- How, really did not hear about three S in Tunisia?- black eyes Ramiseem to express genuine amazement. - We have our three S - summer, sun, sex. Everyone goes to Tunisia for summer, sun and sex.
We met Rami 15 minutes ago in the waves of the Mediterranean Sea. Making acquaintances in Tunisia for a girl is not difficult. It is enough just to say hello, bonjour or Halloween, and you are already surrounded by compliments, smiles, in a word, attention, which is very difficult to get rid of later. But Rami is not as intrusive as the others. He just smokes, sitting by my lounger, asks about Belarus and talks about his country. We have already talked about the weather (March this year is one of the worst in the last few years), about the standard of living in our countries (the average salary in Tunisia is 300 euros, and in the summer at +45 it is completely impossible to work), about interracial marriages (Tunisian men most often marry foreign women for the sake of emigration and European citizenship) and it was the turn of a hot topic - the topic of gender relations in a resort town. Simply put, the topic of sex.
- If a Tunisian works in a hotel, it is always equal to sex with tourists, Rami traces an equal sign deep in the wet sand with his finger. - I work in a hotel, I know. Many European women come to Tunisia specifically for sex. This season two tourists came up to me - from Germany and Russia. They invited me to spend the evening with them. In this case, I cannot refuse - this is uncivilized. Plus, they were quite attractive. Each took me to a restaurant in the evening, paid for dinner, and then we walked to me.
Rami waves his hand towards a white house on the coastline - he rents an apartment with a sea view. Rami is 34 years old, tall, broad-shouldered, speaks good English, but is still not married, although all six of his brothers and sisters have long had their own families.
- Haven't met my woman yet, - the Tunisian shrugs in response to my question. He doesn't like local women. “Bad mentality,” he says.
- Tunisian women are very demanding, first of all they look at the welfare of men. I have a plot of land of 120 square meters. Building a house will cost me 60 thousand euros. When I build a house, I think about my family. In the meantime, everything suits me. There will always be women who only want sex, no serious relationship. That's why they come here. And not only European women. Please note that on weekends in the city there is nowhere to sit in a cafe - everything is occupied by Algerians, there is nowhere to park a car - everywhere there are cars with Algerian numbers. Algerians come to us for what they cannot get in their strict country. In Tunisia, they do whatever they want. I don't like Algerians - a bad mentality.
In fact, Rami has a pregnant wife in another city who meets him once a month from a prestigious job. But tourists shouldn't know about their wife. As well as to the wife - about the tourists.
"IF I SPEAKED RUSSIAN, I WOULD LONGER MAKE A RUSSIAN GIRLFRIEND"
Billel drove 11 hours non-stop from Algeria to Hammamet to spend two days here. An Algerian pulls a hookah with relish and laughs loudly, he has an expensive car and so much money that he can buy the cafe in which we are sitting right now. Billel has it all. Everyone except the woman. He came to Hammamet for a Tunisian friend for the night, and at the same time to see old friends, one of whom serves as our translator - an Algerian man speaks only Arabic.
- I have money, but no time for women, - is talking Billel. - If I spoke Russian, I would have made myself a Russian girlfriend long ago. Or French if I spoke French.
Perhaps the Algerian will someday learn Russian and go to Russia to look for a wife - he does not rule out such a prospect. In the meantime, he paid 200 dinars (just under 100 euros) for a night with a Tunisian prostitute and returns to Algeria. Will return to Tunisia in a month or less.
“NOW I AM SLEEPING ONLY WITH THE GIRLS THAT I REALLY LIKE. IS FREE"
The maximum amount that Camille received for a night with a woman was 500 dinars.
- It was 5 years ago and then 500 dinars was much more than the current 230 euros, - recalls Camille... The dark-skinned guy has long eyelashes, beautiful dark brown eyes and well-defined plump lips. We walk along the yachts parked in the port, the guy smokes and looks thoughtfully at the passers-by.
- Even 5 years ago I led a riotous lifestyle - every day I drank, smoked, went to discos. And Tunisian discos are the place where you can find love for money. A Tunisian prostitute can cost 100, 200, or even 500 dinars if she is a very good prostitute. Although prostitution is legal in Tunisia, it is not safe for women. I know of many cases when a client beat a woman after sex and took all the money.
According to Kamil, before the age of 25, he had so many women that he cannot count them. They came to him for a massage, at the spa. After that, many wanted to continue communication.
- After the massage, they gave me money and we either retired for 15 minutes in a special room, or went to dinner in the evening, and then spent the night together. For example, one tourist from Switzerland gave me 200 euros, invited me to dinner at a good restaurant, paid for everything, then rented a room for us at the hotel, and in the morning she gave me another 100 dinars. It was good money. And so many women do - from France, Germany, Russia ... However, recently my friend had a bad time with one Englishwoman. He courted her all evening, pleased her all night and all the next day, but she did not give him a dinar. To put it mildly, he was very upset.
We go out to the promenade, which in the evening lights up with the lights of restaurants, numerous couples stroll past the yachts. We are equal with one of them - a dark-skinned guy holds a slender blonde by the hand, who chirps something to him in French.
- Look, look,- Camille nods in their direction. - I know this Tunisian guy. Today he caught a French fish - he was lucky, with French women, they are comfortable, besides, they are generous.
I realize that I am now looking at couples in Yasmine, the tourist area of \u200b\u200bHammamet, with completely different eyes. As it turned out, not only women, but also ... men come to the country for the ardent love of Tunisian men.
