Lifestyle Tunisia - Issue 3 by Bluuprint

Get Your Business Noticed ! Find out more about our advertising packages at www.livetunisia.com/advertise.html or Simply Register at www.livetunisia.com/register.html and get your company or service listed in our website business section and an advert in this magazines directory for FREE ! 02

Lifestyle Tunisia

Welcome, ught online LIFESTYLE magazine, bro To the third edition of our monthly ting, .com and dedicated to those visi to you exclusively by LiveTunisia . hoping to visit or living in Tunisia n by, and everyone at LiveTunisia These few months have simply flow to all our readers, contributors and would like to say a big thank you t two ments and feedback from our firs advertisers for all the positive com azing suggestions. This issue is an am issues, as well as their help and plicom ry month. Also, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss the 52 pages already and growing eve with plement, HOMESTYLE magazine mentary issue of the property sup even or e buyers, those looking to rent more essential information to hom holiday in Tunisia. mote vetunisia.com we hope to help pro Together with our website www.li , ntry coming about this beautiful cou all that is relaxing, healthy and wel right on the doorstep of Europe. ning, iness Directory is now up and run With this in mind, the website Bus n by see that could benefit by being so if you have a business or service us at our website then please contact all our readers and world wide on sing our website for the FREE adverti info@livetunisia.net, or check out promotions available.

The Editor

Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy and legality, the Publisher accepts no liability or responsibility for the material published herein, the views of our contributors are not necessarily the views of the Editor. The Publisher further accepts no liability or responsibility for errors in content or quality that occur beyond all reasonable control of the Editor. The contents of this publication are the property of the publisher and nothing may be reproduced, stored in a retrival system or transmitted in any form without express permission in writing from the editor.

Lifestyle Magazine Published by: - LiveTunisia.com Information & Sales : - info@livetunisia.net Lifestyle Tunisia

contents SPOTLIGHT Hammamet The Tunisian Riviera

13 06

HEALTH & BEAUTY Time for Exercise

Natural Remedies Green Tea

FASHION

Sonia Rykiel pour H&M Grand Palais, Paris

Relax in the Pamper Zone

ON LOCATION Film set - Tunisia The English Patient

livetunisia.com 04

Lifestyle Tunisia

december 2009 INTERNATIONAL 32

Nike and (Red) Unite to Leverage the Power of Sport to Fight HIV/Aids in Africa TOURIST GUIDE

Map

Places of interest

Useful information

GOLF 43

Tunisian Golf Courses

2 Basic Steps to Improving Your Golf Swing

BUSINESS 48

Directory HOROSCOPE

Decembers Horoscope Lifestyle Tunisia

spotlight

Hammamet (Arabic, Al-Hammamat, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the bathsâ&#x20AC;?) is a town 60 km from the capital Tunis, located on the south-eastern edge of the northern peninsula of Cap Bon in the Governorate of Nabeul, overlooking the northern part of the Gulf of Hammamet.

Lifestyle Tunisia

spotlight Hammamet

It is one of North Africa's premier resorts and the capital of the Tunisian Riviera, where the fine beaches turn to the south, allowing you to sunbathe and watch the sea at the same time. Due to its long stretches of beach, it is a popular destination for swimming and water sports, and was the first real tourist destination in Tunisia.

Hammamet has been known since Roman times for the healing property of its waters, and Roman ruins still survive at the nearby site of Pupput, from itÂ´s days as a colony in the 2nd century. The site is noted for its fine collection of intact mosaics. The more recent shape of Hammamet dates from the late 1400Â´s, when the walls of the old city, known as the medina, were built as a stronghold for trade and security. Mediaeval Hammamet and the kasbah was once fortified by the Spaniards during the 1500Â´s, but, in general, the town has remained relatively peaceful since then. Lifestyle Tunisia

spotlight

The medina and souk still offer an authentic â&#x20AC;&#x153;tradingâ&#x20AC;? experience, but it is now souvenir stalls that fill most streets. There is very little traditional trade or industry remaining in the area, as tourism has been the main income for many decades, although a fishing fleet of small boats still supply the local restaurants.

Lifestyle Tunisia

spotlight

It was back in the 1920Â´s that Hammamet, then a quiet fishing village, was "discovered" by the European and American jet-set. Wealthy foreigners and socialites acquired or built white-walled villas with gardens and swimming pools, and happily settled into a life of comfort and culture far from their homes. The famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright said of one such villa, built by the Romanian George Sebastian during this era, that it was the most beautiful house he knew of. The entire house was a perfect place for the parties of the period, and is still around today, open to visitors, just 2 km from town centre. In the same area other fine villas were built in the subsequent years, until the war came, when many were taken over as headquarters to house General Erwin Rommel and his German Afrika Korps. Lifestyle Tunisia

www.livetunisia.com/magazine.html

spotlight After Tunisia gained its independence from France in 1956, it quickly began to establish itself as a Mediterranean tourist destination again, with Hammamet and itÂ´s tag as the Tunisian Riviera leading the way. Then in 1959, a different kind of history was made in the area, when the film Goha, starring Omar Sharif and a local girl of Italian origin, Claudia Cardinale (b.1939, Tunis), was shot at a nearby spa.

