Surrounded by wals, the medina quarter of Tunis includes a maze of narrow streets and a number of palaces, mosques, and madrasas. After the conference sponsored tour of Carthage and Roman ruins, it was our first independent trip in Tunisia, and a great place to acclimate to the culture.

The tighly woven streets and covered souks, the serenity of mosques, and the confict of modern and traditional cultures both in articles for sale and clothes worn by shoppers is a must see for any visitor to Tunis. A carpet and tourist goods shop advertised its view and for a small fee, we were treated to views of the Medina from a roof top level. The terrace was decorated with traditional mosaics and it was a great place to take a break from the hustle below and enjoy the view of the nearby Zitouna mosque that dates back to 732.

Smoking a shisha	Smoking a shisha	Jewelry store	Tunis from above	Shadows	Minarets
Vase	Framing	Ornamental staircase	Irina
Irina	Another rooftop view	Shadows on the stairs			Stairs and Al-Zaytuna Mosque minaret

Back on the stret level, we watched the street life some more and shopped for souvenirs. Smoking the shisha, a local name for the hookah, is still quite popular. There was a wide variety of handcrafted goods on display, many of which were being made in front of our eyes.

Traditional lamps	Shisha smoking		Dried fruit seller	Medina street	Minaret of mosque Hammouda-Pacha
Inside a souk	Creepy guy	Traditional clothes mannequins	Security presence