Tuesday, December 2/2008

Check at the louage station re trips to Tunis and Kairouan. Yes, continually. From "trois heures le matin" - much earlier than our most ambitious thoughts.

Decide in the end not to go to Tunisia - given the louage time and a preference for being back before dark - and then it begins to rain, hard and with accompanying thunder. Having a glass of wine and a read in the room when I check the stairwell door in the corridor, which has been banging. There's a German guest in the hallway who has spotted a leak in the ceiling. As I turn round we realise that the room is filling with water coming in from under the balcony door. Reception promises help, which takes some time to arrive. The German spreads his hands - this is Africa. But eventually a man comes with long squeegee, mop and pail and it's habitable again. Evening's drama over.