Tunisia - Túnez

Introduction Tunisia (in Arabic: تونس Tūnis; in French: Tunisie), officially the Tunisian Republic (in Arabic: الجمهورية التونسية, Al-Ŷumhūriyya at-Tūnisiyya; in French: Tunisian republic), is a country in the north of Africa. Located between atlas mountains, the Sahara and the Mediterranean Sea, Tunisia is the smallest country in the region of Maghreb. Borders with Algeria west and Libya to the south and east.

Capital Tunisia Idiom Arab Y French Surface 163 610 km² Population 10 777 500 (2012) Currency dinar Time zone UTC 1 Telephone prefix 216

Understand

History

Tunisia has a rich cultural history, dating back to ancient times. The Carthaginian Empire, archenemy of Rome, focused on Tunisia. Its capital, Carthage, is now a suburb of Tunisia. Founded by Phoenician settlers from Tire and Sidon (present-day Lebanon), Carthage was a former Mediterranean power. Three wars between Rome and Carthage (known as the Punic Wars) were fought in the first centuries before the birth of Christ. These culminated in the annihilation of Carthage in 146 BC. C. by the Roman general Scipio, who is said to have wept for its destruction.

Between the destruction of ancient Carthage and the Arab conquests of the 7th century, many cultures have made Tunis their home. Carthage enjoyed a new period of prosperity under the Roman Empire until its collapse in the 5th century. Roman rule was briefly replaced by the Vandals, who made Carthage the capital of their kingdom. Carthage was then temporarily absorbed into the Byzantine Empire, until the rise of Islam in the 7th century.

After the dissipation of the Arab caliphates, the Turkish pashas of the Ottoman Empire ruled Tunisia. With the fall of the Ottoman Empire, Tunisia finally fell under the rule of European imperialism, as a French protectorate, along with neighboring Algeria.

Following independence from France on March 20, 1956, President Habib Bourguiba established a strict one-party state. It dominated the country for 31 years, suppressing Islamic fundamentalism and establishing rights for women unmatched by any other Arab nation. Bourghiba was quietly replaced in 1987 by Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. His forced resignation was carried out on the pretext that he was in no condition to perform his functions as president, due to his poor physical and mental condition as a result of extreme old age. Nonetheless, Bourghiba is still credited with the birth of the modern state of Tunis, for which he fought all his life. Ben Ali took a moderate and non-aligned stance in his foreign relations. At the national level, he sought to alleviate the growing pressure for a more open political society.

However, this changed at the end of 2010. Mohamed Bouazizi, a street vendor set himself on fire in protest at the confiscation of his goods and police harassment. This became the catalyst for the Tunisian Revolution, as well as the Arab Spring . After massive street protests, Ben Ali was ousted from power in January 2011. Since then, Tunisia has taken the path towards the democratization of political and civil life.

Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration.

Weather

Temperate in the north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in the south.

Ground

Mountains in the north; hot and dry central plain; the semi-arid south merges with the Sahara desert.

Public holidays

• Independence Day, March 20: a time when hotel rooms are fully booked. Plan accordingly.

Regions

North of Tunisia (Ariana, Bèja, Ben Arous, Bizerte, Jendouba, Kairouan, Kef, Mahdia, Manouba, Monastir, Nabeul, Siliana, Susa, Tunisia and Zaghouan)

The capital Tunis, the entire north coast and mountains, and several popular Mediterranean beach resorts

Central coast of tunisia (Gabès, Madanine, Sfax and Sidi Bouzid)

The southern seaside resorts and the bus route to Libya

Saharan tunisia (Gafsa, Kasserine, Kebili, Tataouine and Tozeur)

The interior of the Sahara: rocky plains, dunes, desert hiking and some of the main archaeological sites

