Our path lay through the Tunisian desert, salt marshes and savannah to the city of Hammamet, and further, to.

The road was not close, and our guide decided to diversify it with stories about the life of Tunisians. He himself is an Arab by nationality, but speaks Russian quite well with a slight accent. He knows Russian since his studies in Moscow.

According to him, Tunisians are very friendly, honest and democratic people. We were convinced of this ourselves, having lived in Tunisia for a week. There are no such strict rules for the clothing and behavior of tourists as in other Arab countries, such as the UAE -. But the norms of decency, of course, must with observed.

A little more than 11 million people (11.014 million) live in Tunisia, of which:

• 2 million retirees

• 2 million study (study is free)

• 1 million went to study and work in other countries

• More than 6 million - working people and small children.

There are fewer babies born in Tunisia lately. And not every family has two or three children, as it used to be. What is the reason for this? It is difficult to say, maybe with the emancipation of women, with their employment. Although there are almost as many of them in Tunisia as there are men. There is a special attitude towards them here.

A woman in Tunisia feels like a WOMAN!

- the most progressive Arab country in relation to women! According to the national component: 97% of the Tunisian population are Arabs, 1% Berbers, 1.5% Circassians (people from the Caucasus).

And judging by religious grounds, 98% of them are Muslims, some are Catholics. Therefore, it is surprising that Tunisian women have almost the same rights as European ones!

The most important right is equality with men. They received equality in 1956. Then the Personal Status Code was adopted, which abolished and equalized the rightswomen with men's rights.

Many Tunisians are now active in business, factories and legislatures.

• Only in the Chamber of Deputies there are 22.7%

You can enumerate for a long time the posts and professions where women share equally with menresponsibility and the right to govern your country.

August 13, 1992 also became a significant date for the fair sex. On this day, the President of Tunisia amended the Code and further strengthened the rights of women. Now everyone in Tunisia celebrates this day, and on the eve of the holiday, men sit in front of the TV and find out what additional rights and benefits the government will give to their beauties. Now manyjoke that Tunisia is the only country where men are already fighting for their equality.

The notorious burqa, which distinguishes an Arab woman in other countries, has been completely abolished in Tunisia, and it is prohibited to wear it. A hijab (headscarf) is worn only at will. It is elegant, and of different colors - in most cases it is decorated with pendants made of coins. They wear a hijab beautifully, I would say flirty, and it gives a special charm to women. I must say that Tunisians are very beautiful. Swarthy skin color, regular oval face, almond-shaped eyes - all this creates its own uniqueness.

Wedding in Tunisia

And they still wear the burqa, but only once, on their wedding day. The veil is all in gold jewelry, and how could it be otherwise - after all, a wedding in Tunisia is a very expensive event. They save money for it for a long time, and the groom must have at least three kilograms (!) Of gold in order to shower it on his bride on her wedding day.

A Tunisian wedding lasts a whole week (7 days). All 6 days the bride and groom celebrate the wedding separately from each other: the bride - with her sisters, girlfriends and female relatives, the groom - with his friends and relatives. Only on the seventh day all get together and celebrate both on a grand scale and with a large number of guests.

The guests dress in national clothes. It is quite expensive, and they try to rent it, like everything else - dishes, furniture and other wedding paraphernalia. No wedding takes place without a marriage contract and the national dish "couscous". This is already a tradition in the northern regions of Tunisia. In other areas, traditions are slightly different, depending on the wealth of the area and the indigenous identity of the newlyweds.

Other interesting facts

People get married in Tunisia at the age of 17 - this is the minimum age for marriage for girls (20 for men).

If three children are born in a family, then a woman has the right to retire and receive half of it. Recently, Tunisians have been able to work half a working day with the retention of 2/3 of the salary.

By age - women retire at 55, and men at 65. For those who work in the phosphate mining, a preferential pension of 50 years. The pension is 80% of the last salary.

Education in the country is free, as is medicine. Tunisians are polyglots in their own way - they know Arabic, French, English, Spanish and Italian. And some of them are Russian. True, they speak with an accent.

In higher educational institutions, the majority of students are girls and women. Excellent students are sent to study in other countries,and the state pays for their studies.

Old age is well off here, old single women are entitled to a nurse paid by the state. There are no street children, they are not abandoned. There are no homeless people either. The country lives by the motto, which is being implemented in life: "everything for people", otherwise how?

