You see a lot of strange things at a kite festival, but the most strange – and elusive! – one must be – a teenager.
Sure, there is a young kite master here and there, a fifteen year old stunt kite genius, a true young adult kite lover here and there. But – at least in classical festivals of Europe seeing a teenager with a kite line (instead of a phone) in hand is very rare.
The reason for that is rather simple. Almost everyone got a kite in that tender age of five or six, ran across the meadow with a plastic eagle or a butterfly that wouldn’t fly properly – and if it did, it would get eaten by one of the terrible kite-eating trees. A kite flying session usually ended in tears, and the kite was shelved indefinitely. Even those kids more involved with kites who fly them regularly – and even masterfully – usually quit when they become teenagers, because as fascinating as kites are, sex, drugs, and rock’n’roll beat that easily.
Kite flying is a thing from 6 to 13 years of age, and then again much later, when the anxiety of the middle age (or retirement) kicks in.
So when an invitation came from the illustrious One Tunisia Kite Team for us to join the Tunisia kite festival 2024, we were in a conundrum: it was to be held right at the beginning of the high Summer season – and apart from Gregor nobody had time to go!
Gregor was ready to go alone, but more people means more kites in the air, so a couple of days before the festival he posed a Hail Mary question to his teenage son Viktor.
“Would you like to go to Tunisia to a kite festival with me?”
“Sure!”
“Yeah, I understand, a teenager like you wouldn’t want to … wait, what?”
“I said – sure, let’s go!”
Nobody knew Gregor had such a rare creature at home: a teenager happy to be a part of a kite festival far away – on another continent even. And a fabulous adventure was on!
The adventure started with driving to Venice airport through the night, an early morning flight to Rome, then another flight across the Mediterranean to Africa, to the magnificent city of Tunis.
A welcoming party was there, and as soon as Taysir and the other beautiful ladies of the illustrious One Tunisia Kite Team saw our handsome young Viktor, love was in the air.
At least that, because not much else was in the air …
One would think that a country lying between the Mediterranean and the Sahara desert would be under constant wind. And it is – almost always. Except when a team from Slovenia arrives and unfurls their kites.
(Kites did fly, don’t worry …)
Note: despite a prior agreement not enough photos were brought back by the Slovenian expedition to Tunisia, so most pf the photos below are blatantly stolen from ‘the internetz’. Apologies to unsuspecting authors.
And once again there was proof that for a fantastic kite festival you don’t need wind – just good friends.
And good music. And dance. And great food. And a country where everything is an adventure!
And, of course, an incredible organising team.
One Tunisia Kite Team is a young, incredibly active, female-led (!) resourceful, smart and immensely kind team of kite flyers that, as Viktor and Gregor reported, created a totally beyond every expectation, unforgettable event that will be cherished forever. The organisation was above and beyond every expectation!
From the arrival to the brand new Centre Culturel et Sportif de la Jeunesse Ben Arous – the place is amazing; impeccable rooms, a pool, a billiards hall, tennis and badminton courts, a concert hall and whatnot! – to the tearful goodbyes at the airport.
Starting with an opening ceremony in which Viktor represented Slovenia and gave a great speech 🙂
Not to mention all the workshops …
… including calligraphy …
… and a tense chess match!
The wind did not cooperate, but everything else did. The beauty of the country, the warm Mediterranean sea, the music, the old souks and mosques and narrow streets ful of kind vendors of wonders …
…and dancing. Dancing on the bus, dancing on the beach, dancing in the streets …
When one visits Tunisia, one falls in love with it. So Gregor and Viktor couldn’t just leave when the festival was over …
Making new friends for life …
Visiting their amazing homes …
Having fantastic meals …
Having fun!
And having … fun.
It was … beyond amazing!
Saud and Sabrina, Barbara, Kamila and Arek, Maxime, Belkacem, Onur and Zahit, Fadi, Christopher and Laszlo, Laila and Christian, Hans Peter and Muang Tunten, and all the kite flyers from all around the world.
Amela, Taysir, Olfa, Nabila, and the rest of the incredible organizing team.
The thanks we owe you are almost impossible to reciprocate 🙂
Because when Viktor and Gregor landed back home, Viktor asked: “Hey dad, you think it would matter much if I miss a couple of school days next year?”
“No, not really. Why?”
“Because I’d like to go to some more kite festivals!”
So see you, dear friends, next year in Tunisia!
p.s.
This is now a part of almost every meal in the House of Mramor :-)))
