beaches, resorts and restaurants. Getting restless after a few days of sand and sun, I took a daytrip with my friends to a neighboring town. We drove for an hour along the coast and arrived in MaHdia — a small village on the water. We took to the narrow streets, weaving our…

Fishing in Tunisia, Part 1 (VIDEO)

For Fishing in Tunisia, Part 2 click here! I am so excited to share this video with you. It will transport you across the globe to an island off the coast of Tunisia, where I got to go fishing with a group of local fishermen. It is an experience I’ll never forget. It all started, years ago when I studied in Paris and fell in with a bunch of Parisian friends. The ethnic make-up of the group was quite varied. And some of them were second generation Parisians with parents from North Africa — the majority of which came from Tunisia. Meeting them seven years ago, I started to learn about Tunisia for the first time that its cuisine sounded…

Fishing in Tunisia, Part 2 (VIDEO)

This is Part Two of my video series featuring a fishing trip in Tunisia. In this installment, you’ll get an understanding of the traditional fishing techniques employed by Walid’s uncles, you’ll watch me getting into the water to earn my keep, and more. PHOTO CREDIT: In the Travel with Kate opening sequence, the image behind Kate eating sushi (not of Kate) is by photographer Trey Ratcliff of http://www.stuckincustoms.com/…

Bring Me a Bottle of Water, Please.

I arrived in Monastir, Tunisia on a scorching, hot day. It was about noon. And as I walked out of customs into the main foyer of the airport, two of my dear friends greeted me with smiles. My adventure had begun! The first order of business was to drop my bags off at the hotel. Second was to drive to lunch. And the third, for me, was to learn something in Arabic.…