moosehead
Member
- Location
- South western Ontario
Few years ago my wife Sue and I went on vacation to Tunisia . That when it was nice and safe to visit. We stayed in the area known as Hammamet and the hotel was right on the beach and the folks who worked there were wonderful. We, even today, keep in touch with some of them through email.
Anyway while sitting around the pool one day we decided to find out if there was anything to do..That is, different.
I asked the clerk at the front desk and he told me that every Saturday there was a camel market some 10 miles away from the resort. Not many tourists go there, however.
Of course, when he said that, we had to go.
On the Saturday we took the local bus to the Camel Market.
When we arrived at the market place it was just like a farmer's market only with camels for sale. Lots of camels. I don't know how many people from where we came from have ever heard the noise that camels make but it was loud, noisy and not exactly something I'd want to listen to all day long. But, as Sue noted, they do have very nice eyes.....
So, We wandered around looking at camels and goats . Anyway, as we passed by one camel stall I heard a "Pssst"...One of the vendors was trying to get my attention...I turned toward him and he had a huge smile on his face and motioned for me to come over....
As I walked toward him his smile broadened. He was either very glad to see me or he thought I was going to buy a camel or maybe even a goat.
This Camel Vendor looked like someone who just stepped out of the movie Lawrence of Arabia.
"Mister," He said, "You American?"
"Uh, No," I replied, "I'm from Canada."
"Ahhhh, Niagara Falls.....I know all about Canada. Lots of snow and polar bears."
"Not really. Anyway, you have very nice camels." That's all I could think of saying...
"Is that lovely lady your Wife?"
"Yes, yes she is."
"I see, mister, She is Chinese..Yes?"
Now I had no idea where this was going but, hey, it WAS Tunisia.
"Yes she is."
He looked around and then spoke.....
"Mister, I will give you one very healthy camel and two goats for your Wife."
"Pardon?"
"A camel and two goats....for your Wife."
"What,'' I asked, "Would my Wife want with a camel, not to mention two goats..???"
"No, No, Mister...I want to TRADE with you...OK..OK..I will GIVE you TWO very healthy camels, two goats and a years supply of camel food...you give me your Wife."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing...Still...Nobody else back home had one camel as a pet, let alone TWO...And, with two goats, well, I wouldn't have to cut the lawns anymore....
I thanked Lawrence of Arabia and walked back to Sue....
"Guess what?"
"What?"
"I was offered two very healthy camels AND two goats."
"Why in the world would he offer you those?"
"A trade."
"A what?"
"A trade...I get the camels and goats...and you go the other way..."
"You MUST be kidding!"
"Nope," I replied, " But I turned him down. I don't think it was a fair trade...Camels don't cook."
She didn't talk to me for the rest of the day.....
Anyway while sitting around the pool one day we decided to find out if there was anything to do..That is, different.
I asked the clerk at the front desk and he told me that every Saturday there was a camel market some 10 miles away from the resort. Not many tourists go there, however.
Of course, when he said that, we had to go.
On the Saturday we took the local bus to the Camel Market.
When we arrived at the market place it was just like a farmer's market only with camels for sale. Lots of camels. I don't know how many people from where we came from have ever heard the noise that camels make but it was loud, noisy and not exactly something I'd want to listen to all day long. But, as Sue noted, they do have very nice eyes.....
So, We wandered around looking at camels and goats . Anyway, as we passed by one camel stall I heard a "Pssst"...One of the vendors was trying to get my attention...I turned toward him and he had a huge smile on his face and motioned for me to come over....
As I walked toward him his smile broadened. He was either very glad to see me or he thought I was going to buy a camel or maybe even a goat.
This Camel Vendor looked like someone who just stepped out of the movie Lawrence of Arabia.
"Mister," He said, "You American?"
"Uh, No," I replied, "I'm from Canada."
"Ahhhh, Niagara Falls.....I know all about Canada. Lots of snow and polar bears."
"Not really. Anyway, you have very nice camels." That's all I could think of saying...
"Is that lovely lady your Wife?"
"Yes, yes she is."
"I see, mister, She is Chinese..Yes?"
Now I had no idea where this was going but, hey, it WAS Tunisia.
"Yes she is."
He looked around and then spoke.....
"Mister, I will give you one very healthy camel and two goats for your Wife."
"Pardon?"
"A camel and two goats....for your Wife."
"What,'' I asked, "Would my Wife want with a camel, not to mention two goats..???"
"No, No, Mister...I want to TRADE with you...OK..OK..I will GIVE you TWO very healthy camels, two goats and a years supply of camel food...you give me your Wife."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing...Still...Nobody else back home had one camel as a pet, let alone TWO...And, with two goats, well, I wouldn't have to cut the lawns anymore....
I thanked Lawrence of Arabia and walked back to Sue....
"Guess what?"
"What?"
"I was offered two very healthy camels AND two goats."
"Why in the world would he offer you those?"
"A trade."
"A what?"
"A trade...I get the camels and goats...and you go the other way..."
"You MUST be kidding!"
"Nope," I replied, " But I turned him down. I don't think it was a fair trade...Camels don't cook."
She didn't talk to me for the rest of the day.....
nthego:
