Kairouan

The Aghlabid pools at Kairouan are a series of massive pools once dotted the land immediately north of Kairouan. They were built by the Aghlabids to provide a stable year-round source of water to the city and a rich breeding ground for malarial mosquitoes. Now only a few of the structures remain and have been restored. Saltwater intrusion from the coast has reached the basins, filling them with brackish water.

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The Tunisian national flag waving in the breeze atop the visitor center for the Aghlabid basins.

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Anne rides a cannon.

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A portico at the Mosque of the Barber.

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The tomb of the Prophet Mohammed’s barber. Here supposedly rests the man who kept three hairs from Mohammed’s beard with him throughout his life. In general, tourists are not allowed inside; only Tunisians and Muslims.

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Laura explaining some aspects of the mosque complex to Jeff and Giovanna.

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Intricate designs in the Mosque of the Barber.

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A Berber Hilltop Village

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The hilltop village of Takrouna (also sometimes spelled Takroun).

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Looking down on one of the newer homes built since people started moving onto more level ground from their previous highly-defensible position.

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Joey relaxing on the edge of the town and the cliff. In the distance, one of the several cement plants supplying Tunisia’s building boom puffs smoke. I understand that this, as well as most if not all of the other cement plants in Tunisia are now owned by multinational conglomerates that send much of the product overseas to fuel China’s expansion.

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Most of these settlements were created at around the time of the Arab invasion in the mid 9th century CE by Berbers looking to remain safe and in their homes against the onslaught. The idea was that sitting up on top of a hill, the Berbers could see the approaching armies which wished to do them harm. It also gave them a cool place in the summer but a rather windy and cold place in the winter. This particular village sits atop a very vertical hill jutting up about 400 feet from the surrounding plain. it’s a very odd site seeing a town perched in the air above farmland and rolling low hills.

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In the cafe at the top of the hill in the middle of the old village.

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Giovanna’s reflection in a mirror on the wall.

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