Mystery of Blue-and-White Town

Santorini is not the one-and-only paradise, featuring blue and white houses. Located northeast of Tunis, Sidi Bou Said shares the same mystery, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. A Muslim moved in in the 13th century. The town was named after this Sofi scholar.

Blue windows represent peace and calm, while white walls are capable of cooling down. To maintain the tone, the government legislated the selection of colors. The style was inspired by Spain and Morocco. With a great variety of decoration, the town itself is an art piece.

I had an amazing day in this town. A young girl was making a birthday video for her boyfriend. She asked if I could use my own language to send him some blessings. I even joined the long queue for no reason. In fact, the locals were buying a fresh-made snack, Bambaloni.

Before leaving Sidi Bou Said, I took a rest in Café des Délices, ordering a cup of mint tea with pine kernel. A stranger asked if I could take photos of him, with a shisha-smoking performance. Even with language barriers, I could experience the hospitality of this town.

Fun fact: Under the patriarchal society, men used to alert their wives with the higher knocker on the left. Guests were supposed to use the other side, so women could avoid any contact with strangers. For women and kids, the lower knocker was reserved for them.