TUNISIA
and other Arab countries
1950 -1980 - from 26 years old
“The Opaline Sea, motionless, melted into the sky without a horizon line, resembled Lake Lugano. In this milky mist, the boat coming from Marseille appeared all white. Silently he took the ink and my heart shrank. The boat will take me back to France.
I remember another departure in 1950, where on the bridge, I watched the Tunisian coasts fade on the horizon and in the hubbub of the agitated public, I cried softly, as if torn from a dream.
I have seen so many more beautiful countries. But I have never had more than love at first sight in Tunisia, like a first love that never fades. "
"In 1950 in Belgium, feeling ill at ease, I looked for a way out: to leave, always to leave. I was born with this desire. To flee.
A dream situated the country for me. It was North Africa, I was among a crowd of Arabs: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia?
Chance brought me to Tunisia (Morocco and Algeria were delaying this departure because a visa was needed) and I can not wait when the desire is there. Vaccines and bags buckled, five days later, I was on the plane and fastened my seat belt on departure. Attentive, asking for the protection of the gods because I have always kept this prayer since childhood; although without a shadow of anguish, but pure joy, I believe in the magic of prayers. "
When I was in Tunisia, the first time, all alone, I got off the boat, I took a horse-drawn carriage and I was at the cheapest hotel but in a decent neighborhood that I had been given indicated. It was afternoon, everything was white and warm. I went to bed and slept until 9 at night. On the boat I got up to see the sun come up, so I was tired.
In addition to this, you need to know more about it.
In addition to this, you need to know more about it.
In addition to this, you need to know more about it.
Then I went out at night, in the small streets, I was hungry. I entered a small restaurant, I was in a kind of delight, everything was so new. I felt like I was walking in a dream. There were four men at a table, sailors, who made me put four bouquets of jasmine on my table, I was a little taken aback, I thought: they will annoy me, but not at all, it is a custom of the country, at least at that time. We sent you flowers, even when you were accompanied by a man. Everyone wore jasmine, the men in their ears. The smell is exquisite. I knew straight away that I was going to love this country.
At that time, there were also horse-drawn carriages, which still exist in the south. I took one very often in the evening, it cost twice nothing. I walked around for an hour. There were no taxis, only carriages. And in this country the sweetness of the evening, after the heavy heat of the afternoon, is exquisite, divine. It is in Tunisia where I felt with the most force the approaching night. I was with Youss and Antoine sitting on mats outside. Then everything turned blue, there is a sort of silence, we no longer hear any noise, I don't know how to explain it to you, no one speaks. There is an air suspension, a stop to everything. I don't know how long it lasts anymore but all of a sudden you are enveloped in the night.
"Harry, Oh Harry!
Today, tonight, I feel very happy; a joy for no reason, this is the first time this has happened since my arrival.
Arabic music makes me want to dance on my own; all these great Arab lords are incredible to see.
Oh Harry! The Orient. What a charm, my eyes are wide open and I am stripped of all sadness, of this fear. I want to play, all my senses are awakened; I want to spin like a top. Provided that this state of mind lasts. Don't come and tell me that you have to get drunk to be drunk ... "
