In the land of Maghreb and Habibi

When meeting a man, look at his left ear, drink tea with nuts, and look for a rose in the lake. I learned this and much more while traveling in Tunisia.

To Africa for two hundred bucks

I got to Tunisia by chance - at a press conference, which turned into a noisy buffet, one of the owners of a network of travel agencies suggested that I go to any country in the world for two hundred bucks. Of course, I agreed and the next day I was already standing at the door of his office. Sober and slightly taken aback, he nevertheless turned out to be a real gentleman and a man of his word. A few days later, at the Sheremetyevo-2 airport, I registered a ticket for a flight to Monastir airport. By the way, in the next window, the flight to Haifa was arranged by Efim Shifrin.

The flight was calm and comfortable. It should be noted that for me flying is a special adventure, I just love airplanes. Below lies earthly beauty: the snow-white peaks of the Alps, the European coast of the Mediterranean - the Riviera with neat, white hotel buildings, the blue waters of the sea ...

Country of victorious feminism

The first thing you pay attention to upon arrival in Tunisia is the intoxicating smells of flowers: oleander, jasmine, bougainvillea. And very tall grass - here's Africa! I drove all over Tunisia from south to north. One of the countries of the Maghreb - an ancient Arab conglomerate - today is a symbiosis of a European-Arab state. Before independence, Tunisia was ruled by the French. They left behind colonial architecture, French - the second official language after Arabic - and baguettes with croissants. Islam here is not as decisive as in neighboring Algeria or Libya, the attitude towards believers is calm. There are almost no large families in Tunisia, there are two, rarely three kids in families. Tunisian men jokingly call their homeland the country of victorious feminism. Indeed, this is perhaps the only country in the Arab world where the equality of women is guaranteed by the constitution. Girls study here, women work. And the traffic police have no right to stop a car for a violation if it is driven by a woman.

Unlike other Islamic countries, polygamy is prohibited in Tunisia. And it's not easy for a man to get a wife. The claimant for the hand and heart must be rich enough to pay the bride price and have a steady income so that the girl's parents marry their daughter to him. And the wedding ceremony is an expensive business. The bride must be provided with dresses that she must change at the wedding three times: gold, silver and silk. Previously, each bride had to have robes, and they passed from mother to daughter. Today they are rented. The rental price is about $ 30 per day, while the average salary is about $ 200 per month. As a wedding gift, the groom is obliged to present to the bride at least 3 kg of gold jewelry. Tunisia has the largest number of unmarried 25-30 year old men. And same-sex relationships between men are also not uncommon.

In general, in Tunisia there is a feeling that only young people live here. There are especially many children on the streets who feel completely independent, and young people.

Man with jasmine

Having visited Tunisia, I now clearly know which of our compatriots is the most popular. Hearing that I was from Russia, local residents, demonstrating remarkable knowledge of politics, declared: "Oh, Putin!" And when they saw our blondes, they shouted: "Hello, Anna KurnikOva!" But more often they were called Natasha.

Having seen enough Tunisians in fez with bouquets of jasmine behind their ear, I asked one what this outfit meant. He mysteriously said: "Habibi" ("beloved") - and handed the flower, without explaining anything. Then a few more men on the street gave me this gift. Intrigued by this, I turned to our guide Sasha. He laughed, "You missed your chance to marry a Tunisian!" It turns out that this is a traditional way of getting to know each other: a guy hands out a sprig of jasmine to a girl he likes, and she herself decides whether to start a relationship. Also, by colors, you can determine the marital status of a man. If he wears a twig with flowers behind his right ear, then he is married, and behind his left ear, he is single. But do not reassure yourself that there are crystal-clear men living in Tunisia.

Troglodytes - ancestors of the Slavs?

Tunisia has a lot of attractions: the famous Carthage, and the Roman Colosseum in El Jem, and the world's largest salt lake Shott el-Jerid, and the unforgettable Sahara Desert, and the beautiful Atlas Mountains. And Tunisia can also be called an African "dream factory". Many popular Hollywood films have been filmed here. In the Serpent Canyon - the film "The English Patient", in the El Jem amphitheater "Gladiator" with Russell Crowe, in the town of Matmata - the second episode of "Star Wars" by George Lucas with its famous lunar landscapes. Believe it or not, Lucas didn't even have to build a special set - everything was already created by nature.

