On June 12th, Chris had to go into Tunis to meet with some people regarding the business end of the ACCESS program. So I tagged along. We met and spent some time with Chris' U.S. partner, Michael, who with his family had just arrived in Tunis for a two-month stay. After completing their meetings, Chris and Michael decided to give me a tour of some of Tunis' most famous historic sites.
We drove a few kilometers from the center of Tunis to the site of Ancient Carthage. I know I was there but it is still difficult to realize that I actually stood where the great Carthaginian general Hannibal stood before launching his elephant-led armies in their onslaught of southern Europe in the second century B.C.
(Columns of the city temple)
An almost hidden set of stone steps leads visitors to a subterranean tomb, complete with a statuary alcove, burial vault and mosaic tile floor.
Situated on a bluff overlooking the beautiful Mediterranean Sea, the view from ancient Carthage is spectacular. When the Romans defeated Carthage (c. 146 B.C.), it became one of the empire's most important cities on the North African coast.
As was typical of Roman society, an immense Roman Bath complex was constructed for the upper class to enjoy. Carthage's baths are on the edge of the sea and today visitors are free to wander through the many rooms and alcoves.
Within a mile of ancient Carthage are the ruins of a small basilica where history tell us Monica prayed for her arrogant and profligate son, Augustine, who in the A.D. 300's became one of the most influential leaders and theologians of the early Christian church. His Confessions is considered the first western autobiography. 
And, finally, Chris and Michael took me to the ruins of the ancient amphitheater where the Roman noblewoman Perpetua and her Christian slave, Felicitus, were attacked by lions and martyred in 203 A.D. to the cheers of a crowd of spectators.
The amphitheater, like many such Roman facilities, had an underground tunnel system below the event "floor" which today is visible and accessible. It was relatively easy to imagine gladiators waiting here to ascend the steps to the surface where they would face each other in fights to the death.
It was more difficult and much more heart-rending to envision Perpetua and Felicitas (and hundreds of others like them) being held here in chains awaiting their deaths as an afternoon's entertainment because of their refusal to worship the Roman emperor.
Wow. Amazing.
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