Just another day in Tunis

It has been an interesting few days. The thunderstorms have ranged from comforting (they remind me of home) to intimidating (serious hail on at least one occasion). This is one downside of where I live: We get the more severe weather. At least we don't have to deal with flooding! Everyone I know has basically been hibernating for the past 2 weeks because it is just too gross outside to want to venture anywhere.

In between the storms, spring has finally taken hold. The flowers around my apartment are beautiful and I took some time this weekend to wander around with my camera. Today does not look anything like that, however. There were white caps on the Med and the wind was strong enough to blow the water out of my pool. If there was ever a "first world" complaint, I think that previous sentence is it… I do realize how lucky I am! But I almost became Mary Poppins this morning as I walked to get a taxi. I chose to get wet instead of drifting off with an open umbrella. I've gone through quite a few umbrellas because they can't withstand the wind.

One of the neighborhood cats

Thunder storms moving in over Tunis

Wednesday was interesting because the fuel delivery truck drivers went on strike and no one could get gasoline for their cars. The gas stations had reserves, but out where I live the reserves ran out very quickly. Here are a few pictures of the line Samia and I sat in for about 40 minutes to try to get fuel. We got to the front of the line and they were out of gasoline…  They said that they were waiting for the military to deliver a supply of gasoline. They had diesel, so the taxis were still running, but we saw many cars stopped at the side of the road on our way back to the office. I had a lot of trouble getting a taxi home because everyone who couldn't get fuel took taxis. Luckily it was resolved in one day, but it could just be the beginning.

The fuel driver strike seemed to set off a wave of strikes. There was a police strike downtown a few days ago and the workers at Carrfour (the large store where a lot of people shop on weekends) have announced a strike for the next three days. They have posted military outside the store because they think people may try to loot it…

But, not to worry, it is far away from me and I'm headed out of Tunisia tomorrow. I fly to Nice at 8:45 tomorrow morning and meet Amara at the airport. To say I'm excited would be an extreme understatement. Ally and Justin will come to Nice on Sunday and we'll all be there for a week. This will be my first time in France (outside of an airport), so I am really looking forward to it. There is a good chance that Amara will take over my blog next week.