And yet, my small sketchbook reminds me that there were many wonderful moments with family and friends. Leila Hejaiej, a singer of classical Tunisian music, gave an excellent concert in Tunis.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikU4Vz_ijTldEXlMh1Bc4oNmHT9KcHmPpWr5Jc9fqPQCzl1IRZK471JfO5jMCNNqZ8hLV9o4QS0lT5GFQfzfKXdM36aYvbRiSpiuumIVRzc9gV71HEf0N_TaM2QUPRuq9uazyFxS-4lOE/s400/IMG_0346.jpg)
I sketched the musicians in her orchestra...in the dark.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigd01k6CxwTJ_G3uRtu8YBvx7QDg8NNlHoqpRHazouKovMzJercdDHrM1cVGki0kyTWMclrPp7OPY1U1allM4GeZs5dEq-cG7Yce-TF_qVWSU49l4klhkrO0iAfqozM3eMXZyHJMT2q4g/s400/IMG_0350.jpg)
Then we spent the 4th of July in Korba (a beach town on the Mediterranean)
and attended a graduation celebration with local musicians.
The high point of the summer was a week in Lisbon, Portugal at a beautiful hotel that has a statue of San Marcos in the entry
The hotel breakfast was royal.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5Bb2uXnm33sol0U2fdgR3_v9Eilfd6bGM1Lpc8mr35PpNX_k6j2_kOgMy7wZjQW47viCnG65aQ1qRXQji9wbaUulH433NzLYTRXg4Vt8KlDRG5YWG_R2kZxHRN3draMtMfgA4U1AbPU/s400/IMG_0358.jpg)
The parks and museums were lovely.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieL6INU6cpD4BCP4fpOktByGpl53WyfC_3ROP5UIrGWzQgRRHBx-m3XnDHC1-0EbEX-FqTBGyO2ZQSQRvdxC4trXw_3Y8BsdBUnd3_CTX4CpgVv-KO8rCae6Weze0dXV0es8-uVeqwR1g/s320/IMG_0357.jpg)
And of course, the restaurants were excellent--wonderful food.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tcJCCw3_TWm3YPr8T5c8OzfB9mk8XZZ6RuX8hE3DAo1rWDLoKthvBsBX1x3KNsTbJ4FSUBrlmgR6ItZhgPwkNDZ0RL7xV_iJImCx10u98fJtJ1kwBHHNRqf4tIWm1NkalM6dvNeOxYo/s320/IMG_0363.jpg)
I'm glad I keep my sketchbook handy, or I might have forgotten what a good summer it was.