Cities

1. Tunisia: the quiet capital of Tunis with easy access to Carthage and a very authentic souk
2. Gabes: large city on the east coast, primarily a rail and bus transit point
3. Kairouan: an important site for Islamic pilgrimage
4. The Kef: Byzantine and Ottoman architecture in this small northwestern town
5. Mahdia: ex captal
6. Monastir: ancient city with a history dating back to Phoenician times; It is currently home to the country's main charter airport
7. Sfax: Historic city with a great ancient kasbah; Also access to the Kerkennah islands
8. Sousse: UNESCO World Heritage Site for its architecture and a popular seaside resort
9. Douz - the "Puerta del Desierto", a Saharan city known for its date tree plantations and Saharan tourism
10. Tozeur - gateway to various mountain oasis villages

Watch

Tunisia has multiple tourist attractions

• 1 Carthage: Phoenician colony, the largest commercial metropolis in the ancient world; famously razed by the Romans; remains now locked in a museum; site easily accessible by train from Tunis
• 2 Djerba: a Mediterranean island in the south that is popular with sun lovers
• 3 Dougga: Impressive Ruins of a Remote Roman City
• 4 El Jem: one of the best preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world
• 5 Jebil National Park: a large Saharan national park with impressive dunes and rock formations
• 6 Kerkouane: remains of the only intact Punic settlement, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
• 7 Ksar Ghilane: on the edge of the sandy desert, the Saharan oasis known for its hot springs and its ancient Roman fort
• 8 Matmata - Berber cave village, where Tatooine from Star Wars settled
• 9 Metlaoui - Board the restored vintage Red Lizard train that winds through picturesque gorges and hills
• 10 Sufetula (Sbeitla) - a fairly well preserved Roman settlement in the Midwest area of ​​Tunisia
• 11 Tataouine: surrounded by several historical forts (ksar) and another Star Wars filming location

Talk

Arabic and French are the official languages. Berber is also spoken. Arabic is the official language of Tunisia and one of the commercial languages, the other is French - a relic of Tunisia's former status as a French protectorate until 1956. The dialect of Arabic spoken in Tunisia, similar to that of the neighboring Algeria and Morocco, is Maghrebi Arabic, which is almost incomprehensible to speakers of the Gulf dialect, so don't be surprised if you don't understand the locals, even if you are proficient in Arabic. However, all Tunisians learn Standard Arabic at school, so most locals will be able to communicate in Standard Arabic if necessary. Almost all the locals are bilingual in Arabic and French. French is the primary language of higher education and is commonly used in administration, commerce, and the media. English is of limited use, but is fine to use in tourist areas. Tunisians often use what is known as code switching. This is when two or more languages ​​are used in the same conversation, or even the same phrase. French and Arabic are used interchangeably.

To get

Visa

Nationals of Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Denmark, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, North Macedonia, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Montserrat, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal , Qatar, Romania, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristán da Cunha, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States and Vatican City

For citizens of other African and Asian countries, a visa must be applied for at the covering embassy.

By plane

The national airline of Tunisia: Tunisair

• Tunis-Carthage International Airport (YOU N ^IATA) (near Tunisia). This is Tunisia's main international airport for regular flights.
  • From the airport, you can take a taxi to the center of Tunis (be careful, the meters can be tampered with). It is better to call them from the second floor departure lounge to avoid being scammed and they should cost no more than DT 7 to central Tunis (Avenue Habib Bourguiba area) during the day, and no more than DT 10, 9:00 PM- 05:00 (during which meter rates are 150% of day rates).
  • Alternatively, take bus # 635 or # 35 to Ave Habib Bourguiba for 0.47 DT. The bus runs approximately every half hour and stops in front of the terminal.
  • The official airport Wi-Fi requires payment, but connection to the public network "Lindo Café" from a restaurant of the same name is free.
  • For cheap snacks and coffee / tea instead of an overpriced airport fee, walk 3 minutes directly from the lower deck of the airport (arrivals), pass the fountain, go through the parking lot and you will find a small convenience store and coffee shop that sells items. at local prices (espresso for 0.7 DT). It's next to a utility car wash.