Lifestyle Tunisia

Brand new free social site for Friends of Tunisia and all things Tunisian. Have you visited Tunisia recently? Are you thinking of visiting? Do you live in or come from Tunisia, or even visit regularly and can write or offer your knowledge or information? Be among the first to join and set up your own groups with other members Create and customise your own profile Keep updated with your group or event's activity Message, broadcast and IM with other members Share your photos with other members Get talking in the forums about what matters to you

For Friends of Tunisia and All Things Tunisian - Join Us Now - Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Free! www.tunisiabuzz.socialgo.com

spotlight

This proved a spur for even more European visitors to the Tunisian Riviera, itÂ´s unspoilt and uncrowded beaches and ever-growing hotel and tourism industry. It is easy to see why Hammamet continues to draw visitors. Along the shoreline, the town's ancient medina faces the beach, which sweeps south to the main hotels. The Kasbah, which dates back to the 12th century, watches over the ocean and you can take in the views of the Gulf of Hammamet and look down on the beautiful Cafe Sidi Bou Hdid, one of the most used panoramas in Tunisian tourist brochures.

Hammametâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s old town and medina is a collection of narrow streets full of shoppers bargaining for locally-produced carpets, brassware, ceramics and leather goods. Yet south of the old town, just a few miles away, are fine hotels offering every kind of modern comfort and convenience.The modern town is truly all about tourism, with pedestrian-friendly streets and boulevards lined with restaurants and shops. In an area, particularly known for itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s jasmine, this is how the modern tourist resort of Yasmine Hammamet got its name. With this powerful combination of attractions, it is not surprising that Hammamet continues to thrive as capital of the Tunisian Riviera.

Lifestyle Tunisia

healthy living

Time To Exercise? Lifestyle here in Tunisia can be very healthy, with the benefits of a Mediterranean diet and an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables. However, not everyone is in the peak of physical condition, and we could all do with taking a bit more care of our body and well-being.

If we are more than a little overweight, most of us know it and we know that we are at risk from all kinds of problems relating to it. We can try and eat healthily all we like but the problem, it seems, is that we are not just overweight, we are unfit and it is the low fitness levels that actually cause so many of the health problems associated with being overweight. Scarily a recent study showed that it is not just us adults that are unfit, but our kids are becoming increasingly unfit too.

The good news is that improving your fitness even a little bit can have an amazing effect on your body and your health and it is not actually that difficult to do. Something as simple as walking for an hour a day, 3 or 4 times a week can drastically improve your fitness levels. This is a relatively easy workout to start with which gets the body to use stored fat for energy. Even at 60-70% of your maximum heart rate, 85% of your calories burned are fats. Walking faster or slower burns a smaller percentage of fat. Walking can be a solo journey, but finding a walking companion or walking club can keep it interesting and keep you motivated. Some form of MP3 or music player can help, or even an audio book can be great to help pass the time enjoyably.

Lifestyle Tunisia

healthy living

Make sure you start at an easy pace for about 10 minutes (this burns off the stored blood sugar and glycogen and tells the body to get ready to burn fat.) After this stop and do some stretches for 5 minutes to ensure that you don't pull any muscles. Walk 30 minutes at a fast pace. This will bring your heart rate up to 60-70% of your maximum heart rate.

The pace should be fast but comfortable; an easy way to test this without a heart monitor is that you should still be able to speak in full sentences relativly easily although you will be breathing harder than usual. Cool down with 5-10 minutes at an easy pace and finish with 5 minutes of gentle stretching and flexibility exercises to loosen up your muscles.

Lifestyle Tunisia

healthy living

Natural

With almost as many tea shops as coffee shops, Tunisia offers the opportunity to sample many different varieties. All teas be they green, black or oolong are derived from the same plant, the Camellia sinensis, the difference between them is in how the plucked leaves are prepared. Green tea, also known as Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG), unlike black and oolong tea, is not fermented, so the active constituents remain unaltered in the herb. Green tea leaves are steamed, which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized According to Chinese legend, tea was discovered accidentally by an emperor around 4,000 years ago and since then, traditional Chinese medicine has recommended green tea for headaches, body aches and pains, digestion, depression, immune enhancement, detoxification, as an energizer and to prolong life. Today, scientific research in both Asia and the west is providing hard evidence for the health benefits long associated with drinking green tea and it has been shown to help your health in many different ways including reducing the risk of colon and breast cancer, lowering high cholesterol, slowing down tooth decay, helping with weight loss and helping the immune system fight infections and colds.

Lifestyle Tunisia

In 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of oesophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent. University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol. Green tea contains volatile oils, vitamins, minerals, and caffeine but the secret of green tea lies in the fact that it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG.

Remedies Green Tea These polyphenols are believed to be responsible for most of green tea's roles in promoting good health. EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of some cancer cells, it kills some cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter takes on added importance when you consider that thrombosis (the formation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.

Lifestyle Tunisia

Green Tea But how much should you drink?

