I rencontre le voyage de I encounters journey of I لقاءات رحلة
Mehdi Kattou
In this new year, La Gazelle meets Mehdi Kattou, multi-talented young man who distinguished himself lately as host of the 27th edition of the Carthage Film Festival. Passionate about architecture and media, Mehdi Kattou effortlessly switches from being an architect to a radio host on Express Fm. Since he was 18, the young man has become more and more versatile when he started with the late host Adel Mothéré on RTCI and has continued to gain experience as a radio host, an architect, a sportscaster on Nessma TV and a host on Telvza TV, Attessiaa TV and El Hiwar Ettounsi. In October 2013, Mehdi Kattou also published his first political essay entitled“ Chronicle of an aborted revolution“, in which he shares ideas and visions of Tunisian politics following the revolution. The year 2017 promises to be full of projects for Mehdi Kattou, so expect to hear a lot about this new face of the Tunisian media landscape!
Portrait de Mehdi Kattou I Portrait of Mehdi Kattou I
I صورة مهدي كتّو © Kamel ben Othmane
What does travel mean to you?
Freedom. Travelling is cultivating freedom. Travelling is essential. We travel to relax, have fun, educate ourselves, discover, work, fulfill our potential and above all, challenge and doubt ourselves. There are all kinds of travels and it is important to do it for the right reasons, the good motivations. A travel is poetic, the experiences deriving from it are the syllables of a perfect verse, harmonious and lyrical...
What is an exotic trip?
It is when you are confused by the customs, the habits, the local practices. One week in a seaside hotel, drinking cocktails, has nothing to do with a change of scenery. A travel has to be a new experience, an exploration, even if the destination is the same, even if the company is the same, we can always immerse ourselves differently... on the return trip! Yes, books are heavy but they are worth it, and please don’ t even mention e-books!
Your best travel memory?
I can think of many magical moments, unexpected encounters, sounds, smells... I can’ t choose only one, but if I had to choose a destination, it definitely would be Sausalito, a small and incredibly charming little village near San Francisco. There is also Mazara Del Vallo, at the far end of South Sicily.
Your dream destination?
I believe that all destinations can be extraordinary... I you travel with the right person, who adds a touch of magic and some colours to the picture. But if I had to choose a destination, it would be Iceland for the aurora borealis or Zimbabwe for the Victoria Falls.
What do you always bring with you?
Two imperatives: books and playlists sorted and appropriate to the occasion. I had the chance to go on road trips and the music amplified the effect that the landscapes and the present moment had on me... I don’ t actually bring books with me, I buy them locally, and hello excess baggage
A wish for the future?
I wish that the authenticity of the most attractive cities will survive globalization. And of course, I wish that I will be lucky enough to travel again and again and to visit the most unlikely places, from Patagonia to Wellington. I
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