I was very surprised by the natives of Tunisia - the Berbers inhabiting the desert areas. They call themselves Amazigh - Berbers, or barbarians, they were called by the Europeans. Once it was a large people with an ancient history, but today there are no more than 2% of them in Tunisia. Berber blood is in the veins of world football star Zinedine Zidane and French singer Edith Piaf. Berbers still live in the Atlas Mountains, cutting down their homes right in the rock. Everything is simple inside: there is no electricity, furniture and complex household appliances. The scorching daytime sun and cold nights combine to create a comfortable temperature for living inside a neatly whitewashed cave. And you also don’t have to pay for gas, electricity and land rent. But no matter how poor the Tunisian is, he goes to buy fresh bread three times a day! Having decided to separate from his relatives, a young Berber is looking for a suitable hill in the vicinity and digs a large hole in its top - this is an inner courtyard. Passages-corridors and cameras-rooms are dug from a hole inside the hill. All the premises of such a house are actually underground - hence the second, Roman, name of the Berbers - troglodytes (literally - "living underground"). According to one hypothesis, the Berbers have common roots with the Slavs. Indeed, I saw a pair of blue-eyed and fair-haired Berbers, and the language of one of the Berber tribes is similar to Old Church Slavonic.

The huge salt lake Shott el Jerid is located in the sands of the Sahara. Surrounded by dunes, an absolutely flat surface covered with a salt crust stretches for many kilometers. Water appears here only in spring and is a thick brine of various shades. The only flower that can survive in such conditions is the desert rose - a beautiful formation of crystals of gypsum and salt. You can buy it as a souvenir from the Berbers or, if you are lucky, find it on the lake yourself. The flat surface of Lake Shott el Jerid is considered an ideal place for mirages.

Inga IVANOVA.

BUTTON: 10 must-do things in Tunisia:

1. Spend the night in the underground home of Jedi Luke Skywalker from Star Wars.

2. Drive a jeep through the sandy dunes of the Sahara.

3. Find the desert rose at the Shott el-Jerid salt lake.

4. Visit the gladiator's chamber in the El Jem Colosseum.

5. Stay in a Berber dwelling in Matmata.

6. Inspect the ruins of Carthage.

7. Take a photo for memory at the monument to Hannibal.

8. Taste the famous Tibarin date liqueur ...

9.… and wonderful Tunisian green tea with pine nuts.

10. Buy excellent local olive oil.

In the photo: Fenech is a kind of fox - the national symbol of Tunisia.

This Shell gas station is featured in Lucas' Star Wars.

In a cave-dwelling of a native berberk.

The main means of transportation in Tunisia are dromedaries - one-humped camels.

returning from distant wanderings ...

RUSSIAN WOMAN AS IDEAL TUNISIAN MAN

Gone are those blessed times when women's fatness was not considered a disadvantage. Today, on the planet Earth occupied by photo models, there are very few places left where the true beauty of a woman is appreciated. Tunisia is just such a rare place. The local men do not deprive the attention of slender ladies, but from the sight of stately ones they simply melt. A Russian woman of any body size is beyond competition here. And to marry a Russian means to arouse general envy. Why? Girlfriend Svetlana, without hesitation, gave a simple explanation: "It's just that ours are beautiful." It is difficult to agree with this categorical statement while in Russia. Women on swollen legs with heavy bags in their hands look a little like Marilyn Monroe. But the fact is that under the southern sun, Russian women bloom in two days.
Svetka and I fantasized about what kind of beauties we could turn into if we lived without exhausting work, without a hard family life, but with confidence in the future, with a well-earning husband, with a personal car in the garage at the house, with rest on the warm sea every three months ...

In my opinion, Europeans are generally not good-looking (with the exception of blacks). However, they could look a little more attractive if at least occasionally they used makeup and did not dress so sadly. But even on vacation, they neglect these simple feminine tricks. I used to think that it was because of laziness. However, having visited their countries, I realized: Western women do not need to decorate themselves. In their homeland, they are in short supply. First of all, because the stronger sex prevails among them in number, does not sit in prisons and is not addicted to alcohol to the extent that it is usual in Russia. And this is already a consequence of the high standard of living and the long-term struggle of women for their rights.