How to Brew a Cup of Green Tea

There are as many answers to this question as there are researchers investigating the natural properties of green tea but given all the evidence, it is probably safe to plan on drinking four to five cups of green tea per day. If you're a real devotee, by all means drink more; but whether or not you'll derive added health benefits remains to be determined by further research. Green tea is generally free of side effects.

Producing the perfect cup of green tea is a tricky process. If not handled properly, those same polyphenols that provide health benefits can ruin the flavour, making the tea taste "gassy." It's particularly important not to over brew. While it's best to follow the manufacturer's instructions for each variety of green tea, here are some general instructions:

The most common adverse effects reported from consuming large amounts (several cups per day) of green tea are insomnia, anxiety, and other symptoms caused by the caffeine content in the herb. However, green tea contains less caffeine than coffee: there are approximately thirty to sixty mg. of caffeine in six - eight ounces of tea, compared to over one-hundred mg. in eight ounces of coffee.

Use one tea bag or 2 - 4 grams of tea per cup. After the kettle has boiled allow it to stand for up to 3 minutes. Pour the heated water over the tea bag or tea, and allow it to steep for up to 3 minutes. If using a tea bag, remove the bag. Allow the tea to cool for three more minutes. Lifestyle Tunisia

fashion H&M Hennes & Mauritz FANTASY, MAGIC, FASHION! SONIA RYKIEL POUR H&M'S UNFORGETTABLE PARIS PARTY

DECEMBER 1st, 2009: Kate Bosworth, Eva Herzigova and Nadja Auermann partied together with fashionistas in a magical world in Paris to celebrate the launch of Sonia Rykiel pour H&M. The Grand Palais, one of the city's most famous buildings, was transformed into a Parisian fantasy land for around 2,000 guests.

Lifestyle Tunisia

fashion Among them were stars such as Jean Paul Gaultier, Ellen von Unwerth and Emanuelle BĂŠart, who walked through an enchanted forest before arriving at a recreation of Saint Germain, the spiritual home of Sonia Rykiel. Then, seated under a specially made Eiffel Tower, guests were given a preview of the Sonia Rykiel pour H&M lingerie collection, which debuts in around 1,500 H&M stores worldwide from December 5, as well as the knitwear collection for women and girls, which arrives in around 200 stores on February 20, 2010.

"It was all about the brilliance of Paris and of Sonia Rykiel. We wanted to give our guests a story-like experience, let them enter a fantasy world where they could discover the Sonia Rykiel pour H&M collections and let themselves go", says Nathalie Rykiel, artistic director and president of Sonia Rykiel.

Nathalie et Sonia Rykiel

Lifestyle Tunisia

fashion The lingerie collection is really the perfect Christmas gift", says Margareta van den Bosch, H&M's creative advisor. Held on the first night of December, the H&M party for Sonia Rykiel truly marked the start of the festive season. Embodying the essence of Paris as much as Sonia Rykiel herself, the glittering city inside the Grand Palais was like a sparkling and surreal theme park for adults.

Nathalie Rykiel and Jean Paul Gaultier

"It was the most magical evening. Sonia Rykiel is so totally Parisian, the epitome of chic. This is the spirit of the Sonia Rykiel pour H&M collections that shone through at the party last night. It was such a thrill to work with a fashion icon like Sonia Rykiel. We are really happy with the collections, which we feel is 100 percent Sonia Rykiel.

Lifestyle Tunisia

Eva Herzigova

fashion "I love Sonia Rykiel, and I love the association with H&M. Sonia Rykiel is like a revolution in fashion. She makes sexy clothes, but ones that are very modern, cool and feminine. She's super-clever and super-talented and I have big, big admiration for her," says Jean Paul Gaultier."I think it's very Sonia Rykiel to have her presentation with H&M here. She's so Paris, and I don't think she could have had it anywhere else," says Eva Herzigova

Kate Bosworth

The collections were displayed on floats which emerged from a recreation of the Arc de Triomphe, with a Parisian funfair as backdrop. "I've always been a big fan of Sonia Rykiel. To me she is so feminine, and so wonderfully dramatic, like a big glittery bow on a dress. It's crazy here, I wasn't expecting this. It's like a mini carnival," says Kate Bosworth.

Estefania Luyk

Lifestyle Tunisia

Find us at www.live365.com/stations/ten365

Relax in the pamper zone Fancy a cosy night in? Need to relax and unwind? Heres some quick tips on how you can do just that. Make a DIY face mask using food from your kitchen. Mash up a peach (with the skin), add a tablespoon of brandy, smooth the mixture onto your face and leave for about 20 minutes before rinsing off with warm water. By adding the simplest of things to your bath water, you can change your whole bathing experience. For oily skin, add slightly overripe citrus fruits to your bath water. This will get rid of excess oil on your body and it smells good too. Using cold tea bags or cucumber slices is a great way to get rid of those puffy, baggy eyes, especially the morning after the night before For shiny hair and to help remove product buildup, change the way you rinse: Lemon juice is great for blonde hair just add a couple of tablespoons when rinsing. Cider vinegar works well for brunettes and redheads - add a couple of tablespoons to your rinse water. Lifestyle Tunisia