Tunisia is a tourist destination that is very popular among those who like to relax by the sea. But, as in any country in the world in Tunisia, there are a number of national rules and peculiarities, ignorance of which can cause an embarrassing situation, a reason for resentment or, even worse, an insult. In order not to get trapped, going on vacation to Tunisia, and to join the culture without unpleasant consequences, we recommend that you read this article.

Refuse to kiss

Tunisians are very fond of kissing - both with close people and with friends of friends and with distant relatives of a new friend. When they meet, it is not customary for them to hug or exchange friendly glances eye to eye. Two kisses on one and the other cheek - that's what you need! In the same way, they express the longing after a long separation, and the joy of a new acquaintance, and an everyday greeting. True, such kissing is permissible only among people of the same sex. When a man and a woman meet, they will manage with a dry handshake, which seems rather unusual for a person with a European consciousness. But if you are lucky enough to come to a Tunisian wedding, then here you will have to kiss all the guests indiscriminately. Do not hesitate and smile radiantly to everyone, Tunisians love people with an open mind, as they say themselves.

Flirt on the street

What can I say, Russians who have lived in Tunisia for a long time would not advise responding to any claims of people on the street. Locals can be extremely intrusive in this regard. If a person decides to meet you in one of the tourist areas, then he will follow and try to start a conversation by any means. It will not be difficult for a skilled Tunisian to get you to talk and find out information about whether you have come to Tunisia for the first time, where you live and where you are going in the evening. Then he will come to you in terrible dreams ... Calls and SMS from a new friend will become an integral part of every day of your vacation. Therefore, if you have no desire to make spontaneous acquaintances, then go your own way and do not turn around. Your silence will not offend anyone much, but it will help preserve the right to personal space in a foreign country. Do not flatter yourself when you hear in your address: "Shakira, Shakira, ochen krasiva" - they shout to every fair-haired person passing by. Love for the Colombian singer has grown here into a household name and is promoted at every step.

Eat pork in Ramadan

It is widely known that Muslims do not eat pork under any circumstances. In addition, people who honor their faith will not put a piece of bread in their mouths during Ramadan until 8:00 pm. Tunisians limit themselves to food and drink from sunrise to sunset. Therefore, if you suddenly found yourself in Tunisia in mid-July and took a stick of cervelat with you in reserve, do not rush to eat it in public. This will doubly offend the feelings of believers. Hungry and tired Tunisians who are fasting will look with disdain at anyone who chews in the daytime. Out of respect and tolerance for another culture, it is better not even to drink water on the street. Eat what you want, but at home or in your room, and in the evening you can have an unforgettable time and visit the most popular places. After dinner, well-fed and happy Tunisians will go to listen to street concerts, eat bamboloni (donuts with powdered sugar) cooked in boiling oil right there, and go to the medina for shopping. Join us!

Ask unnecessary questions

Don't try to find out how some Tunisians can spend whole days in cafes lazily sipping espresso. Take it for granted: sit, sit and will sit. Sometimes it's not even clear how this endless sitting is combined with work and where does the money for coffee come from? All street cafes are filled with local men who smoke cigarettes, drink coffee and smoke again, but this time a hookah. They think about something and occasionally exchange a couple of phrases, but mostly they just look at passers-by and cars passing by. After a couple of weeks of living in the rhythm of Tunisia, you begin to get used to this atmosphere and in your gut you feel that this is not so bad. Each time you spend more and more time in the cafe, and it no longer seems strange that the menu often contains nothing but coffee (and it costs all a dinar!) And tea. Thoughts in their turn replace each other, and what is happening around becomes more and more fascinating.

Hustle in a taxi

When you learn to ride a taxi according to local customs, you will be faced with two things: good and bad. Tunisians, getting into a taxi in a tourist city, say “par place” and four of them ride in one car. The driver collects other passengers on the road, so in most cases he travels along one, well-known route. The undoubted plus of this movement is its low cost. In such a situation, you will definitely not overpay and you will get to your destination with a breeze in just 600-900 millimeters (less than one dinar, about 30 rubles). We must not forget about the other side of the coin - it will be cramped. Perhaps you will not always feel a pleasant closeness with a neighbor who accidentally presses you against the window. Or find yourself in the middle, between two Tunisians who are impressed by the emergence of European beauty in their land. Be kind and greet everyone: "Aslema!" ("Hey"). To the question "how are you?" answer: "Hamdullah" (stretching out the sounds with emphasis). This phrase means "thank God." Even if a Tunisian is not in the best mood, but life is a mess, he still answers in this way, thereby emphasizing that he accepts all difficulties, because there is God's will for that.

