Earth Day Challenge #2 TUNISIA and May the 4th Be With You

 Today we celebrate TUNISIA 

Tunisia is a small country located in northwest Africa between Algeria and Libya. Tunisia gained its independence in 1956 from French colonization. This small country has been under Arab rule, part of the Carthage Empire and under the Roman empire. It is a beautiful, warm place bordered by beaches.

The capital city of Tunis, built on the old city of Carthage, is home to nearly three-quarters of a million people with more than 2 mill living in the surrounding metropolis. Tunisia is over 99% Sunni-Muslim with Arab being the dominate people group.  In Tunisia, the culture dates back centuries and I would love to get the chances to see the Roman mosaics, Carthage ruins and Islamic art that highlight the rich culture. One day I would love to walk through the market place and hear stories of families that traced through roots deep into the calms and storms of Tunisia's past.

If you see photos of this gem of antiquity, you may recognize a few things. You may even feel like you have been there before in your fantasy, geeked-out dreams. That's right.

Welcome to Tatooine!

Varies locations across Tunisia were used to film scenes including R2D2 being abducted by Jawas, Luke attacked by Tusken Raiders (these scenes include shots from Death Valley, USA), the wrecked Sandcrawler, the sand dunes west of Nefta showcases the landing of C-P3O and R2D2's escape pod, the Mos Espa salve quarters and the location of the duel between Darth Maul and (my second fav Jedi, Mace Windu in my number one) Qui-Gonn Jinn.  

Today's post is twofold. Happy Earthday Challenge #2: The Celebration of Tunisia

And Happy May the 4th Be With You!

Disclaimer

This should have been with the first post as well. I am well aware that many countries, all on some level, are marred by war, invasion, forms of terrorism and treason. People have been through uprisings and revolutions. While all of these can be changing moments and driving forces of a culture I am choosing to not mention them. I am striving to present a country, a people, without any agenda other than to celebrate their existence. I am choosing to highlight what I can (through my own time and knowledge) I am not a historian or expert of any kind. I only have my own experiences, eyes, ears and internet connection and a belief that all people should be seen with compassion and intrigue because every cultural has a richness to be honored. 

Photos are not mine and belong to these awesome people.

http://1dad1kid.com/tunisia/

https://nomadlist.com/country/tunisia

By Certo Xornal from Ribeira, Galicia, España - Decorado Star Wars en Túnez, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10722560

By Ian Sewell - Own work, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2795262

Information resources

http://www.mapsofworld.com/tunisia/tunisia-location-map.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Star_Wars_filming_locations

http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/africa/tn.htm

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/30/world/tunisia-fast-facts/