Volendam 2026, La Goulette, Tunisia...

I was out very early this morning for photos on our sail into La Goulette. It was lovely scenery, as usual...  Our guide Fekker met us at the cruise port, and we were off to Cap Angela, the official northernmost point of the African continent. The site features a stone monument shaped like the map of the African continent, complete with an arrow pointing 8,060 km south to Cape Agulhas in South Africa (the southern tip of the continent), along with a plaque displaying its coordinates. Looking north across the water, the open Mediterranean separates North Africa from Southern Europe (with the Italian island of Sardinia and Sicily about 60 miles away). This is a remote, peaceful, and off-the-beaten-path destination great for sightseeing, photography, and a coastal walk. This was a great stop and now we can all say we have been to both the Northern and Southern furthest-most points of the African continent. Retracing our drive, we returned to Bizerte the northernmost city in Africa located about 40 miles from Tunis. Bizerte is known for its picturesque waterways and colorful buildings and offered an authentic local atmosphere compared to other major tourist areas. We stopped at the Old Port area…this was a tranquil harbor filled with traditional, colorful fishing boats and surrounded by historic architecture and a Spanish Fort…I was in heaven with the reflections in the harbor. Walking along the harbor front, we entered the Medina and Andalusian Quarter…with pedestrian-friendly residential alleyways, white-and-blue buildings and local artisan workshops. Instead of tourist boutiques offering souvenirs, the old town of Bizerte is where carpenters and metalworkers actually live and work. I was fortunate to receive a gift of a horseshoe from one of the local blacksmiths. We wound our way through the alleyways to the local markets featuring fruits, vegetables, meat, fish and even livestock like chickens, rabbits and ducks. I bought some hot peppers for the crew...no doubt a treat for their dinner tonight. I did mix with the locals today and tried street food called Lablabi, a mix of chickpeas on a baguette, seasoned with cumin, garlic, olive oil and harissa, a Tunisian hot chili pepper paste…not as hot as I expected! This was a great stop today. On our return to Tunis, we stopped for a quick photo at the Aqueduct of Carthage, one of the longest water-supply systems built by the Roman Empire. Our next stop was the cliff side village of Sidi Bou Said. We were dropped off at the highest point of the village and made our way down through the cobblestone streets. Sidi Bou Said is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its iconic whitewashed walls, vibrant blue doors, shutters, and decorative ironwork. Thanks to Fekker for showing us another great day in Tunisia and our friend Sandeep for accompanying us on our tour…much-needed sea day tomorrow before Malaga Spain.