• Monastir Habib Bourguiba International Airport (Look^IATA). This is the second airport in Tunisia that has low-cost charter flights from all over Europe. Monastir is closer to most vacation destinations. Cheap charter flights (at least from the UK) are available through airlines. Other destinations with international airports include Tozeur and Djerba. Monastir Habib Bourguiba International Airport (Q666704) in Wikidata Monastir Habib Bourguiba International Airport in Wikipedia
• Enfidha - Hammamet International Airport (NBE^IATA). Destined in part to replace or replace the Monastir airport, it opened in 2009 and has already become one of the three main airports in the country. Enfidha - Hammamet International Airport (Q1431260) in Wikidata Enfidha - Hammamet International Airport in Wikipedia

Other airports across the country serve domestic and international flights, including:

• Sfax Thyna Airport (SFA) (near Sfax (Central East of Tunis)). Sfax - Thyna International Airport (Q2876084) in Wikidata Sfax - Thyna International Airport in Wikipedia
• Tozeur Nefta International Airport (TOE^IATA) (near Tozeur (south-western Tunisia)). Tozeur-Nefta International Airport (Q656500) in Wikidata Tozeur-Nefta International Airport in Wikipedia
• Gafsa Airport (GAF^IATA) (near Gafsa (south-western Tunisia)). Gafsa - Ksar International Airport (Q2876067) in Wikidata Gafsa - Ksar International Airport in Wikipedia
• Tabarka - Aïn Draham International Airport (TBJ^IATA) (near Tabarka (north-western Tunisia)). Tabarka-Ain Draham International Airport (Q1432975) in Wikidata Tabarka-Aïn Draham International Airport in Wikipedia
• Djerba International Airport (DJE^IATA) (on the island of Djerba (south-eastern Tunisia)). Djerba-Zarzis International Airport (Q1425537) in Wikidata Djerba-Zarzis International Airport in Wikipedia

Charter companies can organize flights and hotels, many of which are visa-free to enter. There are also some agencies that have ongoing tours for groups and private travelers.

Boat

Ferry services connect Tunisia with Malta, Trapani and Palermo (Sicily, Italy), Naples (Italy), Genoa (Italy) and Marseille (France). Tour boats generally depart from the port of La Goulette (near Tunis). Other commercial ports are also available (Rades, Gabes, Sousse, Sfax, Zarzis)

By train

As of 2018, there is a direct train three times a week between Tunis and the Algerian city of Annaba.

Travel

By taxi from the airport

Taxis are reasonably priced even for long-distance trips, just make sure you agree on the price before you start your journey. Watch http://www.taxitunisie.com/

Private taxis are reasonably priced even for long-distance travel, just make sure you agree on the fare before you go. Sample rates for a four seater are € 40 for Tunis-Hammamet or € 50 for Monastir-Hammamet. When taking a taxi within larger cities like Tunisia, there are meters installed. Make sure it starts when you leave and in the corresponding mode (night, day, etc.). A green light indicates that the taxi has already been taken, a red one that it is free.

By bus

The long-distance bus (called a car) [1] it is also a safe and inexpensive way to travel between major cities such as Tunis, Nabeul, Hammamet, etc. You will usually find a station in every major city offering many departures per day (every 30 minutes between Tunis and Hammamet). Some of the buses locally called "car comfort" offer higher standards (TV, air conditioning) at economical prices. The hours can be found online.

By car

Traveling by car in Tunisia is a bit complicated, as they drive "regularly". A good solution is to rent a car with a driver (any hotel can get it). Tunisian roads resemble the American interstate or the roads of Europe with a dual carriageway: the A-1 runs from Tunisia towards the south towards Sfax, the A-4 from Tunis towards the north towards Bizerte and the A- 3 from Tunis west in the direction of Oued Zarga. The speed limit on Tunisian roads is 110 km / h. It is possible to maintain that speed on that road very easily. The routes shown on some maps have a planned extension to Gabes and then Ras Jedir (Libyan borders) in the south from 2011-2014 and to Ghardimaou (Algerian borders) in the west, but several years later. The rest of the roads are single-lane, with roundabouts at the main intersections, which follow the European model (those at the roundabout have preference). Consequently, on roads other than the A-1,4,3 it can be difficult to maintain an average speed above 75 km / h most of the time as the speed limit is 90 km / h. Almost all the road signs are in Arabic and French.