Nevertheless, Arabs highly value the character, intelligence and appearance of Russian women. In Tunisia, everyone we met, from a hotel employee to a beach bead merchant, asked whether we were Polish or Czech. Hearing the magic word "rashn", everyone showed such delight, as if they saw the resurrected prophet Muhammad in front of them! Constantly sounded: "Russian woman from the best!" ("The Russian woman is the best!").

In shops, sellers will be happy if you let them try on, for example, a necklace. And although during the fitting, the Tunisian will stand almost half a meter behind you, you will understand why he prefers pants that are loose at the hips ...

UNCONVENTIONAL ISLAM

Most of the Tunisian population is Muslim. But unlike other Muslim countries, here muezzins do not shout from minarets, and believers do not spread prayer rugs on the streets. Islam in Tunisia has been modernized by the current president, Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, who studied at the best universities in Europe. He legislatively overturned the strictest codes of the Koran. In particular, he canceled polygamy (only in exceptional cases it is possible to take a second wife), allowed to shave beards, smoke, drink alcohol, and have abortions.
In connection with these indulgences, young people have become loose, as the old people think, and less and less often look into the mosque, stop observing Ramadan and have become addicted to beer. There was even theft, which is practically absent in the countries of strict Islam, where thieves are supposed to chop off their hands (in fact, they haven’t been chopped off for a long time, since there are practically no thieves).
But it seemed to me that there are still fewer thieves in Tunisia than, for example, in European resorts. More precisely, I did not see a single one and did not hear that someone was robbed. However, just in case, I hid a couple of kilograms of jewelry brought from Russia in a suitcase under lock and key: what if the maid would mistake the pieces of iron for precious metal? There is no need to provoke a servant.

The death penalty has been abolished in these parts, but for the most serious crimes - for example, the rape of minors or disabled people - life imprisonment is awarded without the right to amnesty. For the use or distribution of drugs - 15 years in prison.

Tunisians mention with trepidation the name of the head of state, who will turn 70 next year. Ben-Ali's portraits are in almost every room - in a shop, in an office, in a hotel - in the most prominent place. They explained to us that for half a century of independence, the country had only two presidents, including the current one, and both took care of the people with all their might. When the first president died at a very old age, even after his death it was not revealed that he or his relatives appropriated at least one millim from the state treasury (millim is a small coin, a thousandth of a dinar).

The standard of living of the population is indeed steadily increasing. By the way, 30% of the country's budget is allocated for health care and education. The average salary in the country is about half a thousand dollars, but doctors and teachers earn much more. The pension is 90% of the salary.

We can only envy the Tunisians, although Russia also had two presidents, including the current one.

Progressive President Ben Ali has banned women from wearing the veil. Therefore, young Arab women are dressed almost in European style. They are, in my opinion, very nice. As for those who are older, I can not say anything: they are wrapped from head to toe in fabric, like sculptures before the grand opening. Neither face nor figure could be seen.

By the way, especially religious Tunisians walk the streets in mules without backs on their bare feet. And men are actively interested in the legs of their compatriots. Rather, their feet painted with henna (the rest is covered). The ornament determines whether a woman is married or not. Very practical.

It is not customary for local women to visit cafes. Female employees order lunch at the office. Then the waiter comes for the dishes.
But men have been sitting at tables since early morning. And they see off the passing tourists with burning eyes.

They say that Tunisians take their spouses off to the establishments to drink coffee so that they do not get in the way while breakfast or dinner is being prepared. Also very practical.

THE COUNTRY IS BREAKING FROM BRIDES AND ... Grooms

Although two-thirds of Tunisia's population is under 35, there are plenty of unmarried women.
First, potential suitors have been migrating to France for decades in search of work, since post-colonial Tunisia has high unemployment (officially 17%, but in reality more).
Secondly, not everyone is able to pay money for the bride. The Qur'an says that kalym should not be less than one dinar. But fathers perceive their daughters as a means of getting rich quick, and there are no fools to part with their treasure for just a dinar.

Parents approach the construction of the married life of their children very seriously, not letting things go by themselves, as is usual with us. "Small wedding" or, in European terms, the engagement takes place in the presence of a narrow circle of relatives - no more than three or four hundred people. Then, during at least a six-month probationary period, the groom cannot meet with the chosen one in private, but can visit her at home, coming with gifts for the betrothed and her family members. Thus, by the time of the “Big Wedding”, the bride already has a refrigerator, TV, microwave oven, satellite dish, crockery sets, furniture sets and other things necessary for a good household. Therefore, up to 30-35 years old, a Tunisian hunchbacks for the right to bring his wife into the house, and for many years has been working hard to pay off creditors.