Sights of Tunisia

More Familiar Than You Would Imagine The sights of Tunisia may well be a lot more familiar to you than you would imagine, as many popular movies have been filmed here. One of these based mainly in Tunisia was The English Patient, a 1996 film adaptation of the novel of the same name by Michael Ondaatje. Directed by Anthony Minghella, this visually beautiful story is set in Italy and Egypt, though the dazzling desertscapes and Cairo of the 1930’s are in fact all shot in Tunisia. The film is set during World War II and tells the story (in flashbacks) of a critically burned man, at first known only as "the English patient", who is being nursed by Hana (Juliette Binoche), in an old Italian villa. The patient, reluctant to disclose any personal information, gradually reveals his past, and it is discovered that he is in fact a Hungarian geographer, Count László de Almásy (Ralph Fiennes), who was making a map of the Sahara Desert, and whose affair with a married English woman (Kristin Scott Thomas) ultimately brought about his demise.

on location

Shooting of this epic tale began on September 4, 1995 at Cinecitta Studios in Rome, and then moved to the town of Pienza in Tuscany, to film scenes which take place around the monastery. The unit spent three weeks there, and at Viareggio, a coastal resort town near Pisa, before moving on to the wellknown Hotel des Bains on the Venice Lido for the scenes that take place in Cairo's famous Shepheard's Hotel. Shepheard's was an elegant, long-time watering hole for the international upper crust of desert explorers, military

officers, spies and diplomatic attaches, but was destroyed in the 1950's. By mid-November, the cast flew to Tunisia where, for 9 weeks, the remaining scenes that take place in Cairo and in the Sahara were filmed. In the lead up to the production, Minghella scouted locations across North Africa, having discounted the idea of Cairo playing itself. This was due to the physical difference in the 1995 city from that of 1938, and the increase in population and infrastructure in the intervening years. Much of its architecture no longer represented the period necessary for the film, therefore Tunisia, and the cities of Tunis, Sfax and El Mahdia were chosen to represent the Cairo of the 1930's.

Lifestyle Tunisia

on location In the capital Tunis, two sequences that take place in the British Ambassador's residence in Cairo were fimed in a large, unoccupied former foreign minister's private residence built nearly 150 years ago. One was the formal dinner party hosted by the Ambassador and his wife, while the other was the Christmas celebration for the city's expats. The house itself was chosen for the authentic Islamic elements in its architecture, its elegant arches and beautiful ceramic work. The central open courtyard around which the house was constructed, also projected the interior/exterior ambience, and a sense that the very hot and humid streets of Cairo permeate the building

Lifestyle Tunisia

even during an essentially winter festival such as Christmas. The filming of Katharine and Almásy strolling through the narrow, winding alleyways of Cairo's Medina were filmed in a souk in Tunisia’s second city, Sfax. (A “Medina” is a feature of many Arab towns, being the old walled settlement around which the modern town has grown. A “souk” is the market stallladen streets, often covered, inside the Medina.) After filming was completed in Sfax, the

The

English Patient company moved back up the coast to the Mediterranean town of El Mahdia, where the scenes for the invasion of Tobruk were shot. A full six-hour drive from Mahdia, the unit moved southwest to the town of Tozeur on the edge of the Sahara. Just a few kilometers from Tunisia’s border with Algeria, Tozeur has for centuries been a staging point for Bedouin caravans en route from the desert to the Mediterranean coast in the north, and it was here that the production found the variety of desert landscapes and oases crucial to the film's storyline.

Important locations, 45 km from Tozeur, were the vast, dry and shimmering salt lakes of Chott el Jerid which served as the desert base camp of Count Almásy, and also nearby at Nefta, not far from the set of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, beneath the strange rock formation called Onk Jemal, or Camel’s Neck, where the undulating Sahara sand seemed to go on forever.

Lifestyle Tunisia

www.livetunisia.com

Access to many of the locations was difficult and often precarious, such as in the mountain oasis of Tamerza, part of the Djebel en Negueb range, actually an offshoot of the Atlas Mountains. The winding road to Tamerza climbs beside a kilometre high gorge with several hairpin turns.

on location

The Camelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Neck

location in the gorge by a donkey train, while cast and crew climbed to the site on foot. Even the base camp scenes at Chott el Jerid were difficult, as the road from Tozeur came to an end miles before the location site, so the producers built an extension to the road which was named the Saul Zaentz Imperial Highway in honour of the producer.

Just as remote was the entrance to the Cave of Swimmers, deep inside a crevice at the summit of a hill outside the desert town of Degache, and inaccessible by ground vehicles. Cameras and sound equipment were carried to the

However, both the director and the producers felt that Tunisia was the perfect place to shoot both Cairo and the desert, which would occupy two-thirds of the scenes of the film. The dazzling desert vistas in the Chott that seem like a limitless horizon, gave those scenes a feeling of eternal space and timelessness, and the stunning visuals and natural beauty of the area were achieved without any special effects.

The English Patient would go on to win nine Academy Awards that year, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Set Decoration and Best Cinematography.