- The other day, an elderly Italian came to my massage,- says Camille. - He said that he would buy me a car, give me a lot of money if I went up to the room with him, began to feel. Yes, there are men in Tunisia who make money this way. But I'm not one of them. And if I found out that one of my friends trades in such earnings, I would stop communicating with him.
Now Kamil is 30 and he, according to him, has not been practicing love for money for 5 years. Once I realized that I was tired, that it was impossible to continue like this, and went to Kairouan, the spiritual and religious center of Tunisia, where the main mosque in North Africa, Uqba, is located. After a year spent in meditation, prayer, visiting a mosque, Kamil returned to Hammamet and continues to work as a massage therapist.
- And now many women offer me money for intimate services. Some people start to open their hands right during the massage! You have to politely refuse. Although if I wanted to, I would have sex every day with different women. But now I only sleep with those girls that I really like. Is free. I hope to marry a good woman, preferably a non-Tunisian woman. I don't like Tunisian women. They are greedy and cheesy.
In fact, Camille periodically accepts offers from clients. And sometimes he does them himself. Of course, secretly from his wife - a 58-year-old Englishwoman who sold everything in London to buy Camil a house in Hammamet and help his huge Tunisian family.
- Thalassotherapy in Tunisia: you can't refuse to try
- Tunisian cuisine: from street food to fusion restaurant delights
- Tell me what a European who wants to get Tunisian love for money to do?
- You can go to a disco, but it may not be safe. Better to go to the spa at your hotel and talk to the staff. There they will probably help him solve this problem.
- Well, then what should a European woman do in such a situation?
- Nothing!- laughs Camille. - She just needs to come to Tunisia. She will not have time to step, as she will receive her portion of compliments and attention from Tunisian men. She will only have to make a choice.
"YOU ARE A TOURIST - TOMORROW YOU LEAVE, THE NEXT WILL COME TO YOUR PLACE, FOR WHICH HE WILL CRY AGAIN"
- Women should not trust Tunisian men, especially those who work in the tourism sector,- the theme of gender relations also ends our safari in the Sahara, accompanied by a guide Khalifa. – Our men know how to fall in love with themselves, speak beautiful words. He will claim that you are his only love, that he cannot live without you, he will even cry, but all this is for the sake of sex. You are a tourist - tomorrow you will leave, the next one will come to your place, for which he will cry again. And in addition to everything, he will ask the woman to pay for him everywhere, may complain about her difficult fate. He may even promise to marry, say that he does not like Tunisian women. But in the end he marries a Tunisian. Such are the men in the tourist areas of Tunisia. Normal sincere relations develop in our country the same way as in the whole world - a man takes care of, always gives flowers, invites you to a restaurant, at least a year or more passes from the moment of meeting to wedding.
Caliph is 35, he has a wife from St. Petersburg and two daughters. 12 years ago he went to study in Russia, he returned not alone, but with his beloved woman.
- It is not true that marriages between Tunisians and Russian women are very strong, - says our guide. - I personally know a lot of cases of divorce - a huge difference in mentality affects. Really strong marriages for those Tunisians who once went to study in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and there they met their future wives. My wife and I have 12 years of experience and our couple is ranked 17th in the Tunisian ranking of mixed families. In the first place is a couple - Tunisian and Russian - who have been married for 35 years. And this is a great merit, in fact.
The season in Tunisia lasts from April 1 to October 31. 6 million tourists visit the country annually. Tunisia is famous for good beach holidays, explosive mixture of African, Arab and European cultures, health tourism - tourists from all over the world come for the services of thalassotherapy and spa centers.
Text: Tatiana Danilushkina
So, readers. I'll make a reservation right away that I was abroad for the first time, so there is nothing to compare with. In addition to the harsh reality of Ukrainian everyday life. Let's start.
They rested on October 18-28, the end of the season (from November to March they have a rainy period, the temperature drops to 15-17 degrees, it's cold to swim). Hotel Tour Khalef Hotel Thalasso & Spa in Sousse, 4 stars, 2 km from the center (chosen specifically so that it is quiet and in the first line - one hundred percent guessed). In fact, a whole complex of 3 hotels, with a good territory, a swimming pool, a beach, animation and a spa center (I personally did not go to the latter, but the reviews and video broadcasts are impressive, naturally for a fee).
10 nights with half board (breakfast and dinner), flight and transfer to / from the airport 770 USD The voucher is not last minute, no early booking, no discounts. In fact, our building has 9 floors, but according to the French system, the 1st floor is the reception and the dining room, the 2nd is zero, and the actual 3rd is called the first. These are the French, once they took an elevator ride, then they figured it out, and the signs on each floor “You are here” help.
I am very pleased with the hotel and the room, everything is beautiful, comfortable, thoughtful. Change of towels - every day, the view from the window is gorgeous, the sliding system of doors to the balcony, soundproofing, the bed is very comfortable, cleanliness. The staff is smiling, friendly, but not intrusive. Almost everyone understands Russian, communicated without any problems at all (other tourists had a tension with the Russian-speaking staff in a nearby hotel). Very good children's animation, the little ones just squealed with delight. I can't say much about the adult, we went to the city almost every evening, we did not sit in the hotel. But I heard live singing (quite professionally), saxophone, disco from midnight to 3 o'clock, water aerobics when there were no waves, darts, table tennis, volleyball. I did not see bored faces.
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We arrived in the evening, the next day we met with our guide, Natalia. She handed out to everyone the city plan and possible available excursions, told what was where and how, and answered all the questions. Very convenient, and then she could be found at the hotel, she even gave her phone. The card came in handy, I could not find a normal plan on the Internet.
We bought 2 excursions, and the 3rd agency gave us (a boat trip). Now I will dwell in detail on the local flavor, and later I will return in detail to the excursions.