If the girl's parents do not like any gift, the engagement may be terminated. And then the girl has the prospect of withering away forever in the old maidens.

"Big wedding" for three days does not let anyone in the city fall asleep. The number of those invited sometimes exceeds two thousand people. Each guest must shove a coin between the fingers of the bride's hands.

Very noisy fun. The zurna hums incessantly, drums and tambourines rumble. On the third day at night, a line of dozens of cars carries the bride's gifts to the groom's house. Cars, mercilessly signaling, seven times go around the central square "November 7" (in all Tunisian cities the main square is called "November 7" - on this day the "jasmine revolution" ended and the independence of Tunisia was declared).

And the groom, who is called the Sultan during the wedding, walks to his house at dawn, accompanied by two married friends. Friends take turns whispering in his ear how to behave in bed with a woman. Playful boys are spinning around and trying to catch the words from the marriage instruction. But the musicians following the "Sultan" play so loudly that he himself hears little and understands little from fatigue.

The groom enters the house, where the bride is waiting for him, while the musicians and guests are having fun outside. Half an hour later, the newly-minted husband returns with a bouquet of flowers in his hands, which means confirmation of the bride's innocence. Everyone is overjoyed. The sun rises.

Often the groom meets his future wife only at his wedding. The bride is not chosen by him, but by his mother. Who, if not a mother, knows everything about her son? And then, the daughter-in-law also needs to be chosen according to her liking. This is done on the second day of the "Big Wedding" - this day is called "Bride's Day" or "Henna Day". The groom and all male guests go to the "bachelor party", while the bride and her bridesmaids with henna-painted hands and feet gather separately for the "brides fair". The girls are dressed in revealing clothes so that all the advantages of their appearance are available to the views of women, who specially come to look after a couple for their children. In a conversation with the chosen one, mothers find out how smart and courteous she is, then ask the neighbors what the girl's parents are, and whether there are many donkeys and camels in her family.

I think you have already understood why divorce is extremely rare in Tunisian families.
By the way, a woman can get a divorce if she proves that her husband is passive in bed. All property of the husband goes to the divorced. And in this, again, our old ladies can envy the inhabitants of Tunisia.

FORGED DUREMARS

For the first time in a foreign country, you gaze with curiosity at the landscape outside the bus window on your way from the airport to the place of your upcoming habitat. The first impression of Tunisia is an endless desert in which hardworking people plant gardens and build buildings on sand and clay. Although here 40% of the country's territory is called a real desert, in which only 5% of the 11 million Tunisians live.

Everywhere, even in the sandy desert, there are excellent roads. Smooth asphalt road without a hint of "patching" so beloved by the Russian authorities. And on the sides of the road there are pink plastic bags with rubbish, which the locals periodically collect during subbotniks. And there are also booths with the sign "toilet". Imagine they have water flush toilets! These "amenities" are especially surprising in the Sahara.
Well, what to take from the wild children of the desert? ..

Snow-white or yellow houses, houses and houses made of stone or brick in the Moorish style - with many arches, stairs, verandas and balconies flit along the road. The buildings are extraordinarily beautiful and do not look like one another. And hotels are like palaces from the fairy tale "A Thousand and One Nights", they delight with their splendor.

To be honest, it always becomes embarrassing abroad for Russian architects ...

There are an unusually large number of unfinished buildings, near which construction materials are lying, but workers are not visible. Guide Kostya explained that the Koran forbids giving money "in growth" or taking it at interest. Therefore, faithful Arabs invest in building their own homes as they earn them. In addition, construction takes place only during the cooler winter months. That is why decades pass from the first brick to the erection of the roof over the house.

Most of the Tunisian population feeds on agriculture. Yes, there, as we do, there are no fertile lands and deep-water rivers, but Tunisians drill wells (often just with the help of a donkey), dig wells and diligently water their plantings.

There are 55 million olive trees in the country. And there is not a single ownerless! The tree produces 30 liters of oil per year. The more olive trees a person has in the household, the richer he is. In the Quran, the olive is called the "sacred tree."
The owners of each olive tree, some of which are over a thousand years old, have been known since the 12th century! (And we, do we know our ancestors further than grandfathers?).

