Kairouan, Tunisia

Kairouan, during medieval times the third holiest city in Islam behind and Mecca and Medina, is near the east coast south of Tunis.  The old medina, behind huge walls visible in the cafe below, is beautiful, with lavender walls and sea-green doors as well as the usual blue ones.  My photos of the medina didn't look so hot, so you'll have to take my word for it.

Here's the great mosque (and, who else, President Ben Ali).  Apparently, seven pilgrimages here are apparently equivalent to a pilgrimage to Mecca.

The mosque, sans the president.