Continuing on our Tunisia Road Trip, we stopped in the coastal city of Monastir. The old Ribat is what we were looking for, because it was built to watch for invading Byzantium galleys. It sounds like it’s straight out of a novel, doesn’t it?
The massive stone walls and tower of the ancient fortress along the waterfront provides us a step back in time. We enjoyed a few hours walking around the fort and the seawall and then took the small hike up into the town to visit the Mausoleum Bourguiba with its park-like grounds and picturesque Arabic cemetery. From the cemetery we found a stunning view of the Ribat and the full moon rising out of the ocean behind it.
Things to Do in Monastir
The Marabout Tomb – Our favorite story from Tunisia
The Marabout is the tomb of the first president of Tunisia after they regained their independence. Built in 1963, it has become a popular local destination and can be quite crowded on a Saturday afternoon when the weather is nice.
It was this type of atmosphere we found with families picnicking, children chasing balloons, and older folks sitting back and gossiping among themselves. We found a seat on a stone bench and settled in with a small snack for some good people watching, one of our favorite ways to spend some extra time.
We soon sparked up a conversation with a small family nearby. They had come out to the grounds to enjoy the weather and the beautiful sights, much as we had. There were two women, both sisters, and their children. They had laid out a spread of baguettes, harissa, olives, yogurt, honey, tomatoes, and tuna that looked fit for a sultan.
We politely turned down their offers of food but realized quickly to continue to do so would be unfriendly so we were soon nibbling at the different offerings. We’d had harissa, a Tunisian chili paste before, but this was homemade and set the mouth on fire!
Other things to do in Monastir
We whiled away the hours in Monastir walking and gawking. Other than the beach and these few places, there really isn’t much in Monastir, but that’s part of its charm. There’s not tons of tourists and you can easily relax for a day. Here are some of the things you can see while you do so.
- Go to the beach
- Walk around Ribat
- Enjoy the park
- Photograph the stunning exterior of the Hanafi Mosque
Conclusion
We enjoyed a pleasant day in Monastir while enjoying the various treats of the picnic and playing with the children. As the sun set and cast its golden glow across the city we realized we had, once again, spent way more time here than we had planned.
Author Bio: Jim Vail, is a travel, food, and video creator and a perpetual traveler who has been travel writing for over 15 years. For many years he lived overseas in Germany, Japan, Turkey, South Korea, and the Netherlands, and he’s visited over 90 countries.
Lisa
Wednesday 28th of May 2014
I see a tuna/harissa post...please!
Corinne Vail
Wednesday 28th of May 2014
Lisa, I need to make it!
Anabel Marsh
Friday 23rd of May 2014
Mmm, harissa! We buy it regularly from the supermarket, which is ok, but the best we've had is from a French market stall. Bet the home made stuff is even better though.
Corinne Vail
Monday 26th of May 2014
Anabel, I was impressed with Tunisian food not knowing anything about it before we went. I loved it!
Emily Sabo
Friday 23rd of May 2014
We haven't been to Tunisia but I've always wanted to go. Picnics are definitely one of our favourite ways to soak up the everyday lives and meet some of the locals!
Jim Vail
Friday 23rd of May 2014
Emily, We agree. It was really pretty special meeting the women.
Renuka`
Friday 23rd of May 2014
Looks like a lovely place! I am really fond of places that offer a lot of relaxation hours - doing nothing and just watching the day go by...
Jim Vail
Friday 23rd of May 2014
Renuka, And plenty of people to watch. Plus the sunset just kept getting prettier and prettier.
Ann
Friday 23rd of May 2014
I've never been or heard about this area before, though I did think about hopping over to Tunisia once and if the plans had continued I might have learned about it.
Pretty cool for you them to offer you food - and more cool that you accepted! Looks like a nice way to spend a day.
Jim Vail
Friday 23rd of May 2014
Ann, It was such a memorable experience. We love this kind of thing. It's definitely why we travel.