Lifestyle Tunisia

Leading footballers join forces to announce a partnership designed to get people to "Lace Up. Save Lives" London, UK (November 30th, 2009) On the day before World Aids day some of the world's best footballers joined Bono at an announcement of the partnership between NIKE, Inc.and (RED). Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Andrei Arshavin (Arsenal), Marco Materazzi (Inter Milan), Denilson (Arsenal), Lucas Neill (Everton), Clint Dempsey (Fulham) and Seol Ki-Hyeon (Fulham), came together in London today to announce a partnership between NIKE, Inc. and (RED).

NIKE AND (RED) UNITE TO LEVERAGE THE POWER 32

Lifestyle Tunisia

international This unique partnership delivers a twopronged approach to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa by delivering funds to support programs that offer education and medication on the ground and will harness the power of sport to engage youth around the world in the fight against AIDS in Africa. In making the partnership announcement, Mark Parker, President and CEO of Nike Inc., Susan Smith Ellis, CEO, (RED) and Professor Michel D. Kazatchkine Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS , Tuberculosis and Malaria were joined by footballers from around the world and U2 vocalist and (RED) co-founder Bono, to emphasize the need for global action and participation to eliminate AIDS in Africa. "The fight against AIDS in Africa needs great brands to drive awareness and engagement,' said Susan Smith Ellis, CEO, (RED). 'Nike is the right partner to connect education with sport, and in so doing help drive social change, prevention and understanding of HIV/AIDS. We are thrilled to have them with us." Nike has a proven history of elevating global causes to create consumer awareness and participation. 'As a global brand and creative company, Nike can play a role in amplifying this important issue,' said Mark Parker, President and CEO of Nike Inc. 'With football as the catalyst, Nike is joining the (RED) movement to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa.' 34

Lifestyle Tunisia

The Nike and (RED) concept is a simple one that invites people to 'Lace Up. Save Lives' by purchasing a pair of NIKE (PRODUCT)RED laces. One hundred percent of the profits from (NIKE)RED laces will be split equally between The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which funds AIDS programs that provide medicine for those living with HIV, and football-based community initiatives that deliver education and understanding around HIV/AIDS prevention. This unique partnership delivers programs that both medicate and educate. Progress has been made in the drive to reduce HIV infections in Africa, with fourteen countries reporting a decline in the prevalence of the disease. This is great news and proves the fight can be won. But AIDS remains one of the greatest challenges facing the world today. An estimated 3,800 men, women and children die in sub-Saharan Africa every day, in addition to 6,000 new infections every day among 15-24 year old men and women. 'The (RED) Nike laces can tie athletes around the world together with people living under threat from HIV in Africa in a beautiful way ,' said Professor Michel D. Kazatchkine, Executive Director of the Global Fund.

international

'Wearing these (RED) laces is a sign that you care about others and it helps us to protect and treat millions of people who every day risk infection or struggle with the effects of HIV.'' (RED) has created a sustainable way to engage business in funding the fight against AIDS in Africa on a grand scale. Its partnerships not only deliver funds to buy medicine to keep people alive but also provides the leverage needed for us to demonstrate to the public sector that this partnership works and to garner additional support,' said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Minister of Health of Ethiopia and Chairman of the Board of Directors, The Global Fund.

'The addition of Nike to the (RED) initiative will only strengthen this impact as it will help us take this message to millions of football fans around the world and engage them in this issue through their passion for sport.' (Nike)RED laces will be available December 1st at Nike Store locations and key retailers worldwide. In addition, (Nike)RED laces will be available at nike.com for purchase. And additional (NIKE) RED products will be introduced in the coming months. For more information

www.nikemedia.com Lifestyle Tunisia

YOUR TOURIST GUIDE TO TUNISIA

Tunisia is situated on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa, bordered by Algeria in the west and Libya in the south-east. An abrupt southern turn of its shoreline gives Tunisia two faces on the Mediterranean with a coastline 1,148 kilometres in length. Despite its relatively small size, Tunisia has great geographical and climatic diversity. An extension of the Atlas Mountains, traverses Tunisia in the north to the Cape Bon peninsula. The Sahil is along Tunisia's eastern Mediterranean coast famous for its olive groves and beaches. Inland from the Sahil are the Steppes. Much of the southern region is semi-arid and desert leading into the Sahara.

tourist guide TUNISIA is a beautiful and diverse country in Northern Africa that has a Mediterranean Sea coastline, and is situated at the very centre of Mediterranean Africa. Tunisia lies immediately to the south of Italy and Malta. Libya borders Tunisia to the south-east, whilst Algeria lies to the west. There are many places of interest, cities, towns and villages, all well worth a visit. The information on these pages is a quick guide to just some of those worth a mention, but by no means a comprehensive list of all that Tunisia has to offer. TUNIS is the capital of Tunisia, and is divided into the old city, known as the medina, and the new city (ville nouvelle in French). Although located on the Mediterranean coast, it is spared much of the tourist beaches and resorts, which lay to the north and south. With a population of over 1,500,000, the city still feels small and compact. The must-see attractions are The Souq, which is one of the most authentic and hassle-free in North Africa. Bardo Museum, occupying the 13th century palace of the Ottoman-era ruler and renowned for its extensive collection of Roman mosaics. Cathedral of St. Vincent de Paul. Built in 1882, this is the largest surviving building from the colonial era, in the neo-Romanesque style. Zitouna Mosque. The largest mosque in Tunisia and an important landmark, dating from the 8th century, although the distinctive square minaret is a later 19th century addition.

