Как я отдохнула в Тунисе How I rested in Tunisia

I visited Tunisia in the summer of 2007 (late July - early August). To be honest, it was not the first time abroad, but I am not enthusiastic about Tunisia. I want to be objective. In principle, I liked the rest (it’s always good to rest! ), I don’t regret that I went to Tunisia, but I’m unlikely to go to this country for the second time. We rested at the Samara 4 star hotel, which is located in the city of Sousse. In addition to the fact that Tunisia is not the most hospitable country, we were warned at the travel agency (the fact is that there are always problems with the hotel and settlements). There will be no problems, except if you have chosen a super expensive hotel and then you are not insured against anything anyway. In general, we were ready for problems, but still ...Our vacation (we rested together - me and my young man) began with the fact that the Kyiv-Monastir flight was postponed for 3 hours, it was fun to wait at the airport, as a result, we were in the hotel eleven o'clock at night.
They unloaded us (we got so excited or relaxed) that we forgot on the bus that was taking us from the airport, a backpack in which there was a fotek and some things - but it’s our own fault (although looking ahead I’ll say that it was returned to us in the end after 3 days safe and sound, nothing missing). At the reception, an Arab, seeing our late arrival, scratched his turnips, shrugged his shoulders - and they say there are no rooms. And he directs us to the neighboring Panorama (I read a lot about the neighboring Panorama and knew that the hotels have one owner, but that the Panorama does not have its own territory and is lower in class than Samara - I knew 100%). To our firm assurances that we want to live only in Samara and paid money for it, there is no reaction, they say, tomorrow you will move to Samara, because now there are no places. Well, there is nothing to do, they took us to the Panorama. In the lobby of this hotel (I can’t call it otherwise), the smell of mold and mustiness persistently hit my nose, I am in shock, everything is worn out, uncomfortable.
The Arab at the reception, smiling broadly, hands over the keys to the room with the words - the best room! We go into the room, again a shock, two hefty wretchedly terrible rooms (5-6 beds), a kitchen, but everything is so shabby, vile, well, a typical "common fund" for a large Arab family. Windows on the road (there are no other views) and the same smell. Uncomfortable and naked. There is a swimming pool in this motel - but on the roof ....Full fox. We spent the night. In the morning from the very early to Samara at the reception, and there is already a new dude, we explain that we arrived yesterday. Like, today they promised to relocate, but he smiles, come here by 12 noon, not earlier, I can’t help now. I understand that this divorce is beginning, my boyfriend is already boiling ....I will say right away that we did not give money. Out of principle, although if I honestly would have paid, USD. 20 and was not nervous, but my "half" was categorically against ....In general, I contacted my parents in Kyiv, who, in turn, contacted the office of the travel agency that sent us.

They promised to solve everything by oath before 12 ...We arrive at 12 at the reception, and as if nothing had happened to us - there are no places, move tomorrow. The profanity of men begins, I have to smooth the situation and calm the guy and the dude at the reception, I understand that nothing can be done on the spot ...Again I contact my parents, they go to the director of the travel agency, who promises to do everything possible, but says that the hotels are in Tunisia out of control and they do what they can…. I'm shocked, we're losing the second day. Again, to spend the night in this srach ...neither to spread out the suitcases, nor to arrange a corner ..... and I want to go to the sea, to swim, but we don’t understand what we are doing ....In Kyiv, relatives put an ultimatum to the travel agency, saying that if the children are not relocated, there will be real problems (and this despite the fact that when we were driving, I asked to double-check the reservation for this hotel several times - and each time they assured me that everything was normal and we waiting there).
As a result, we spend the night the second night in Panorama. The next morning again on the "assault" reshen. There is a new Arab, again a feigned smile and the answer - come to 12 (and yesterday we agreed on 9 in the morning). Again, I feel that if I don’t intervene, the conflict and screams cannot be avoided - the guy just barely restrains himself so as not to smack into this impudent Arab face, and he, realizing this, ignores him at all, and does not even look in his direction, but smiles boorishly at me. We decide not to go anywhere and monitor the settlement of new arrivals in order to immediately determine the availability of rooms in the hotel. As a result, by 11 o'clock, I see that the visitors are still being settled a little bit, putting a smile on my face, I go myself and this freak at the reception says to me - yes, there is a room (although we agreed that they would call us to settle .... ). Just a circus...To celebrate, we grab the keys (not believing in our happiness) and move to Samara. As a result, almost 3 lost days ...The room was given overlooking the central pool on the 3rd floor.
The room is tiny, but more or less cozy (although it certainly does not reach 4 stars). But we are glad ...Finally ...But to be honest, the situation in the room itself wants the best, there is nowhere even for two to turn around, the furniture is aging, interruptions in hot water, you can’t really wash, then it’s cold, then it’s hot as fire, how many times you washed your hair in ice cold water…. But we are in Samara, where we were going. You can’t blame anyone here, they chose it themselves ...In any case, the hotel has a territory here, green, 2 pools, a lot of Europeans ...Not like a scruffy Panorama motel ....
This is such a fun place to live. A bunch of nerves were frayed ...In Kyiv, the director of the travel agency that sent us promised us compensation for 2 days in Panorama, the last 2 days of All Inclusive in Samara (we took breakfast and dinner), so I'll tell you - we ran well in the last two days, so that to knock something out of these Arabs ...Again they shrug their shoulders, they say there is no boss, we don’t know about this, they are pretending to be fools!