The currency is the Tunisian dinar, it contains 1000 millimeters (not 100 kopecks, as in rubles and hryvnias, namely 1000). In fact, the most popular coin, often very worn out that even the image is not visible. Large, silvery, heavy. At a fixed-price store, we were given change in copper, usually 100 millimeters (a round bronze coin, about the size of a dinar). There were even 50 and 20 millimeters, but they can only be paid in such stores. In souvenir shops or on the market there is nothing less than a dinar, and copper is not left for tea, it is considered humiliating. Therefore, if you decide to thank someone - 1 dinar is just right (their tip is called bakshysh). I didn’t see coins of 1, 2, 5 millimeters at all, and I can’t even imagine that they could buy them. There is also a ½ dinar coin (yes, it is written on it), that is, 500 millimeters. It is silvery, like a dinar, only smaller in diameter and lighter.
Further, 5 dinars - silver with a gold rim (do not hope, there is no precious metal in it). Larger and heavier than a dinar. That's all with coins. Then banknotes of 5, 10, 20 and 50 dinars. No bigger. The pieces of paper can be of different colors and patterns (produced in different years), so if you have 2 10 dinar notes in different colors, this is normal, do not worry. Money can be exchanged upon arrival at the airport, at banks in the city or at the hotel itself. In banks, the rate is 10% more profitable, but the hotel has a more convenient working hours (banks work until lunchtime, then a long break, 2-3 hours, then 2 hours again). Decide for yourself. During my stay, the rate was 1 dollar \u003d 1.543 dinars. IMPORTANT, when exchanging you are given a receipt, you do not need to lose it. If after the vacation you have dinars left, you can change back to dollars / euros only at the airport and only if you have a receipt for the initial exchange. And one more limitation: no more than 30%. That is, if, having arrived, you exchanged 1000 dollars, while departing, you can exchange dinars for an amount of no more than 300 dollars.
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Crime
The hotel administration is not responsible for the safety of things in the room. It is unlikely that someone will covet your clothes or passport, but it is better not to leave money, equipment unattended. I have no complaints about the staff. I didn’t notice anyone rummaging through my things or anything like that. But on the beach there was a conversation that money was stolen in one room, stuffed into an inner pocket of a bag. Again, it's up to you. Immediately upon arrival at the hotel, we rented a safe box (1 day \u003d 1 dinar), stuffed our passports, air tickets and money there, and did not part with the key. When renting the safe, a deposit is left (we had 30 dinars), when you return the key, it is returned to you. We looked into the safe 5 times (the money was not changed all at once, but as needed), everything is in order. For 10 days, 5 dinars (the cell was rented together) is quite inexpensive, and the nerves are in order.
I do not know of any cases when a tourist's wallet was taken out or a purse was ripped off his shoulder. I was resting with a friend, the two of us walked around the city at night, no one attacked. We tried to get to know each other or slip something (pendant, necklace, scarf, card) - like “It's free, free, gift”. Of course, this is cheating. As soon as you take the thing, a divorce immediately begins with a request for gratitude (1, 2 ... dinar, depending on the impudence of the seller and your experience). If you have strong nerves, lack of thrills (they won't beat you, but you will most likely have to quarrel) or nostalgia for your homeland - please, put the flag in your hands. We just said "no" and walked on with stone faces. They fall behind very quickly.
With regard to dating. Arab men are very fond of fair-skinned, light-eyed, fair-haired women. Especially with curvaceous forms. As our guide said, it's genetic. So if you are not a model figure, rejoice, you can feel like a goddess.
My friend is tall, slim, long-legged. People always pay attention to her. In this country, everything was exactly the opposite. Against my background (I am 165 cm tall, very light skin, green-eyed and red-haired, weight ... let's say, not a Thumbelina) Natasha was simply not noticed. A big surprise for both. By the end of the vacation, she even tried to sell me, for 49 camels, but this is clearly a different story.
If you are a skinny brunette, do not be discouraged, attention is still provided. By the end of the vacation, we are so accustomed to the fact that any our appearance is accompanied by compliments that we were even upset when we arrived home. It is normal for Tunisia when unfamiliar girls walk down the street, and local men (13 and older) say “sexy, beauty, nice”, almost everyone is trying to get to know each other. Moreover, if you are with a companion, the latter is clearly not an obstacle. They just ignore him and still try to get acquainted. So prepare your boyfriend / husband in advance so that there are no scandals.
Meet or not. Your right. My friend and I are big lovers of chatting, but with the locals this is problematic, due to their one-pointedness. They are far from being so cheeky with their women, and although the laws here are very liberal, it is still an Arab, Muslim country. Visiting women for them is an outlet, an opportunity to diversify or even have some kind of personal life. On the 20th she will speak, at least one will respond, and maybe she will be lucky. Moreover, it's a shame, but we often don't talk about beautiful courtship. We were once called to a cafe for coffee. In all other attempts, the man did not intend to treat us at all or conduct an entertaining conversation. Everything is limited: "you are so beautiful", "such magic eyes" ... "come to you." So we listened to the first part and then left.
I'm not saying that Tunisians are preoccupied, not at all. We spent the best evening of our entire vacation with a local, Rozhdi, our Sahara guide. Whether because of his work, or knowledge of the Russian language, or age (35 years old), but the conversation turned out to be very entertaining. He talked about his country, customs, culture. And it was incredibly interesting. It is a pity that there was only one such evening.