Like most developing countries, road accidents are the leading cause of death and injury in Tunisia. Tunisians are aggressive, unskilled and rude drivers. They are unpredictable in their driving habits, skip traffic lights, rarely signal when changing lanes, often ignore traffic lights and stop signs, drive at very high speeds regardless of the quality of the roads or the condition of their vehicles and they stop almost anywhere, even if it may block other cars or cause an accident. Due to the lack of sidewalks, pedestrians often walk on the roads without regard for cars or their own safety. Sadly, Tunisians rarely secure their children in proper car seats and these small passengers are often the hardest hit by most accidents.

Although the police are visible at many major intersections, they rarely enforce traffic rules or stop bad drivers unless it is to solicit bribes.

It is better for people unfamiliar with driving in developing countries to use public transport or hire a driver.

Driving in Tunisia is compounded by narrow streets and limited parking spaces. To see the Medina of Tunis, it would be better to park some distance from the Medina and take the light rail (called TGM) from Marsa / Carthage, the green tram (called Metro) in the center, or perhaps a taxi from the nearest outskirts. .

Rental cars are fairly easy to find, but somewhat expensive, at around DT 100 a day, for a mid-size car like a four-door Renault Clio.

By train

Traveling by train in Tunisia is cheap, moderately comfortable or moderately uncomfortable, and its punctuality stands out. The national train company SNCFT operates modern and comfortable trains from southern Tunisia to Sousse, Sfax and Monastir. There are three classes of service, namely Grand Comfort (1st luxury), 1st and 2nd, and they are all quite adequate. The example fares from Tunis to Sousse are DT12 / 10/6 (€ 6/5/3) in Grand / 1st / 2nd class. Although tickets are issued with marked car / seat numbers, it is largely ignored by locals. So if you are traveling with more people, try to get on board quickly to find adjacent seats.

A good option is to buy a carte bleue (blue card). It costs around DT 20 for a week and you can travel all over the country using the banlieue (short distance train) and grande ligne (long distance). For long distance you will have to make a reservation and pay a small fee (DT1.50 more or less). These passes can also be purchased to cover 10 or 14 days. There are rarely queues at the reservation office and a little French goes a long way. Trains also go to Tozeur and Gabes in the south, where it is easy to access the Sahara and Ksour regions, respectively. In some stations where the frequency of trains is small (eg Tozeur), the ticket office will be closed for most of the day and will reopen around the departure time of the next train.

A light rail (called TGM) also connects Tunisia to the north with Carthage and La Marsa. Take this light rail system up to Sidi Bou Said as well. One-way light rail tickets cost approximately 0.675 DT.

To buy

Money

Tunisian dinar exchange rates As of January 2020: FOB Price: US $ 1 ≈ 2.8 DT € 1 ≈ 3.1 SD UK £ 1 ≈ 3.7 DT Exchange rates fluctuate. Current rates for these and other currencies are available on XE.com

All current Tunisian coins (except for the 5 milleme coin). From top left, from left to right, the values ​​are: 5, 1, 0.50, 0.10, 0.05, 0.02 and 0.01 DT The national currency is the Tunisian dinar, denoted by the symbol " دينار "or" DT "(ISO code: TND).

Typical banknotes circulate in denominations of 5 (green), 10 (blue or brown), 20 (red-violet), 30 (orange) and 50 DT (green and purple).