Naked in public

In Tunisia, you will see people dressed in different ways: young people who prefer hippie style in T-shirts with Bob Marley, men dressed like Salafis in traditional long robes, fashionable beauties in mini-shorts or ripped jeans. But visitors are better off being discreet in their clothes, despite the deadly heat. Especially girls, especially in cafes, where, as we remember, the local men spend their time. Muslim women are stuffy too, but they wear long dresses and find the opportunity to look attractive. Feminine floor-length dresses, openwork transparent scarves with colorful decorations and original accessories will come in handy in your wardrobe. Tunisians will appreciate this, because each of them, wherever he works, is always dressed smartly and neatly.

Take pictures with the police

It is in Tunisia that people are drawn to take a selfie with a man in police uniform. After all, they are so cute ... These smiling, charming guys and girls do not create a frightening impression at all. Even submachine guns slung over a thin shoulder are not very alarming. But the Tunisians themselves say that now the country has "such an unstable situation" that it is not worth distracting the guards for the sake of a couple of dozen likes on Instagram.

Not love children

In Tunisia, everyone, absolutely everyone, adores children. Especially men. They try to dress their child beautifully and according to the latest fashion, carry and indulge all children's whims. On the street you will not find angry mothers screaming at their naughty babies. The religion of the country teaches parents patience and boundless love for little fidgets. Dads are happy to frolic with children both at home with their families and on big holidays. Therefore, aggression towards children is not accepted here. If you are an adherent of strict parenting and encourage your child with a whip more often than with a carrot, leave your harsh habits at home. In a warm country, smile more often and take the child's tricks for granted.

Africa in French, Tunisia - white sandy beaches, the ruins of the great Carthage and healing thalassotherapy just 4 hours from Moscow. The capital of the same name accepts around the clock. More precisely, I took it. Following Egypt and Turkey, or somewhere in between, Tunisia has become an undesirable vacation spot for Russian tourists.

The increasing frequency of terrorist attacks and the tense atmosphere discipline any sane traveler. But the article is not about how good or bad things are. I will not recall how it was before the situation in the world began to heat up, and why the routes of Russian travelers from exotic are turning into tarnished and sore sochi and Crimea.

Nothing personal - I love Russia with all my heart (avid travelers will probably understand me to the core), but somehow it is not very correct to move around the planet in search of new sensations, relaxation, beautiful landscapes ... in obsessive and clearly dictated directions.

The world of the traveler, the Russian tourist has faded a little. From freedom of movement, choice, speech, democracy, tolerance to a ban on the widest choice of countries potentially suitable for recreation. Today you are no longer entirely independent in deciding where to fly. Everything is dictated for you, and from this whole cut-down list of cheap, habitual rest, you seem to independently choose the route to Minvod and Sochi.

It is good and right to love your country, but what about those who have already seen enough "Sochi", have been fed up with the mineral water springs, breathed in the Altai fresh air ...

And again I am carried - I want to write an article about the oddities of Tunisians that will surprise any Russian traveler, but no - I am drawn to speculate - to speak out ... Surely, the reader will be surprised - they say, what do we care about Tunisian troubles, write more about Russia and the intricacies of local tourism ... I answer: no one has canceled curiosity, and perhaps someday my experience will be useful to you)

So - Tunisian oddities - revelations of a Russian traveler, I share my experience. "What is good for a Tunisian, a Russian cannot understand."

8 STRANGE OF TUNISIANS

1 | 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!

2 |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.

3 |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.

4 |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.

5 |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.

6 |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!

7 |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.

8 |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.

- How, really did not hear about three S in Tunisia?- black eyes Rami seem 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 most unfortunate 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 the 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 already 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 his shoulders 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 my house, I’ll 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. Pay attention 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 - 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 IN MYSELF"

Billel drove 11 hours nonstop 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 exclude 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 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 - it was much more than the current 230 euros,- recalls Camille... The dark-skinned guy has long eyelashes, beautiful dark brown eyes and well-defined full 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 where 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, a 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 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 to one of them - a dark-skinned guy is holding a slender blonde by the hand, who is chirping 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 ​​Hammamet, 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 me for a 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 this was no longer possible 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 Camille 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 should a European who wants to get Tunisian love for money 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 certainly help him to 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 does 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 WILL 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 with 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. These 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 acquaintance to the 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 - there is a huge difference in mentality. 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 1st to October 31st. 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.

