Мой первый журнал SUNRISE November № 1 2018 | Page 34
TRAVELING
Fascinating Journey to Africa
Anastasia Repnikova
School No. 2
Blagoveschensk (Russia)
Traveling is always new experience gained
through meetings, places, people, and feelings. On
your travels you learn the culture of different
nations and soak up the atmosphere of the place of
your destination. So, if you know the world, you know
yourself.
This is the conclusion I made after my trip to
Tunisia where I had gone with my ensemble
“Confetti” to participate in the festival called
“Colors of the Sahara”. We spent 2 weeks there and
they were full of excursions and concerts.
Everybody is used to thinking that Africa is
unbearably hot, with the scorching sun always
shining, but I will break this stereotype by saying
that these are all rumors and myths. Despite the
fact that the equator passes through Africa, the
natural phenomena attributed to this continent are
observed here only once a year. The rest of the time
the wind blows and the sun is not so extremely hot.
So, to get your suntan you need to spend at least 2
days in the sun. As for me personally, during the 2
weeks in Tunisia I got less suntan than if I had spent a
day in Primorsky Region, though I couldn`t do
without smearing with sunscreen in both cases.
Africa is a beautiful country and I could
witness a lot of interesting features there. The first
thing I`d like to tell you about is our trip to the capital
of Tunisia and its surroundings, such as Carthage
and Sidi Bou Said. Whitewashed houses, narrow
streets ... all steeped in antiquity and traced back to
the roots and history of the bygone civilizations.
Being in the center of Tunisia, we unconsciously
found ourselves in a medieval atmosphere: the
streets were buzzing, the traders were inviting
passers-by to visit their shops and see the goods,
the owners of the cozy cafes were offering to have
a cup of jasmine tea. After a walk in the center, we
went to see the historic capital of the Phoenician
state – Carthage, built in 825 BC. According to the
legend, Queen Elissar fled Tyre (a Phoenician city)
and decided to buy land for the foundation of the
city. The Libyan king allowed her to buy as much land
as a bull's skin would cover. Knowing the size of the
skin, Elissar came up with a trick: she ordered to cut
the bull's skin into narrow belts and cover the hill. So
it was enough and Carthage was founded.
Af r i c a a l l ow s fo r i m m e r s i n g i n
contemplation, and I remembered that once I had
been told that there were 102 seas in the world and I
had to travel to every one. After I heard that it
became my cherished dream and motivation.
The sea. I love it because it is immense.
What do I fall in love with about the sea? First of all,
with the sense of happiness which it leaves in the
heart and soul. Happiness is to swim in the milk-
warm sea waves when rain is whipping you in the
face… And then, having wrapped in a warm blanket,
lull your soul with memories. These moments are
priceless.
Secondly, I admire the view of the sea. It is
simply impossible to convey in words. Where else can
you see a bloody sunset and wake up to the sound
of splashing tides? And behold the azure colours of
the water and the sky? And admire the moon and
moonglade on the fluttering surface? The sea. One
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SUNRISE
November 2018 №1