Thanks English! … but in the end we fought back and put on these stupid All Inclusive bracelets…..
To the Russian-speaking attitude of the hotel staff leaves much to be desired! And this despite the fact that we did not want to be rude to anyone and shake the rights, but defended our own. And we were bred like suckers ....
After all this epic with the number, I’ll say that we had a good rest afterwards. The hotel is not chic, I have never been in such miserable places, but it was already our choice. The hotel is not 4 zd. , but 3! No more. For 3 stars he justifies himself. You have to go across the road to the sea. The beach is stupid. There are a lot of local people and Arabs, everyone comes and they are not too lazy, you have to pay for sunbeds ...There was a situation when we peacefully settled down on the beach, then local Arab women came - sat next to them, with all their offspring of 10 children or more, and how they began to trend over ear, such a yell from their children that I wanted to plug my ears .... , it was soooo disgusting ....Not rest, but what the hell….
The sea pleased, but only there were a lot of biting jellyfish (not like we are usually used to seeing, but as thin as strings), and as on a mountain, they had a mating season during our vacation and they terribly sting. And it's scary to say the least. In the morning I don’t even put my foot into the water, because in the morning they are still active, they poison a lot and bite like crazy)))), and then it hurts all day, honestly it hurts a lot, the pain is sharp and aching, I never experienced, even one stung me so that I then with a scar (such a blue scar) on my leg for another 3 months passed in Kyiv ....In general, after 12 it was already possible to swim, because they already gave their poison to everyone who wanted to be stingy in the morning, and even if they already sting, it was practically not painful. There are a lot of them in the water and they are very small, you can’t see them at all….

Sousse itself is a city like a city, only smelly in the evenings, either sewage, or something else, but here you are walking around the city (because
the hotel is located almost in its very center) and how it smells of something creepy, brrrr ....
We went on several excursions. To the zoo + Zulu evening. The zoo is cool, only there is not enough time for it, but the dinner after is disgusting, whatever one may say, the food is tastier in the hotel.
We went to the capital of Tunisia - Tunisia, Carthage (there really are only ruins).
And the most memorable is a trip to the Sahara for 2 days. It's just super, it's camel riding, extreme riding on the dunes (however, as for me, they could ride more extreme), visiting oases, the Sahara itself, mirages and much more. I advise everyone!!!!
In general, the Arabs are a peaceful people, but terribly annoying and impudent. Everywhere they strive to fool into vtyukhat something wrong ...You have to keep your eyes open with them and bargain, comrades, bargain ....
On the first day, as soon as we arrived, we went outside with a guy, an Arab of about 13 years old followed me, picked a lousy flower from the flower bed and hands it to me, I naturally refuse, and he runs so persistently nearby and pokes. Well, I took it, because I couldn’t even think what kind of flower, plucked in front of your eyes from a flower bed, you have to pay ....And he, as soon as I accepted this “bouquet”: “Bakshish, pliz ... ” ...There are simply no words, but I thought that he just liked him and I look good))))))). Since then, I haven’t taken anything from them, no matter what they poke, otherwise they have such a mentality if they already put it into their hands, then they have to buy it, it’s almost impossible to return it later ..... By the way, I have repeatedly observed this situation with flowers from the flower bed and I’m not the only one who got pierced, many girls take it without knowing it, and then blush and give dollars, you see, it just becomes uncomfortable .....
Yes, the Arabs are annoying. And if you are traveling without men, keep this in mind.

For example, I experienced it myself (I myself am a tall, thin blonde) despite the fact that I was relaxing with a guy. As soon as he turns away, already unambiguous phrases .... , questions, the desire to get to me, horrorsss. ...As they went to buy souvenirs, so the merchant just pours into his eyes. And he looks at me like that, as soon as the guy turns away, he is already whispering, and who is this young man to you, oh, how good you are ..... It was disgusting at first. Then I got used to it and it became funny ....I heard a lot of compliments)))))))))
In general, the rest once again, I repeat, I liked it. New emotions and impressions…. . But I will not go to Tunisia for the second time. I was in Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria - there is something to compare with ......Yes, and I have already seen all the Tunisian originality, since there were many excursions.
To everyone who is going to go - have a nice holiday! Be positive.
And get ready for the fact that in order to have a normal rest, you will have to defend yourself, politely, correctly, but still ...Nothing will be decided or done by itself ...Good luck !! !