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Monday brought a slight reduction in wind and although the weather
forecast called for force 7 conditions throughout the area it
was time to head for Tunisia. To our surprise we found our-selves
motor sailing in very light wind and following seas during most
of the 140-mile passage to Bizerte. It was an enjoyable overnight
passage under clear skies and a quarter moon. Crossing the shipping
lanes north of the African Coast was quite interesting as everything
that floats to and from the eastern Med must pass through these
waters. We were all on deck as dawn broke and revealed the low
mountains along the coast to the east of Bizerte. After clearing
the breakwater we were directed to a side tie in a small marina.
Soon three young officials boarded, two of which were smiling
and friendly and the other, clearly their senior was sedate.
Fortunately, one of our crew knew enough French to navigate
the paperwork.
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The senior
official declined to have his photograph taken and asked
to look at my camera. Everyone smiled at the alarmed expression
on his face when the camera unexpectedly rewound the film
while still in his hands.
Tunisia is a small country that is wedged in between Algeria
to the west and Libya to the east. We were told that it
does not produce oil and is economically dependent on
tourism concentrated along its eastern coast.
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We were intrigued to learn that the ancient city of Carthage
was located nearby.A couple of us took a taxi tour of the area
with a driver that spoke no English but was obviously proud
of his country. We met for dinner at the very formal yacht club
dining room where we enjoyed excellent food served by tuxedoed
waiters.
The next day (Wednesday, October 11) we found an accommodating
taxi driver who spoke excellent English and arranged for a van
and driver (who spoke no English) to take us to Carthage. Ruins
of the ancient city occupy a hill overlooking the sea and what
is referred to as the "Punic Ports". The winds had
clocked nearly 180 degrees during our stay in Tunisia and the
afternoon weather forecast called for gale force winds and rain
from the southeast. We cleared the Bizerte break-water just
before dark and enjoyed a beautiful moonlight night sail.
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