The ruins of CARTHAGE, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a former city of the Pheonician and Punic periods dating from the 6th Century BC, and are situated 12 km north of Tunis. This was the base of a powerful empire spanning the entire south Mediterranean and home to a population of the order of half a million people. Its most famous general was Hannibal who famously crossed the Alps to battle the Romans. In 146BC the city finally fell to Rome and its destruction ordered by the Senate. The site was later redeveloped by the Romans and Carthage became the capital of the province of Africa.

Lifestyle Tunisia

tourist guide MONASTIR is a city situated 165km south-east of Tunis and 24 km east of Sousse, on the eastern Mediterranean coast. It is an ancient city dating from Phonecian times, and it is believed it takes it’s name from the French "monastère" (monastery). It is the site of a busy SOUSSE is a popular destination, international airport which caters with tourists from Britain, Germany mainly for tourist flights from Europe. and many East European counties Sights to see are theimposing Ribat, visiting the area. It is one of which is a fortified monastery locaTunisia’s oldest cities, and boasts an ted next to the sea with great views authentic medina, which has been from its walls and towers. It has declared a UNESCO World Heritage been used in several films as a Site. Situated on the Mediterranean stand in for Jerusalem, most notably coast it has good beaches and many "Monty Python's Life of Brian". first class hotels. MONASTIR Most of Sousse's sights are located within the medina, the labyrinth which is at the heart of the city. The Great Mosque is a tranquil place despite its location in the middle of the city. Built in 850 AD, it is simple and austere in the Aghlabite style. The Ribat, whilst not as impressive or extensive as the one in Monastir, is a fortified holy site well worth visit. It served as home to a branch of Islamic warriors very similar in natuAlso, there is the impressive re to the Hospitaller Knights that Mausoleum of Bourguiba in the lived in Rhodes. Climbing to the top centre of a large cemetery in of the watch tower affords you fanMonastir, which is the resting place tastic views over the Medina. and home of the founding president The Mosaic Museum, is in the old of modern Tunisia. kasbah on the edge of the medina. SOUSSE

Lifestyle Tunisia

tourist guide SIDI BOU SAID

SIDI BOU SAID is a beautiful and typical Tunisian village just 20km north of the capital Tunis. The best time to visit is autumn or spring, out of the tourist season, when you can still walk the narrow streets, around white and blue traditional houses, enjoying the views. The village is quite small, and perched on a hill, you can enjoy amazing views of the Mediterranean Sea and the Bay of Tunis. BIZERTE is located on the north coast of Tunisia, 65 km north of Tunis and 15 km away from Cap Blanc (the northern-most point in Africa). Noted for its beautiful forests, beaches and scenery, it is known as the oldest and most European city in Tunisia. Originally founded around 1000 BC by Phoenicians from Tyre, it is also known as the last town to remain under French control after the rest of the country won its independence.

PORT EL KANTAOUI is a purpose built tourist and residential area began in 1979. It is situated 8km north of Sousse and around 65km south of Hammamet, centered around a marina and traditional-style buildings, complete with narrow streets and arches. There is the waterfront with walkway, jetty and yacht pier, the open â&#x20AC;&#x153;squareâ&#x20AC;? in front of the "gate", followed by another pedestrian area containing a musical fountain, shops and restaurants. To the north, there is a golf course as well as a number of hotels. To the south, there is an amusement park and more hotels. PORT EL KANTAOUI

TOZEUR is a city in south west Tunisia, around 450km from Tunis. With hundreds of thousands of palm trees, Tozeur is a large oasis from which the exported dates are very well known. In ancient times, the oasis was important for the caravan routes through the Sahara, and was an important Roman outpost. From Tozeur there are a selection of camel trips available from which you can explore the edge of the Sahara. Lifestyle Tunisia

tourist guide EL JEM is a small town in the east of Tunisia, 60km south of Sousse, that houses the remains of a UNESCO World Heritage listed Roman amphitheatre. Formerly the Roman town of Thysdrus, one of the most important in N. Africa after Carthage (now the suburbs of modern Tunis). The Amphitheatre was built in the middle of the 3rd century AD, but fell into disrepair, with its blocks being used for building the surrounding town and also the Great Mosque in Kairouan. Declared a World Heritage site in 1979, it was more recently used for filming scenes from the Oscar winning film Gladiator. SFAX is a city situated on the east coast of Tunisia, 270 km southeast of Tunis and approximately halfway between the capital and the border with Libya. The city, founded in AD 849 is a Mediterranean port on the Gulf of Gabes, and due to it’s population and it’s prowess as an industrial centre, it is often described as Tunisia's second city. Wander around the fascinating Medina where life and business go on much as they have for years although without the tourist attractions of other cities. From here, you can also take the ferry to Kerkennah Island where you can wander around in a land, virtually unspoilt by modern standards. 40