The dinar is divided into 1000 millemes , the typical coins being 5 DT (silver with copper insert), one dinar (large and silver-colored), 500 millemes (smaller, silver-colored), 100 and 50 millemes (large brass), 20 and 10 millemes (brass smaller) and 5 millemes (small aluminum). It is forbidden to enter and leave Tunisia with dinars, so you must exchange your money locally.

Prices are generally marked in dinars and millemes, with a decimal point such as: 5,600 or 24,000 or 0.360 sometimes with DT. Markets usually sell items by the kilogram. Therefore, tomatoes may have a "480" sign, which means 480 thousand per kilo. Good cheese will be marked as 12,400 DT or about $ 7 a kilo. Most self-service supermarkets expect you to put your purchases in the flimsy plastic bags they provide and then take them to the nearby scales where a worker will weigh them and put a price tag on them.

You can withdraw local cash with a Mastercard or Visa card at many ATMs throughout Tunisia.

Shopping

Haggling is a national sport as in other countries, as advice, when you are interested in an object of the price that they give you at the beginning, think that you can get it for a third or fourth part, that if you do not show too much interest and remember that you should not say what you want to pay but start at a lower figure and work your way up.

In Tunisia there are several things that you can buy for example if you want a desert rose as a souvenir and you are going to travel to the south, it will be better to buy there if you visit the remains of the filming of Star Wars there I got 3 for 2 dinars.

On the Island of Jerba, the most typical are ceramics and clay as a good artisan town, in addition in all the souks you will find slippers and other leather articles, djellaba, goldsmiths and especially spices. I think there are few things that don't sell in a Tunisian souk.

To eat

Tunisian cuisine bears similarities to Middle Eastern cuisine, and is largely based on the Maghreb tradition of North Africa, with couscous and marqa stews (similar to Moroccan tagine) forming the backbone of most meals. The spicy harissa sauce, the intensive use of tiny olives that are abundant in the country, and the Tunisian tajine stand out, which, unlike the Moroccan dish of the same name, refers to a kind of omelette-type empanada prepared with ragout. of meat and / or vegetables mixed with herbs, legumes and even offal, enriched with eggs and cheese and baked in a deep empanada dish until the eggs are just set, something like an Italian frittata. Lamb is the base of most meat dishes and local seafood is abundant. Pork and its products are not widely available, but can be found in some supermarkets and some hotels in tourist areas.

• Harissa: very hot chili paste (sometimes milder with carrots or yogurt), served with bread and olive oil as a starter in almost any meal.
• Shorba Frik: Lamb Soup
• Coucha: lamb shoulder cooked with turmeric and cayenne pepper
• Khobz Tabouna (pronounce Khobz Taboona): traditional baked bread
• Brik (pronounced Breek): very crispy thin dough with a whole egg (Brik à l'œuf), parsley and onion and sometimes meat such as minced lamb or tuna (Brik au thon). Very tasty as a cheap starter. Eat it very carefully with your fingers.
• Berber lamb: Cooked lamb with potatoes, carrots in a clay pot.
• Merguez: small spicy sausages.
• Tunisian salad: lettuce, green pepper, tomato, onion, olives, radishes mixed with tuna.
• Salade méchouia: seasoned mashed grilled vegetable salad (often with harissa) and served with olive oil and sometimes tuna.
• Fricassé: small fried sandwich with tuna, harissa, olives and olive oil.
• Tunisian pastries: Baklava related sweets.
• Bambaloni: Sweet donut shaped fried sponge cake served with sugar.
• Tunisian "fast food": sandwiches, makloubs (folded pizzas), "libanais" ...

Sadly, Tunisia has a very underdeveloped restaurant culture, and most food prepared in restaurants, outside Tunisian homes or souks, is disappointingly bland and carelessly presented. These characteristics tend to apply across the entire price range, although savory couscous or "coucha" stew can occasionally be eaten in some low-priced restaurants. The best hope for eating well in Tunisia is being invited to someone's home or eating at a food stall in a souk.