Returning to the topic of dating, I would like to emphasize once again - your right. Just add that there are gigolos in the country, and professional ones. Men in Tunisia are beautiful: swarthy, black eyes, large, shiny, long eyelashes. There is something to lose your head from. Add in low wages, high unemployment, and an abundance of tourists. Here he is - a ready-made gigolo. Most often, for an exciting evening in his company, you will pay the bill from the bar, but there are also pros who manage to make a woman sell her apartment, car and all her property and fly to him on the wings of love. Love ends when he gets the money. So, soberly assess what you need.
By the way, during 10 days of vacation, not a single Arab dismissed his hands. Seriously. They just walk and itch, but no one tries to touch or grab you. This is a big plus. They told me worse things about Turkey and Egypt.
Roads and transport
The roads are everywhere from the category you never dreamed of. I mean, very good. Even in the desert, with the crazy heat, the roads are better than mine on the street. It's a shame for ours, but true. There are practically no traffic lights and intersections in cities. Instead of the latter - a circular movement along the ring. Pedestrian markings are very common, but drivers do not let pedestrians pass. And not only tourists, everyone. If you want to go - your problems. The locals simply walk down the street until the car stops a meter away. I don't like this extreme, so I had to wait for "holes" in the stream. Incidentally, I haven't seen a single one. Often the police are standing on the ring, with uncovered weapons. And not just a pistol, but a machine gun. Why, I didn’t understand, I didn’t see any conflicts on the road, and even more so. Remains a mystery.
There are a lot of young people on scooters. These are generally crazy. They can ride on the rear wheel, no arms, no legs. And this is in the general flow of cars. We tried to just stay away. Drivers honk often. Really often. And not to prevent an accident. In most cases, the purpose of the signal remained a mystery altogether.
Car rental at every corner. Such cars are marked with blue numbers. Taxis are even bigger. From our hotel to Medina (center, 2 km) 3 dinars, to the port of El Kantaoui 5 during the day, 8 at night, to Monastir (20 km) 12 dinars. The guide gave approximate prices, everything coincided. The drivers immediately say the price is higher (and much more), but you name yours and agree. Their competition is tough. Once there was an unpleasant incident, we were returning from Monastir by taxi. The driver is French. We speak English. It seems to have agreed to 12 dinars. We arrived, began to demand 20. We had a fight, I called the word "Polis" and he took 12 dinars. With psychos, but nonetheless. The meter can be asked to be turned on, but local craftsmen wind it up well. It is much more profitable to find out the price from the guide, passers-by, and bargain before getting into the car. Pay, preferably by sub-calculation, if there should be change, get it in the car. Once you sign out, you are no longer a customer.
There are also local minibuses and electric trains. The former were seen quite often, but the timetable was said to be known to one driver. The train is much cheaper and faster, especially in relation to tourist buses, but we did not risk it - there are only locals in it.
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Excursions
Excursions from the agency, for an additional fee, the price for them does not change throughout the year (season). Each new season, tours rise in price by 5 percent. The cost for different tour operators is approximately the same, in the picture at the beginning they are painted in detail.
We were on our own in Sousse in Medina, Ribat, in Monastir in Ribat, the port of El Kantaoui. The latter has a light and musical fountain, a zoo, a yacht dock and an Luna Park. It's very good to be there at night, the illumination is amazing. Entrance to the fortress, zoo and attractions is paid.
Also in Sousse there is a restaurant "La Surfine". There is only one option for dinner. The complex is called, it costs 30 dinars per person and includes 11 fish dishes + ice cream dessert and fruit. We overeat for 3 hours, in the end I even gave up and did not finish. Everything is very tasty and colorful. We tried shrimps, oysters, fish, mussels, squid, cactus fruits. You should definitely go, only on an empty stomach. Opens from 18:00.
Sea walk.
Ships decorated as a pirate schooner, going out to sea, swimming, fakir show, lunch. Nice sunbathing. Don't know what, but you can visit. I especially liked swimming at a depth near the ship.
Udna - Sidi Bou Said.
Udna is a suburb of Tunisia (which is the capital), where the Colosseum and the Temple were dug up, there are ruins of baths, houses, terms, mosaics (copies). For those who love antiquity.
Sidi Bou Said is a blue and white town on the seashore, also in the suburbs of Tunisia. The houses here are necessarily white, and the shutters and doors are blue and blue. It is very picturesque and the feeling that you are no longer in Africa. The city is residential, for very, very wealthy and tourists. You can have green mint tea with pine nuts. It is definitely worth visiting.
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The two days of travel are definitely exhausting. In total, we wound 1200 km, got up at 4 in the morning, but it was worth it. On the first day we were in El-Jem, we watched the Colosseum. Very well preserved, just huge.
1
There were many coffee breaks, we tried oriental sweets. We visited the indigenous population - Berbers. They are also called troglodytes, since they dig their homes in the ground. You need a room - they dug it, a wardrobe - take a shovel and dig. At the same time, they have electricity, TV, refrigerator, passports, streets, city hall, hospital, school, post office. Amazing.
Then we arrived in a town near Dusa, you could ride camels and ATVs (for a fee of 20 and 20 dinars). Dinner at the hotel. Unremarkable, which I would not give more than 2 stars, but there is a pool with warm thermal hydrogen sulfide water. This is the only way to relieve fatigue. The rest of the hotel is terrible.
Early morning, breakfast and at 5 am we leave to meet the sunrise in the desert.
Only Muslims can enter the mosque, the rest are content with the courtyard. Since we arrived on the eve of a big holiday, we did not see it either. But no one was particularly upset. Next to the mosque there is a shop with cheap souvenirs, carpets and roof access with panoramic views.
Everything, the day is over, we are taken to the hotels.
