The Morning Fix

Moving inland toward the west, away from Tunisia's Mediterranean coast, I arrived in Kerouan yesterday morning. Because of its ancient and imposing Grand Mosque, this town is known as the holiest Islamic site in North Africa. I found a small and very basic room at the Sabra Hotel for about 8 dollars, whose best feature by far is a view of the towering main gates of Kerouan's ancient souk (market). The downside of the location is I abruptly woke up at 4:30 this morning to the imam's call to prayer over the nearby loudspeaker at a mosque, along with the racket below at the hotel's cafe (see photo above) where a waiter was busy outside noisily setting up dozens of tables and chairs. After prayers at the mosques, male worshipers were at the cafe by 6 am getting their early-morning fix of coffee and cigarettes.