Before visiting Tunisia, one had no idea about the significance and fame of Monastir which is just a 30-40 minute drive from Sousse. As I mentioned yesterday, one decided to catch a conventional taxi to save on costs etc, our driver even waited around for 3 hours to guarantee that we had a return taxi.
First off was the Ribat which is famous for two reasons; it is the oldest Ribat built by the Arabs and, more recently, the filmset for Monty Pythons ‘Life of Brian’.
Of course, this Ribat is much larger than it’s counterpart in Sousse hence it’s accessibility is a little better with ramps scattered around the place…
Even though there are ramps around, one can only access the lower level with a wheelchair with the exception of a VERY steep ramp up to an observation point, however the views from said spot were quite spectacular…
The perimeters of the Ribat also offers panoramic views of the Marina albeit a little bumpy under wheels…
The next stop was the Mausoleum and the resting place of the former president, Habib Bourguiba, the structure of which is rather imposing…
As the area is relatively new in comparison to its surroundings, ramps are located in the appropriate places, however, the gradient can be questionable (as shown in the above photograph). The other thing to consider is the entrance path is rather small followed by a tight gate into the structure.
Tomorrow we head back to Bristol via Enfidha-Hammamet International Airport. EasyJet have informed us that the check in process is slightly different in Tunisia so this could be a little interesting with Superbunny…