An exceptional tourist guide .. Secrets of the ancient city of Tunisia with the eye of its lover

Mounira Hijlawi - Tunisia

The weekend is a sacred thing for a Tunisian employee to take a rest after a hard week of pressure, but Gamal Ben Saidane broke this rule and dedicated his weekly rest to working as a volunteer tourist guide to the beauty of his hometown, the old city of Tunis.

"Sea Door" in Victory Square
In the center of the "Bab al Bahr" square in Nasr Square, one of the city's many gates. On the ruins of its beautiful fountain and the innocent children with the bath that covered the square, the beauty of the next group met specially from the province of Sousse in the Tunisian coast.

The first landmark where Jamal stood was a sea door. The visitors, who included foreign tourists and Tunisians, knew the history of this landmark built during the French colonization of Tunisia. The journey started on the maze of the city through a route chosen by Ibn Tunis, Beauty on himself.

Tours are full of heritage and history
Tourists and visitors usually tour the souks of the old city, its cafés, popular restaurants and shops to make Tunisian traditional dress and sell it through the Zaytouna Mosque for a glimpse of it, a path that Gamal Classica does not meet the city and does not reveal its hidden secrets that have not yet been seen.

Jamal, a 35-year-old tourist guide, has been working for 10 years in parallel with his job at a private telecommunications company. He grew up in the Old City and grew up with his passion for it.

The pictures captured by Gamal and his gaze were popular and made the fans ask him to accompany them on guided tours that he knew of his city, full of heritage and history, and he listened to the real stories and myths behind them.

Simple language and attractive style
Beyond the noise of the markets, Jamal and his group moved to Dar Al-Sharif, which was established in the middle of the nineteenth century and classified by the Tunisian Heritage Institute as an archeological and historical landmark. King of Tunisia.

In front of each teacher, Gamal retraces with his group members the history and history of those who lived there from Bayat and Diyat (princes and military commanders) and the personalities of Hikmet Tunis, informing them of their stories and stories in his simple language and attractive style.

Stories of alleys and old streets
Marita is a Spanish tourist who introduced the group to the ancient city of Tunis, attracted by the influence of different cultures and cultures. It was touched by the architecture and decoration of its archeological monuments, and she was happy to hear the stories of those who followed the alleys and the old streets.

Her friend and daughter-in-law, Marina, loved the quietness of the city's various alleys from the crowded streets and streets and the noise of the city.

Green Singer Lane
The modern history of the city was present and Gamal did not forget to inform them of the warmness in which the singer of al-Khadra lived - as he was nicknamed - the late Ali al-Riahi and the carpentry shop where he filmed the most famous Tunisian drama series "The Speech on the Door" over the two seasons 1996 and 1997. "Salih".

To enhance the value of the intangible heritage of Tunisia
The son of Tunisia is similar to the old city in relation to the son's relationship with his mother and does not imagine himself away from it. He used to roam alone in the alleys during the days when the groups of visitors are not discovered. He discovers new secrets that he has not discovered between narrow alleys and white walls, windows and blue doors. Types of flowers and roses.

In addition to his work as a tour guide, Gamal also works with the "Cartagena" association, which promotes the value of Tunisia's non-traditional heritage - language, food and popular proverbs - through tours to museums, archaeological sites and press conferences.

The tours of the Assembly are different from each other. Each tour has a specific theme, and sometimes they choose the subject of the city's legends and once the sanctuaries of the righteous parents. The city is full of endless tales.

His passion for the old city has impressed tourists
Gamal works on writing articles through Wikipedia to correct information published about the ancient city and to identify it best after confirming all the data from the official sources.

His great love for his city has made his people feel love and respect for him. Sufian, a witness who works as a library owner in the city, describes Jamal's activity as a good initiative, stressing that "Jamal's love for the ancient city has made many fall in love with it."

The president of the "Cartagena" association, Amna Mezouni, speaks to Al Jazeera Net about their pride and happiness in joining Gamal. "He has a unique talent and a distinctive speech when talking about the city and telling its stories to visitors."