I did not specifically describe in detail all the impressions and delights of the excursions, it's still better to see it yourself, but believe me, it's worth a visit.
Now, what is not included in the above categories.
Rubbish. There is a lot of it in Tunisia. There are no permanent vacancies for janitors, they are hired 1-2 times a month, plus the low culture of the population in this regard ("trash cans are for tourists"). The hotel, restaurant or colosseum will be clean, but the roads, fields, streets are likely to impress you unpleasantly. Tunisians themselves believe that this is temporary, since now the government has more pressing problems.
Cacti. They grow instead of a fence, they can be taller than human growth. No one in their right mind will go to them. They are not just prickly, but shoot with thorns, just come. And so small that you can't see it and you can't pull it out. Better not to meddle.
The sun. Very hot. Even with the fact that it was October. You can easily burn out. So take care of yourself.
Warm sea. At first there were waves (even funny, they jumped, as in childhood), then - silence and smoothness, Natasha swam with a mask. The bottom is sandy, but the hotels themselves make artificial reefs, so there is something to see. It got colder on the last day.
Sun loungers on the beach are free, mattresses are relied on to make it comfortable. You can also take a table for yourself (set drinks, play cards).
Throughout the country there is a tradition of giving thanks. It is a tradition, not a duty, but still. And not only in the hotel. I brought you a local lounger - give me a dinar, the bus driver took you to the airport - a dinar, the guide made fun of the same thing. So decide for yourself.
The info sheet that was given to us indicated the additional fees for camel riding. I, naive, decided that this is all. In fact, there were 3 additional excursions: an oasis, camels and ATVs. Moreover, I was sure that if a person does not want to go on additional possible excursions, then he still has the main one. No, no. Those who did not go for additional ones just sit and wait. Nobody takes them anywhere, tells nothing. For example, while riding camels, I had to wait in a seedy cafe, where there are only 4 tables. And wait about 2 hours. During the heat. This is an unpleasant moment.
On excursions, when you are not in the main hotel, the food is not very good. This is not a decisive factor for me, but be prepared. In general, I strongly advise against choosing a hotel below 4 stars.
Nice moment. Toilets. Everywhere. Decent and even more. There is always water, soap, paper, always clean and not scared to go. Even in the desert. I don't have that in town. Very positive.
Summing up, I will say that the country is very interesting and is quite worthy to spend a vacation there. I declare without a shadow of a doubt that I want to return to Tunisia more than once.
Childhood
The Arab family is a small state: several generations live together in a spacious, light house. And only a sensitive observance of family commandments makes the relationship of such different people harmonious. Children frolic in a crowd in the yard, the older generation lives their own lives and only quietly discusses the behavior of young people. The house has a cat that usually walks by itself and a dog that guards the house.
During this period, the Tunisian girl does not feel any infringement of rights, she runs around the house and fights with her brothers. Only a family example, where the father is strict with the mother, can prompt a child to think about legal differences.
School
Education in Tunisia is free. The school has been studying for nine years. From the first grades, children learn two languages \u200b\u200bat once: Arabic and French. The Tunisian dialect of Arabic is very specific, but it is precisely it that is used in writing. Girls and boys study together - no discrimination. The severity of the Arab mentality excludes any "school licentiousness". All children and adolescents are taken home immediately after the end of the lessons. Some ninth-graders complain: “We have a dream to go to study abroad, because here we have too tight control. We can't go for a walk after school, much less go to a disco or visit. " In schools, you rarely find girls in hijabs, but everyone dresses modestly.
The next stage of education is college, where students receive initial career guidance. An additional language is added - English. College graduates can continue their studies at higher education institutions in Tunisia.
Student body
But education at a university is usually paid. Prices are about the same as in Russia. Not everyone can afford it: in small villages, girls are forced to help their parents feed their younger brothers and sisters. In this case, they sell fruit on the highway or go to work in resort cities. True, the second option does not always end well: girls quickly find an easier way to get money and agree to a "paid relationship" with tourists. This way of making money is relevant even for a Muslim country.
If the family is more prosperous, then the sisters stay together and study at different universities. It is curious that even in Tunisia there is a series similar to our "Univer": the heroes also go to the cafeteria and gossip in the hostel. The sisters in the family watch such series, live together, buy clothes in European style and exchange outfits with pleasure. In a Tunisian house, only women are usually heard - they are extremely talkative and restless, gossip about everything. They discuss young guys, but before marriage they rarely enter into any relationship. To defame the honor of the family is the worst offense that a girl can commit.
Career
Tunisian women say: "Life in Tunisia is too expensive now, so we prefer to help our husbands." And they help. First, the woman is responsible for the atmosphere at home: she tidies up, prepares food and brings up the children. Secondly, more and more modern Tunisian women prefer to work.
Tunisia is an urbanized country (60% of its inhabitants are city dwellers), the city provides more jobs and is conducive to employment, and in almost all areas. Tunisian women sit in parliament (4% of the elected), work in public administration (28%), in education (39–45%), in medicine (33%), and may even be traffic controllers. When was the last time you saw a traffic controller on Russian streets? Maybe never.
Tunisians themselves argue that even in the media in recent years, a new image of a modern woman has been formed - self-confident, capable of earning money and making decisions on her own. And of course, a good housewife and a loving wife, ready to obey her husband.
A family
Half a century ago, in 1957, polygamy in Tunisia was officially banned. There were no protesters. Part of the reason is the high cost of a traditional Tunisian wedding. By the momentous date, the groom is obliged to provide the bride with literally everything, from a set of gold jewelry to a new home. In addition, a person convicted of polygamy must be imprisoned for one year, as well as a fine of 240 dinars.
