Dougga -- A Roman outpost

When the Romans talked about Africa they meant Tunisia which they took over after besting the Phoenicians in the Punic wars and razing their city of Carthage. The Romans moved in building their own towns, which look like mini-Romes, and turning Tunisia into its granary. Tunisian olives, grapes and wheat helped build the Roman Empire.

Through my hotel I hired a driver today to go see Dougga (the old spelling is Thugga pronounced the same and it means pastures) one of the best preserved and extensive Roman ruins in north Africa. The driver turned out to be a young international commerce student in a non-air-conditioned car whose cousin works at the hotel and whose English is on a par with my French. It was like an outing with one of my sons. I might have had to pay them too, I think.

Anyway, these photos show the beautiful theater, a showpiece of the ancient town. It's exactly like a modern stadium and once accommodated audiences of 4,000. Zied, the driver, and I climbed up to the top and over the stage.