Djerba, Tunisia
This month was amazing, mostly because of my travels in Tunisia and the splendid feeling of returning home to Istanbul. I’ve been so overwhelmed with joy recently; it’s a nice contrast to last May, when I felt much more like I was flailing.
Tunis, Tunisia
Best Of The Month
The biggest highlight of the month was easily my trip to Tunisia. What a place! I will be writing more about this trip later (and not only on this blog). After visiting, I wonder: why aren’t more people visiting Tunisia?! Tunis is splendid, with a magnificent maze-like medina, ancient ruins, and incredible food; plus, the city feels so laid-back, with none of the uncomfortable heckling I’ve heard happens in Morocco or Egypt.
I also visited the island of Djerba for a giant pilgrimage at the oldest synagogue in Africa, which was quite an experience. I’ll be writing more about that later, too.
Taking this trip with my friend Danielle was also wonderful; we were more or less joined at the hip for two weeks and still liked each other at the end of it all.
El Ghriba Synagogue, Djerba, Tunisia
Worst Of The Month
Pretty much the only lowlight of this month was the utter exhaustion I felt from that whirlwind trip in Tunisia. The pilgrimage especially took a lot out of me, and I spent my last two days in Tunis wandering half-dazed through the medina, too tired to take much in. But really, I’m not complaining at all– I want these to be the things that make me tired.
Tunis, Tunisia
What I’m Loving
Reads: I read Far From The Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy without knowing much about it except that the back cover promised passion and lust. It had that, but it also had a lot of sheep–SO MANY SHEEP–which I wasn’t quite braced for. I’d recommend it anyway, mostly for its fascinating female main character Bathsheba Everdene.
Music: I’ve been listening to a lot of new music this month, in an attempt to build a nice early-summer playlist. I’m particularly loving “Foldin’ Clothes” by J. Cole and “May I Have This Dance” by Francis and the Lights ft Chance the Rapper.
Movies/TV: I started watching the new Twin Peaks, and it’s the main driver of my nightmares these days. It’s also making me retroactively glad I watched Fire Walk With Me back in the day (which is something I never thought I’d say). Don’t bother with it unless you’ve watched the original series, though– the pure delight of the original isn’t so present in this new series, yet. (It also helps, I think, that I’ve seen Eraserhead and so am not completely unprepared for full David Lynch weirdness.)
Podcasts: Does anyone know how I can listen to the Modern Love podcast without crying? Because so far every one I’ve listened to has made me cry, even the happy ones.
Houmt Souk, Djerba, Tunisia
The Film Files
I’ve started revisiting my Holga, and it’s nice to get the hang of this fickle plastic camera again. I liked using it at the pilgrimage in Djerba, because it was quiet and unobtrusive. And the images can be so dreamy.
Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia
Ephemera
There are a lot of exciting professional things bubbling, but I don’t want to say too much until they’re official. Stay tuned!
Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia
Upcoming
I’m loving being in Istanbul at the moment, but at the end of the month I’ll go to the US– my best friend is getting married! I’m squeezing two coasts into two weeks; I anticipate that it will be delightful and draining. We’ll see!
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