Lifestyle Tunisia

EL JEM

KAIROUAN, a Muslim holy city, ranks 4th after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem as a place of pilgrimage. Situated 55km inland from Sousse, it's large mosques and cultural history have seen it added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It’s main sights are obviously The Great Mosque, which is one of the finest Islamic buildings in North Africa. Bi'r Barouta, which is a Well at the place where the city was founded, and is reputedly linked to the ZamZam well in Mecca, and so is one of the holiest sites in the city for Muslims. The Medina in general is a nice place to wander around, although it may well look familiar as it was used in Raiders of the Lost Ark to double for Cairo. KAIROUAN

tourist guide EL KEF is a small city in northwest Tunisia, built onto the southern face of the Jebel Dyr Mountain, which is part of the Tebersouk Mountains, at the east end of the High Atlas Mountains. It is a relaxed town, offering an authentic taste of Tunisia with some interesting sights to see. The main attraction is the Byzantine Kasbah. Noticeable from almost any part of the city, it rises out of the old medina and used to be a site of a series of fortresses dating back to the 5th century BC. The site's last military use was in the early 1950s, as a place of detention for Habib Bourguiba, the first president of the Tunisian Republic. DOUZ is a small town in south-central Tunisia, often known as the "Gateway to the Sahara", due to itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s popularity as a destination for tourists looking to experience the desert, either by camel or four-wheel drive. The town of Douz has grown up around a large palm oasis that stands on the northern fringe of the Sahara. As a major palm oasis it is a large producer of "diglat noor" dates. Surrounded by little other than desert and scrub land, it was an important stop on the trans-Saharan caravan routes. Today tourists come in numbers, many from the coastal resorts, to get a taste of the mighty Sahara for themselves.

HAMMAMET

HAMMAMET is a resort town located in the south east of the northern peninsula of Cap Bon in the Governorate of Nabeul, on the northern edge of the Gulf of Hammamet.It lies just 65km south of Tunis and 85km north of Sousse and was one of the first tourist destinations in Tunisia. Due to its fine beaches it has become a popular destination for European visitors particularly for itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s swimming and water sports, with a population that regularly quadruples due to tourists in the summer months. The area is particularly known for its jasmine, and this is how the more recent, adjacent tourist resort of Yasmine Hammamet came by its name. Lifestyle Tunisia

tourist guide Tunisia is made up of 24 Governates (administrative regions) These are : - (1) Ariana (Aryana), (2) Beja (Baja), (3) Ben Arous (Bin 'Arus), (4) Bizerte (Banzart), (5) Gabes (Gabis), (6) Gafsa (Gafsah), (7) Jendouba (Jandouba), (8) Kairouan (Al Qayrawan), (9) Kasserine (Gasryn), (10) Kebili (Guebilli), (11) El Kef (El Kaf), (12) Mahdia (Al Mahdiya), (13) Mannouba (Mannouba), (14) Medenine (Midnin), (15) Monastir (Munastir), (16) Nabeul (Nabul), (17) Sfax (Safaqis), (18) Sidi BouZid (Sidi BouZid), (19) Siliana (Siliana), (20) Sousse (Soussa), (21) Tataouine (Tatawin), (22) Tozeur (Touzer), (23) Tunis, (24) Zaghouan (Zaghwen) Official languages Arabic, French Government Republic President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali (Independence from France 1956) Area - Total 163,610 km2 Population - 2008 estimate 10,327,800 Currency Tunisian dinar (TND) Exchange Rates (1st Aug 2009) 1.00 EUR = 1.87258 TND 1.00 GBP = 2.21396 TND Time zone CET (UTC+1) Driving on the right Electricity European-style two pin plugs on 230 volts, 50Hz Internet TLD .tn 42

Lifestyle Tunisia

Important Telephone Numbers International Dialling code + 216 Dial 00 + 216 + City/Area Code + Local Number To make a call from Tunisia you will need dial 00 + Country Code British Embassy Rue du Lac Windermere Les Berges du Lac, Tunis 1053 Telephone: (216) 71 108 749 Emergency Telephone Numbers 197 - Police 190 - Ambulance 198 - Fire Brigade

golf Tunisia is already a world-class golfing destination, with ten wonderfully varied courses and ideal weather conditions throughout the year.

GOLF COURSES IN TUNISIA

In fact, it is set to become even more popular as an “out of season” target for golfers from Northern Europe, keen to get away from the wintry conditions on their local courses. Although Tunisian winters might not hold the sweltering heat of the height of summer, the “winter” climate is perfect for golf, and is enjoyed by amateurs and professionals alike. Tabarka Golf Course, Tabarka www.tabarkagolf.com The Residence Golf Course, Gammarth www.theresidence.com Carthage Golf Course, La Sourka/Tunis www.golfcarthage.com Citrus Golf Course, Hammamet www.golfcitrus.com Yasmine Golf Course, Hammamet www.golfyasmine.com Kantaoui Golf Course, Port El Kantaoui www.kantaouigolfcourse.com Palm Links Golf Course, Monastir www.golf-palmlinks.com Flamingo Golf Course, Monastir www.golfflamingo.com Tozeur Golf Course, Tozeur www.tozeuroasisgolf.com Djerba Golf Course, Djerba Island www.djerbagolf.com

Lifestyle Tunisia

2 Basic Steps The game of golf is truly an individual sport. The basics are the same for everyone; however, due to the differences in peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s body types no two people will ever have the same golf swing. Each person will have to adapt their bodies to perform a proper golf swing in their own way. Taking the time to develop your own method of playing golf will greatly improve your enjoyment and success at the game. Practicing the basic fundamentals of the game until they are ingrained in your muscles will lead to confidence on the course, and that confidence will lead to success and enjoyment of the game.