So it turns out that Tunisians get married already "held", at the age of 35-40, and prefer young girls - from 18 to 25 years old. In this case, the couple must conclude a marriage contract (without it, the municipality will not issue a marriage certificate). The groom goes to sign the document to the notary, and the bride does it at home.
Family for a Tunisian woman is of great importance. She always tries to cook deliciously, dress up the children beautifully and send them to school on time.
The man in the family is a contemplator and judge. If something goes wrong, the father will hold a serious conversation with his sons, someday he will punish (maybe even leave him without cash). The wife is obedient to her husband in everything, does not argue and tries to avoid sharp corners. If she has an account on social networks, the husband always knows the password and can check the messages - as the main breadwinner in the house, on whose earnings both the family's reputation in society and the amount of jewelry on the woman's neck depend.
However, in recent years, many Tunisian men (especially from tourist cities) prefer to marry white foreign women. Marriage with a foreign woman can be beneficial: there are no such strict customs regarding relationships before marriage and the ceremony itself is cheaper.
Pension
In retirement, a Tunisian woman is still holding on to her man. She puts the family hearth at the center of her universe, takes care of her grandchildren, but does not bother the young generation with advice. At this time, a Tunisian woman has new worries: meeting with friends, going to the market and attending weddings of children of friends and acquaintances. Usually, a Tunisian grandmother does not feel lonely, even if her husband has already moved away to another world. Unless she becomes more religious and national clothes of pastel and dark colors begin to prevail in her wardrobe. She continues to live in a big house with her many children and grandchildren, and there are more than enough worries here. In Tunisia, it is not customary to send pensioners to a nursing home. There is room for everyone in an Arab house.
Tunisia is a disposable country. Russians are not liked in Tunisia. This is how tourists write about Tunisia on the Internet. I read this using wifi in the hotel reception area where I lived last summer. I heard about this on the way back at the airport from tourists who were standing nearby waiting for boarding. And, leaving Tunisia, for the first time I didn’t throw a coin into the sea to come back here again.
In the first part of his story I talked about the first two reasons: about aggressive Arabs, about their tricks and deceptions, as well as about the widespread harassment of Russian women.
3. So, the third reason.Dislike for Russians. External affection for Russian ladies does not prevent Tunisians, to put it mildly, to openly dislike our people in principle.
"Russia", - the saleswomen in the store laughed ironically, looking towards the fitting room, where my friend was picking up a swimsuit. She asked the Tunisian girls to "Bring some more-less-and-there-that-orange ones."
However, after a few minutes, the sellers smoothed their hair, straightened their backs and stretched smiles across their faces. Just like single ladies over 30 in a restaurant when a seemingly solvent candidate appears. Tourists from France entered the shop.
The same store and fashionable Muslim swimsuit on a mannequin.
The information about my friend, the fitting room was erased from the memory card of the sellers at the moment. They didn’t look up when we put our swimsuits back in place and left their class society.
We only managed to try on the goods
“Russia is not good, Putin is not good. Tunisia is not to love Ben Ali. Russia can't love Putin, ”argued the talkative taxi driver who was taking me home.
“But Putin won the election. So, they love ... ”, - I answered him.
“Is your last name Putin? Are you his sister? " - the taxi driver cackled. Then he began to give his reasons: about the Syrian government, which is supported by a bad Putin, about the Gaza Strip ... Putin, according to the taxi driver, was to blame for all the world wars and terrorist attacks. And therefore, the lord of the steering wheel and wheels concluded, there will soon be a revolution in Russia too.
Like-minded taxi drivers and supporters of revolutions now and then rally in the center of the capital of Tunisia, by the way, which bears the same name as the country. Before our eyes, several dozen men in tight trousers and shirts were waving cardboard boxes with Arabic inscriptions. By noon, the air warmed up quite in African style up to +45 degrees.
It was even hotter yesterday. But more people came. They even broke that fountain in protest against the Syrian authorities, - the guide told us.
Our guide was educated in Russia. Apart from Russian, he is fluent in English and French. His attitude to the revolution is fundamentally different from that of the taxi driver:
Our newspapers write that the rebels are great, the Arab spring is good. Powder the brains of those who believe, hard workers. After the revolution in our country there was no order, no law, no power. The president gets a big salary and does nothing. On all channels he is scolded: such and such. In a cafe, men sit and scold too. We have freedom of speech, "spring". Democracy. And no one scolded the former President Ben Ali. It was impossible. But he kept the country in a fist and in stability. He developed tourism, gave loans to people. The economy grew ahead of Russia. Everyone was buying a home. The poor numbered only 3 percent. And garbage dumps, such as now, were bred on the streets. The authorities controlled everything.
By the way, many here are sure that the French newspapers are to blame for the devastation. They put pressure on the Tunisians: "You have bread, but no democracy ..."
4. It is the dirt, garbage, as the guide put it, - another reason why you don't want to return to Tunisia.
The lawns, the beach, the streets in Tunisia are littered with crumpled newspaper bags, brown lumps after horse camels and rotting food, which emits a unique aroma. We walked to the beach from the hotel along the path on which someone decided to arrange a dump. One day I had to close my eyes to the children. A dead cat was decomposing in the rubbish heap all day.
At the hotel we were pestered by the ubiquitous flies who strove to swim in the soup and be sure to roll in the national dish of couscous.
Luckily for us, we have not seen "elephants". According to the tourists who lived in the neighborhood, their nightmare was the rats, crawling on the bar in the evening and licking the not dried remains of pizza and beer. At the request to remove, shoot, poison the waiter only smiled apologetically. Like, sorry-sorry-pardon-pasiba, powerless. Rats live on palms and palms are very tall.