8 reasons why I will no longer go to Tunisia. Start

Tunisia is a disposable country.Russians are not liked in Tunisia... This is how tourists write about Tunisia on the Internet. I read this late when I was sitting in the lobby of the hotel in Hammamet. I heard the same words at the airport from tourists who were standing nearby waiting to board the flight home. And, leaving Tunisia, for the first time I didn’t throw a coin into the sea to come back here again ...

1. Aggressive Arabs.A couple of independent trips to the local bazaar and the incident with my mom turned the desire to arrange global Tunisian shopping. Passing the shop, my mother glanced at her bag."How munch? “- The Arab reacted violently to this question of hers. He grabbed the hand and literally hid in his shop. There he took out packages, crumpled paper from the bag:"Fifty dollar ". Mom shyly smiled, waved her hand negatively: Know-know ...

The Arab blushed, hissed and threw the bag on the floor. Then he blocked the exit. And he said in mixed French-English something like: "Until you collect the paper back and put the bag in place, you will not get out!"

My mother, at work - the boss in the field of communications, at home - a modest cook, masterly rolling jars of cucumbers. For the first time in her life, she left the Crimea. Here she did not call the people and the Russian consul for help. Silently, she did what she asked for. This incident seriously spoiled her experience of vacation abroad.

On the contrary, another Arab, our friend, was kicked out of his shop by another Arab in a couple of days with the words “Finish Bazaar!”. She bought slippers for 7 dinars and waited for change. However, the merchant did not give her three dinars (60 rubles), stamping his feet and showing her with his hand to the exit. It happened before my eyes. I tried to stand up for the woman, but it was useless.

“Hey, you, Russian! Come here! ”- so shouted from almost every shop, when I with my little daughter and nephew in a long, like a nun's sarafan and with my head covered, walked between the shops with silver and lamps.

Their ignorance of our cases and declensions, tactlessness in the national question could be attributed to a lack of education, upbringing, poverty of the country, alien mentality, and whatever.

But the behavior of some of them ... Frankly grabbing hands, elbows and, most killingly, the learned mantras after: "sex-sex-sex", which on pain of death they would not allow to say to their women wrapped in a veil , it's hard to forgive.

While in the Old Medina of the city, Hammamet even inadvertently flared up. “Don't touch my hands! Grab your women by the elbows! I will tell my husband, he will kill you, ”I hissed at a thin, as a picket fence, a little cross-eyed brunette. He did not reach into his pocket for a word. At first he said that I was a "Russian aggressor". Then he ran after me to the very exit and shouted after me: "Ay kiss yu, ah kiss yu!". The children, with an iron grip, held my right and left hands, trembled and asked me to speed up my step. The spouse, who stayed at home, on the same evening, listening to what happened on Skype, scratched his fists ...

I will note that I eventually brought myself a suitcase of souvenirs. But I bought them in air-conditioned stores with fixed prices and quite civilized sellers. By the way, it didn’t lose in price.

2. Oriental courtship... I desperately telegraphed my misadventures on Twitter. They answered me, they say, read the warnings of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Saying that a woman shouldn't go to Arab countries without a man ... Well, now I’m not poking my head around and I don’t advise others.

It is really difficult to remain unattended here. To politely shoot back from invitations to “talk in the evening” at a hotel, on the street, on the beach, you need to revive the actress in your soul and remember the glossy article “200 ways to tactfully refuse a guy”.

In Tunisia, I met a kindergarten nurse from St. Petersburg in her sixties.

For a whole year, she and her friend, a teacher, lived off their wages, postponing their pension in order to travel abroad. So even her, a widow, was desperately called out on a date by her gray-haired Tunisian peer who sells slippers and toys on the beach.

When she once again did not show up for a love meeting, he approached her on the beach and asked her to swear by Allah that henceforth Juliet would not deceive ... The nanny told us this over dinner at the hotel, bursting with laughter. She again ignored the date with Romeo.

Looking ahead, I will say that there are still exceptions to these ubiquitous rules. In Tunisia, I met two girls, from Tyumen and from Moscow, who nevertheless married their local boyfriends.

3. External affection for Russian ladies, however, does not prevent Tunisians, to put it mildly, openly dislike our people in principle...

Here I will pause and interrupt. I will talk about this in the next post. A continuation, where I will write about the ubiquitous dirt, about rats, about what Tunisians think about the Arab spring and, finally, about the benefits of a vacation in Tunisia, follows.