At last the tour starts in earnest.

After two days what conclusions can I draw about Tunisia?

1) Sheraton Hotels are nice where ever you are and the one in Tunis certainly qualifies.

2) Make sure your cab driver knows where you want to go and how to get there. We had to transfer from the Sheraton to the Tunisia Palace, a 4 star hotel on a main street in Tunis. We were told the fare was 5 dinar (about $3.50). Before getting to our hotel we visited the Karthage Palace and the Olympia Palace (closed for about a year). On three separate occasions the driver asked pedestrians for directions. When we finally got to the Tunisia Palace the fare was 20 dinar. I offered 10 dinars and every curse the driver knew was thrown at me. Fortunately, he only spoke Arabic and I didn't understand any of them. Eventually he left with the 10 dinar, but he was not a happy camper.

3) When your in your 60's accepting drinks from strangers in a bar has few downsides. Karen and I were in a bar at the hotel when a business man offered us a drink. Unfortunately, he also only spoke Arabic, but the three of us spent a pleasant hour talking to each other as best we could and hope to meet again. The language barrier can be surmounted with a little effort, but there is little point when you are being cursed.

4) Today we ventured out with 13 other travelers to visit the Roman ruins at Durrga. It may be the best preserved Roman city in the world. The site is rather extensive and Roman roads are not the most level, nor are steps the most even. Handrails do not seem to have been invented by the Romans. Karen was concerned about being able to make it through the site. She need not have worried. She has more mobility than at least have of the members of the group. Karen will do just fine on this trip, but I am not sure about many others on the trip. The tour guide mentioned that Romans didn't live much beyond 50, this was attributed to lead poisoning from the use of lead lined pipes. Based on today's group I am not sure Romans would have been able to survive the rigors of city life once the got into their 60's. The cities of the ancient world were not elder friendly.

5) Our group appears to be gastronomically adventurous. Today's lunch was wild boar. Our guide was very surprised when only one person opted for the 'safer' alternative, chicken. Almost everyone on our trip has been on several Overseas Adventure Travel trips. (Some have been on as many as ten). Our guide might be surprised at the number of things OAT participants eat at least once on these trips. In my case having eaten rat (country, not city rat) wild boar seemed very tame.