I reserved a hotel in the absolute center of the riots. The taxi driver could not take me there. All the streets were blocked with riots. He put me to the street and told me to walk that way. As I tried to walk people, were screaming for me to go back. A school teacher put me in his car and tried to get me to the hotel. But we stille could not get to the hotel without passing through crowds. Many people were beaten, had bloodied noses, and were stampedeing in the streets.
Nobody cared that I was there or that I was American. They were trying to help get me out of there. The Tunis people only cared about protesting the government. What an experience! Finally I had to give up on my hotel and find another for the night.
My typical traveling style is stay near the city center, so I am near public transportation that can get me to various attractions.
I did not make a good hotel choice this time!!
Todays adventure:
I am just stuck in my hotel. Earlier today I heard a few follies of machine gun fire, but this afternoon, a 7 vehicle police convoy came down the street pictured. Military individuals were firing their machine guns to clear the road. I went and sat in the bathroom because I wanted more walls to shield me from stray bullets.
When I was taking these pictures from the window (tenth floor), the soldiers below ordered me to shut my windows.
A helecopter circled the city center all day. The heart of the protest is near the end point of the pictured street. I saw black smoke at various times throughout the day. I think the helecopter was dropping something to disperse the crowd.
I tried to move hotels earlier today, but I had no luck. I hope I can get out of the city center tomorrow.
I only wanted to post positive things!! But this is how things have unfolded thus far.
I can't find any Jazzercise here!!
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