Lifestyle Tunisia

golf to Improving Your Golf Swing One of the most basic steps that you can put into action and see an immediate improvement to your golf swing is to keep your head still and look straight at the ball. The position of your head should be straight in line with your spine, and your nose should be raised up a bit so that when you start to swing, your left shoulder fits under your chin. Many players tuck their heads into their chests to try and keep their heads still and look straight down at the golf ball. Unfortunately, they cannot perform a proper golf swing while in this position.

If you are one of the many that are having difficulty keeping your head straight and an eye on the ball try the following. The next time you approach the ball, assume the correct stance with your feet and knees in position but keep your head and back straight, bend forward slightly at the waist and look straight at the ball. If you try and take a swing in this position, your left shoulder will most likely hit your chin. While keeping your eyes on the ball, raise your head slowly until your left shoulder does not hit your chin. Make sure that your head does not move from side to side by keeping your eyes fixed on the ball. Slowly go through the backswing and downswing portions of your golf swing. Do not hit the ball and do the follow through.

Lifestyle Tunisia

Practice this portion of your golf swing focusing on keeping your head straight and eyes on the ball. Practice this exercise about 25 times in a row and then take a break and relax a bit, then start again. Make minor corrections to your head and body position as needed to keep your eyes straight on the ball and your left shoulder from hitting your chin. This exercise will "train" your body, and your muscles will "remember" the correct position you need to be in to perform the movement correctly. Think about any sports athlete, they train and train to place their bodies in the correct stance and position to properly execute the movements necessary to be successful in their particular sport. You are doing the same thing by "training" your body to keep your head straight and position itself so that you can successfully execute a proper golf swing.

Lifestyle Tunisia

golf

Another basic step that can work greatly towards improving your golf swing is to relax. This can be easier said than done, especially when you are getting ready to put all your power into a drive with an audience of either your co-workers, or better still your friends who will not let you forget it if you mess up. However, relaxing your muscles will help you to maintain the proper balance that is important to a great golf swing. Regardless of the golf clubs you use, your balance is the primary foundation of your golf swing, and the way to achieve good balance is to practice.

A good way to practice improving your balance is to assume the address position with your club, relax your body and try holding it there for about 30 seconds. Does it feel like you have more weight on one foot or the other? Is one part of your body more tense then another? Keeping your head straight and maintaining good balance are just two basic parts of a great golf swing. The exercises given above are just two ways that you can start training now to improve your golf swing. You can work on either one separately, or combine them together into one exercise. Improving your golf swing begins and ends with you. Training the muscles of your body to properly perform specific movements takes time and practice. The effort spent improving your golf swing will pay off on the course. Through exercise and practice, you will be able to slip into the proper address position and perform an effortless, powerful golf swing and feel just as if you were sliding your hand into a warm soft glove.

Lifestyle Tunisia

Rue 22 Janvier 1952, Immeuble Gloulou II, 4000 Sousse Tel: 00216 73211637 Email: rejibamalek@myway.com

English Speaking Lawyers in Tunisia

Malek Rejiba & Associate We can offer advice thatyou can depend on. Clients can speak to an Engish Solicitor who works in association with a Tunisian Lawyer.

Bld 7 Novembre 4089, El Kantaoui Sousse Tel: 00216 73 347 097 Email: prestige.immobilier@ topnet.tn

Property Sales & Rentals

Route Touristique El Kantaoui Address

Property Sales & Rentals

Tel: 00216 73817190 Email: contact@top-immotunisie.com Contact Owners Direct Email: info@ tunisiahomesdirect.com At your Place of Work or Home

SERVICES

PROPERTY

LEGAL SERVICES

business directory

Tel: 00216 98228611 Tel: 00216 25036036

Tunisia RADIO

Email: radio@livetunisia.net

Prestige Immobilier We are specialists in all aspects of property sales and rentals in the areas of Kantaoui and Hammam Sousse. We speak English.

Top Immo International Specialists in property sales and rentals with multi-lingual offices in Sousse, Tunis & Hergla, plus France & Belgium. Tunisian Property Database in English

Tunisia Homes Direct We list properties for sale, long & short term rental and holiday lets in an easy-to use searchable database. Cleaning Services

CHEMLI PRO Specialist cleaners and pressure washers of high glass structues. Also cleaning of car interiors and home carpets. Easy Listening Classic Tracks

Ten365 Internet Radio CD quality music, including classic tracks, soft rock & power ballads brought to you FREE by LiveTunisia.com

Lifestyle Tunisia