Then our interlocutors, in a company with outraged Italians, almost made their "revolution", made a hubbub at the reception desk and called for the dismissal of the chief hotel manager. The latter nevertheless went out to the people and promised to arrange a massive rat terror.
5. Ramadan. This month is sacred for Muslims. These days, all believers, and there are more than 90 percent of them in Tunisia, do not eat or drink anything until sunset. Indulgences are given only to children and pregnant women. True believers in Ramadan, like Christians in Lent, try not to sin.
However, a tourist and Ramadan are badly compatible things. Especially where there are few visitors. Together with the children, we went on an excursion to the capital of Tunisia.
The kids were exhausted from heat and thirst, and we, adults, could not buy them water. All shops and shops were closed until evening. When one of the elderly women tried to drink the remaining liquid from a plastic bottle on the street, she heard a sharp: “You can't! Sin!" Drinking or eating food in public in Ramadan is like our kindergarten smoker. Condemned and stops abruptly.
Muslims in Tunisia observe their fast in all conditions. At the Kartashland amusement park, we watched the toilet cleaner faint. She was placed along the sinks on the countertop. But she did not dare to drink water, having regained consciousness ...
6. The pace of life. We found out when we arrived that no one is in a hurry in Tunisia. Everyone waited for luggage for two hours. At first, for some reason, he was not taken. Then the bags began to fall out onto the conveyor belt.
When we were happy and things still fell into our hands, it was time to wait for the transfer bus driver. For about an hour he smoked, thought and talked with a colleague ...
Nothing has changed at the hotel. The country continued to show its calm, like a sleeping donkey, disposition. Neither the waiters, nor the cleaning ladies, nor the same donkeys on the road, nor the flies eating bread in the dining room, were in no hurry. Brush off the remnants of pasta from the table, remove the cigarette butts from the garden, wash the toilet, could in an hour, a week, a month ...
We flew back in a huge two-story Boeing. Several hundred people first tried for a long time to sneak through two small check-in counters.
Then a huge queue stuck to the flight gate. According to the time on the ticket, the plane had to soar in the air for 30 minutes.
However, an even male voice suddenly changed his mind about letting us out into the previously designated corridor and announced that "Russo Turisto" must go to a completely opposite place. The foreigners must have been amused when the motley swearing crowd, rumbled with packages of deuterium liquor, crossed this largest airport in North Africa. However, it was far from the final of the Russo show. Several bottles broke, mascara and lipstick melted and floated over sweaty faces, and even children began to speak with swear words, when the same even voice again asked Russian citizens to return to the original exit ...
7. Lack of freedom. The Arab country dictates its own rules of the game. And if in the hotel French women in only panties are allowed to dive next to the ladies wrapped in scarves and trousers, then this number will not pass outside the gate.
Close your shoulders, hide your knees, forget about matriarchy, but learn the foundations of Ramadan. The desire to wear shorts or a T-shirt is not forgiven; it is punishable by sidelong glances from local women and hot harassment of local men. By the way, if a Muslim girl appears on the beach in a bikini, then a police officer can approach her.
I am from Tyumen, - a Russian girl Anya, a sales manager, told me. Anya walked around the hotel and invited tourists to the spa.
I came here to work, according to an ad, met a Tunisian guy at the hotel, fell in love. We tried to live together simply, without a wedding, but all our relatives reared up. I had to get married ...
After the wedding, Anya wears only long skirts to the floor and has completely stopped painting. Our other Russian friend with a Tunisian residence permit, Nastya, works as a hotel guide. She is unusually determined, mobile, well-mannered and speaks passable English. Everyone respects her, even the chief hotel manager. But Nastya is married, without makeup and traces of paint in her hair, in a strict skirt that covers her knees.
8. No sunburn. I confess, the rule "before 10 and after 5" I, like my friends, forgot at home. I roasted my white sides on white sand from morning to night. Despite my forgetfulness and loyalty to the way of life of seals, I managed, firstly, not to burn out, and, secondly, almost never get tanned.
But it’s not that bad. ABOUT you can, of course, relax in Tunisia. Moreover, it is relatively cheap. If you have a husband / lover / boyfriend, congenital indifference, French and burqa. Decide to go to this country - see the largest airport and zoo in North Africa
and the oldest Carthage in the world.
Buy beads made from live jasmine, the national flower of Tunisia.
Visit the fairytale village of Sidi Bou Said, painted in blue and white.
See flocks of real pink flamingos.
In the restaurant of Hammamet you will taste the beer brewed with you.
Warm up in snow-colored sand by the clear Mediterranean Sea. Buy a glamorous pink or trendy green leather bag, fill it with inexpensive jewelry,
leather slippers
and quality souvenirs.
For example, a plate on the wall costs 30-40 rubles, a mug - the same amount, and a souvenir camel or a vase-drum - from 10 rubles.
Get to know a culture attractive to Europeans: the Muslim-Arab world with French manners, language, cars
Almost all cars in Tunisia are of French brands
The unique Russian vodka stands out among the graceful French and Italian favorites. The usual half-liter "Absolute" costs 130 dollars in Tunisia. And in clubs it is three times more expensive.
You should definitely try the signature Tunisian liqueur of dates, soft milk almonds
and a delicacy - cactus fruits. Good luck!
What is the attitude towards Russians in Tunisia?
With the onset of the summer season, most people start looking for the best place to stay. The world's best resorts and exotic countries are especially popular. Tunisia is considered one of the best places for recreation, where there is everything, both for active and relaxing holidays. It is interesting for everyone to know: is it worth going to Russian tourists to relax in Tunisia?