For the production of olive oil, Tunisia ranks 4th in the world after Spain, Italy and Greece. Tunisian oil is considered more environmentally friendly, since fertilizers and pesticides are never used in the country, and the fruits from the tree are harvested by hand (in Europe, they are first sprayed with a chemical liquid so that the olives fall on their own).

Watermelons, melons, pumpkins, pineapples are planted between the rows of olive trees ...
The plots are separated from the road by plantings of cacti, dotted with fruits that are shaped like potatoes. They are called prickly pears. My friend and I called them duremars.
When the Duremars ripen, they turn yellow. Then you can eat them. But do not try to pick such a fruit with your hands on occasion! Like "parents", "children" are covered with thorns. Moreover, the most insidious are tiny thorns almost imperceptible to the eye. If they get under the skin, then they give very unpleasant sensations for a long time. Locals harvest the cactus crop with thick gloves, putting a loop on the base of the fruit. Then the thorns are removed from the duremar, for which they are treated in rotating containers with water and sand.
These exotic fruits should be peeled off before eating. And I highly recommend wearing gloves.
The fruit of the cactus is almost tasteless, but juicy and good for quenching thirst. They are cheap - a bucket costs 1 dinar (22 rubles). But tourists don't know this. And we didn't know. Therefore, during a journey through the sultry desert for 1 dinar, they bought 4 purified duremars. And they ate them with pleasure. Trying not to think that the Bedouin hardly washed their hands before cutting the peel ...

After the olive for the Arabs, the second most important tree is the date palm. Dates have probably tasted everything. But in Tunisia, they are incredibly tasty.
The date palm bears fruit for about one and a half hundred years, and then it is cut down. The stump produces white juice, 6 liters per day. It is believed to cure many diseases. Europeans call this juice "palm milk", and locals call it "legbi". Fermented Legby gives a narcotic-like reaction.

Tunisia is called the only country in the Arab world where women have found equality alongside men. However, the country remains Muslim in one way or another - 95% of the population are Muslims. This cannot but leave an imprint on the culture and life of women. According to statistics, there are more men in the country than women - about 6 million versus 4 million. Maybe that's why they try not to offend the weak half of humanity.

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. There is a cat in the house that usually walks by itself, and a dog that guards the house.
During this period, the Tunisian girl does not feel any infringement of her 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 ​​at 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 cannot go for a walk after school, much less go to a disco or visit. " In schools, you rarely see girls in hijabs, but everyone dresses quite 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. Defamation of 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 the 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 electorate), work in public administration (28%), in education (39–45%), in medicine (33%), they can 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 was officially banned in Tunisia. 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 them (maybe even leave them 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, the Tunisian woman has new worries: meeting with her friends, going to the market and attending weddings of the 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.

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 have a rest in Tunisia?

Why should Russians go to Tunisia?

• Clean sea, white beaches, unspoiled 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 excursions across the Sahara 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, both for 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 popular destinations among tourists from all over the world, including among 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 unaccompanied to Tunisia. 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 large number 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 are not bad about Russians specifically, they simply divide all people into Tunisians, that is, people of the first grade, and all the rest, such as "third grade". On the other hand, if we turn to statistical data, 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, 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 will tell you this: now Russian tourists are not liked anywhere. This is the stereotype that Russian citizens have created. More and more foreigners do not go to the places where Russians are resting, they are even ready to pay extra for it. Incivility, 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. It is completely safe outside the hotel at all times. The attitude in the hotels of Egypt and in the hotels of 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. I really liked Tunisia and Tunisians. I would like to go back there.

Natalia

Russian people there are tourists, and tourists bring money with them. And therefore, there can be no negative attitude towards them, do not be afraid. Especially in 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.

Tatiana

In Tunisia, Russian tourists are treated friendly. I was in Tunisia two years ago - they just periodically flared up unrest, and armored vehicles were in the central squares of the capital. 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 - they are more accustomed to French 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.

Helena

I would like to add my own review about the rest in Tunisia. I twice rested in this country in the resort area of ​​Sousse. We were greeted 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 do not forget to thank the dinar (Tunisian currency), you are always welcome for the staff. Tipping is given in the hands. 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!

