This unique tour of Tunisia will provide an insider’s look at what has transpired in since January 2011. Is Tunisia a good model for democracy movements as many believe?

We meet with political activists representing a variety of the parties in Tunisia from Islamic parties to secularists. Visit an NGO (non-governmental organization) and meet with leaders of Tunisia’s vibrant civil society. Speak with one of Tunisia’s media personalities and learn about the post-Revolution changes resulting in a free and burgeoning media, and meet “20-somethings” who played a role in the January 2011 Revolution. We also have a briefing from the U.S. Embassy staff in Tunis and meet with members of Tunisia’s ancient Jewish community.

Of course we visit major historical sites, and learn about Tunisia’s rich culture and history, as we do on all Club trips. Visit Tunis the capital city with it's elaborate medina and ville nouvelle. Experience Carthage, including the tophets, the port, Antonine’s baths and Byrsa Hill. Discover Sidi Bou Said, a picturesque town, whose architecture was inspired by its many Andalusian settlers following their expulsion from Spain. Visit the Bardo Museum, which has a world-class collection of mosaics. Tour Dougga, Tunisia’s most expansive site. Covering some sixty acres, Dougga was known as the city of temples and its existence is thought to date back to the 4th century B.C. See central Tunisia’s rich farming region and visit El Jem, known in Roman times as Thysdrus and noted for its amphitheater, which is similar to the coliseum of Rome. See Kairouan’s Great Mosque, dating from -the 7th century, and reputed to be the oldest mosque in Africa. Visit Sidi Bou Zid, where the revolution began and wander through the medina of Sfax. Visit the ksour region and a visit to the area of Matmata where crater-like topography is dotted with troglodyte dwellings.  Its exotic settings provided one of the film locations for the movie, Star Wars. Finally relax in the seaside resort of Jerba. Throughout enjoy a meals in private homes and top restaurants.

Leading this tour will be Hatem Bourial, a well-known figure in Tunisia's world of culture and the press. Over the years, he has worked for many Tunisian and international papers. The author of nine books, a weekly columnist for Tunis international radio, the host of a Monday morning television segment on Tunisia's version of “Good Morning America” and a weekly columnist in Tunis-Hebdo, a Tunisia-French weekly and editor of many independent news magazines.
Hatem’s columns, radio and television spots deal with far ranging topics from culture, history and literature. Hatem’s keen sense of Tunisian politics and his familiarity with many of the personalities involved, will underscore his insightful analysis of Tunisia’s upcoming elections.

Joining this tour at various points will be Jerry Sorkin, a specialist in Middle East and North Africa politics and tourism. He resides more than 50% of the year in Tunisia. Jerry’s involvement with Tunisia dates back some thirty years, with recent projects in post-Revolution Tunisia including both university and adult programs on democratization, civil society and entrepreneurial micro-tourism concepts. Jerry served as a consultant for the World Bank and was among the authors of their 2012 report on restructuring the tourism economy of Tunisia. Since the fall of 2012, he has recently taken on the role as Director of George Washington University’s International Institute of Tourism Studies Tunisia program on, “Innovative Tourism Concepts” at The Institute of Higher Technological Studies (ISET) in Djerba, Tunisia.  Jerry Sorkin has been acting as the International Consultant in Sustainable Development. In collaboration with the Tunisian Association for Management and Social Stability, a Tunisian NGO, having co-drafted the final version of a 4.3 million Euro project funded by the EU. Jerry Sorkin serves as a consultant on this project’s Tunisia program.  In December 2012, Conde Nast Traveler magazine named Jerry Sorkin as one of their “Top Travel Specialists”, for the fourth year in a row. Jerry earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Pennsylvania, specializing in Middle East Studies and International Business, respectively.