Why should Russians go to Tunisia?
- Clean sea, white beaches, untouched nature and excellent climatic conditions. This is an ideal place for families with children.
- Affordable prices make Tunisia popular with tourists from all over the world. In addition to a beach holiday, you can take a course of medical therapy. Tunisia is famous for its healing procedures that restore strength and energy.
- Incredible Sahara excursions are attracting more and more outdoor enthusiasts. In addition, each excursion is carefully designed to meet the needs of each tourist. Here everyone can find something interesting for themselves. For example, you can visit the Roman amphitheater, olive groves, troglodyte caves and more. You can go on a camel or ATV trip.
- Developed infrastructure aimed at meeting the needs of every tourist. Everyone can find for themselves both a comfortable hotel and a budget accommodation option. Also in Tunisia there is a lot of entertainment for both adults and children. In other words, this is a paradise on earth where everyone can find an unforgettable vacation for themselves.
- Affordable prices and excellent service make Tunisia one of the most popular destinations among tourists from all over the world, including Russian citizens.
- In addition, most tour operators offer last-minute tours every year, allowing everyone to relax and still have an unforgettable vacation.
Why shouldn't Russians go to Tunisia?
- Compared to Egypt, Tunisia has a low level of service. That's how lucky someone is. You can get an unforgettable vacation if you choose the right tourist destination, or you can be disappointed in this country. Tunisia can be divided into tourist and local. Areas aimed at accepting the wealthy tourist are characterized by an excellent level of service. If you choose a cheap vacation, then you can meet the lack of service. It all depends on the tour operator. It is recommended to trust only leading companies with many years of experience and an impeccable reputation. This will be a guarantee of a quality and comfortable stay.
- Ambiguous attitude towards Russians. There is an opinion that Russians are not liked in Tunisia, but all because of their greed. Compared to European tourists, Russians leave less tips, and this is very disliked by the service staff. Of course, not all Tunisia is the same and you can find people who are friendly towards Russians. In most cases, it all depends on the tourists themselves and their attitude towards the locals.
- Men in Tunisia are characterized by increased attention to women, especially from other countries. Therefore, it is not recommended for young women to travel to Tunisia unaccompanied. At the same time, you should not worry too much about this, because Tunisian men are strong believers and adhere to their laws. From them you can only expect a lot of compliments and admiration for a woman.
What do tourists say?
Jenny
Tunisians are very specific, I had to work with them, I can say that they do not have a bad attitude towards Russians, they simply divide all people into Tunisians, that is, people of the first grade, and everyone else, such as "third grade". On the other hand, if you look at the statistics, tourists do not disappear there, do not get into accidents, return safe and sound.
Igor Boldyrev
Russians in Turkey have nothing to fear. The attitude towards our compatriots is even and welcoming, and the sellers have not yet forgotten the language.
Tunisians are very friendly to their guests. They treated the first Russian tourists just like the rest. But I'll tell you this: now Russian tourists are not liked anywhere. This is the stereotype created by Russian citizens. More and more foreigners do not go to the places where Russians are resting, they are even ready to pay extra for it. Inculture, drunkenness, boorish behavior, and even about the buffets, I generally keep quiet - only Russians can take out food.
Tunisians are friendly and welcoming people. I rested alone in Hammamet at the Sentido Aziza hotel. The French, British, Germans rested in the hotel. I was alone among the Russian speakers at that time. The attitude towards everyone is equal. Outside the hotel is completely safe at all times. The attitude in hotels in Egypt and in hotels in Tunisia is heaven and earth. True, they speak little Russian (almost nothing), but a minimum of knowledge of English, and better French, plus international sign language make communication accessible and pleasant. Tunisia and Tunisians really liked me. I would like to go back there.
Natalia
The Russian people there are tourists, and the tourists bring money with them. And therefore, there can be no negative attitude towards them, do not be afraid. Especially in the tourist areas, everyone is very polite to Russians. Moreover, many graduates of Russian universities work there, so there will be no problems with the language.
nata_popova
External affection for Russian ladies, however, does not prevent Tunisians, to put it mildly, openly dislike our people in principle.
Tatyana
In Tunisia, Russian tourists are treated friendly. I was in Tunisia two years ago - they just periodically flared up unrest, and in the central squares of the capital there was armored vehicles. But life went on as usual. If I asked the locals something, they always stopped and answered. There was a small problem with the language - for them French is more familiar than English, but Eastern hospitality does its job and everyone tried to help. We were very surprised by the merchants in the souvenir shops, which, unlike the Egyptians, are more restrained and civilized.
Irina
Ordinary Turks reason differently. Some, thanks to propaganda, began to see Russia as the source of their troubles.
Elena
I would like to add my review about the rest in Tunisia. I twice rested in this country in the resort area of \u200b\u200bSousse. They greeted us very kindly. The administrator spoke quite passable Russian. True, there weren't many Russians in the hotel. Tunisians were pleasantly surprised to be greeted in French and Arabic (easy to learn). All staff are very discreet. If you remember to thank the dinar (Tunisian currency), you are always welcome for the staff. Tipping is given in hand. Special attention is paid to women without men. But no one will show rudeness and impudence. This year I will go to Tunisia again. I don't feel any barrier in this country, especially knowing a little French. Be yourself polite and attentive! Tunisia will greet you with a gentle sea and generous sun!
Video
Sources
- https://turtella.ru/Tunisia/q3675.html https://ftour.otzyv.ru/read.php?id\u003d4010 https://www.rutraveller.ru/quest?id\u003d31998