They chomp and eat with their hands

Tunisians have no problems with appetite, while at the table they like to chomp with relish and often forget to use the devices. No, they just don't need a fork. It's much nicer to use a slice of bread, which you can dip in the soup or grab some salad with it. All the hottest sauces are also eaten with bread. In a restaurant, a meal begins with the waiter placing a basket with a baguette and a plate of harissa and mishuey pepper salad (egg, pepper and butter) on the table. Ten minutes later, a hot dish and drinks are brought in. Tunisians do not hesitate to drink food with cola or citronado (lemon juice with sugar). At the same time, they will gladly crawl their bread and into your plate. Friendship here truly knows no bounds!

They greet each other in transport

In the Moscow metro, people unsuccessfully seek to isolate themselves from each other: they turn to the window, close their eyes and stick their headphones in, turning on the music to the maximum. In Tunisia, passengers do exactly the opposite. They love to chat in a taxi, so all passengers always greet and smile at each other. Then a political dispute begins or a trifling conversation about how hot it is today. Although it was hot yesterday. And tomorrow it will be hot too.

They laugh until they drop

Whatever anxiety and excitement overwhelmed the head of a Tunisian, when you can laugh and have fun, he will drop the rest of the worries. Sincerely and selflessly, he will plunge into the atmosphere of the holiday at any given opportunity. Friends are what you need to forget about everything together - that's what the indigenous Tunisians think. If you do not want to be considered a gray mouse at a big party, join the rosy mood of the crowd, and problems will wait at home.

They love to lie

This is the way it is in this country, but Tunisians are better at inventing fables than telling the truth. It is not customary to show all cards at once here. Not a single Tunisian will refuse the opportunity to “embellish reality” by telling new acquaintances about their life, especially if there are attractive persons among them. It is not uncommon for you, even after two years of acquaintance, to have no opportunity to find out how everything really is there ... A person can invent a high position for himself on the go and compose a story about a mysterious past. Ten minutes ago, your new friend seemed like a completely ordinary hard worker, but here he has already grown in your eyes to a massage specialist, whom he studied for ten years in China, and at the same time he runs a nice cafe nearby and sells oils abroad. A successful businessman can easily turn out to be a fruit seller in a nearby shop. You will have to debunk the myths on the spot, but be prepared not to fall for cheap tricks.

They count other people's money

Local girls and boys have one weakness - expensive things. Apartments, cars, any luxury appliances and accessories are discussed everywhere in this country. Many people like to complain that in neighboring Libya, every second drives around in a luxury foreign car, and in Algeria, people are born with money in their pockets. At the same time, Tunisians often mention that their gasoline is more expensive than in other Arab countries, and it is difficult to buy a car, even a simple one. Therefore, if you own the latest iPhone or a good tablet, do not be surprised by the increased attention. They will certainly ask you the price and, perhaps, they will look enviously: "Nice phone ..." There is a special attitude to telephones in general.

They like to be mean

The Tunisians know how to ask for something, and this does not bother them at all. There are cases when young guys from Tunisia, after a week of acquaintance, managed to beg a lot of money from tourists who had left for their homeland. Our ladies are so naive that they are ready to believe horror stories about the loss of money, work, housing and generously help new friends. Tunisians skillfully use such openness and kindness and accept gifts from "rich friends" without pain in their hearts. They can use the most cruel techniques and, with the dexterity of magicians, affect the most vulnerable points of a woman's heart. Be careful!

They throw trash in the street

After the revolution and the change of government, no one here clearly cares about cleanliness. Tunisians, without a moment's hesitation, throw a bottle of juice right on the road, and after smoking a cigarette, they crush the bull with a boot. Under the government of Habib Bourguiba, who served as president for 30 years until 1987, the country had perfect discipline. Street cleaners cleaned the streets to shine, as the local old people say. Everything changed quickly: today people have lost a sense of responsibility for their state, only discontent and exactingness towards the current president remain.

They don't keep track of time

It is pointless to complain about the lack of punctuality of Tunisians. If you have agreed to meet with a Tunisian at 17:00, he may come at 20:30 or forget about the event altogether and remember you the next day. At the same time, he may not have special things to do, but perhaps he was invited to visit on the same evening and he could not refuse kind people. Only a work contract will force a person to be on time, all other reservations do not apply. They do not like problems with the law, but they like to be free from obligations so much that to your indignation the Tunisian will easily answer: “Everything is all right, no problem” - and smiles.