Drink and go out

If you visit Sidi Bu Said you cannot leave without sitting on one of its terraces and trying its tea with pine nuts, there are two especially interesting terraces, one down at the entrance of the neighborhood and the other going up through its streets at the top with beautiful views, the best time of day at sunset.

Being a progressive Muslim country, the availability of alcohol is restricted (but not much) to certain licensed (and invariably more expensive) restaurants, tourist areas, and shops of the Magasin Général. Department stores (Carrefour in Marsa / Carthage and Hammamet) and some supermarkets (eg Monoprix) sell beer and wine, and some local and imported hard liquors, except during Muslim holidays. Female travelers should be aware that outside the tourist center and in areas of high tourist concentration, they may find themselves having a beer in a smoky bar full of men drinking in a rather dedicated manner. Some bars will refuse to admit women, others may apply for a passport to verify nationality. Look around a bar before deciding to drink!

• Beer: Celtia is the popular local brand, but some places also sell imported pilsner beers. The locally made Löwenbräu is decent, and Heineken entered the Tunisian market in 2007. Celtia "En Pression" (On Tap) is good. Celestia is a non-alcoholic beer that is also popular.
• Came: Most of the places that serve alcohol have Tunisian wine, which is quite good. Tunisian wine was always made by French winemakers. Most of it was exported to France until the 1970s. The wine cooperatives were abandoned and produce 80% of the wine that is served mostly to tourists. Since the privatization of some parts of these cooperatives, the international flavor of wine entered the Tunisian market. Small businesses like Domaine Atlas, St. Augustin, Ceptunes, etc. they have successfully established the new generation of Tunisian wine. Importing wine is extremely difficult due to very high taxes. Some upscale hotel restaurants can make French or Italian wines miraculously appear at a price.
• Boukha: It is a Tunisian brandy made from the distillation of figs.
• Coffee: served strong in small cups. Tunisian cappuccino is also served strong in small cups. The "Café crème" is available in many tourist areas and may even appear in an "American Cup". Local favorites include the capucin (espresso macchiato) and the directo (latte).
• Tea: it is usually taken after meals. Sometimes it is served with pine nuts floating in the tea.
• Mint tea: very sweet mint tea that is taken at any time of the day.

Sleep

There are many good hotels in Tunisia. Many smaller hotels can be found in the main cities, tucked into most of the highways. Hotel star ratings are not on par with European and American standards - a 4-star Tunisian hotel is the equivalent of a 3-star hotel anywhere else.

You can also rent a furnished apartment. Some private individuals offer their own apartments to rent especially in summer.

It is advisable to arrange your accommodation online or by phone prior to your arrival. Aside from the more expensive hotels, most accommodations don't seem to have a website. French would be helpful when booking accommodation.

Tunisia has excellent hotels such as

• Hotel Checkin Bakour Splash, Plage Sidi Bakour, 4116 Plage Sidi Bakour, 4116 Djerba, Tunisia. Excellent 4-star hotel in Djerba from the Spanish chain checkin.latest edition: no information
  Unknown parameter: phone

• Hotel Ona Flora Park, Zone Touristique Yasmine Hammamet, Tunisia. Excellent 4-star hotel in Djerba from the Spanish chain Ona.latest edition: no information
  Unknown parameter: phone

• Hotel Bakour Beach, Plage Sidi Bakour, 4116 Plage Sidi Bakour, 4116 Djerba, Tunisia. latest edition: no information
  Unknown parameter: phone

Security

Violence

Tunisia has undergone a revolution and is in a controversial transition period. While large-scale violence is not taking place, demonstrations still occur from time to time and are sometimes violent or brutally break up. Therefore, check with your foreign office to verify current conditions before traveling to Tunisia, and do your best to stay away from large demonstrations that may occur while you are there.

In 2015, Islamist terrorists attacked tourists in Tunisia. In March, 24 people were killed at the Bardo Museum in Tunis and in June a terrorist shot and killed 39 tourists on a beach and a hotel in Sousse. For a time after the incident, the UK government recommended that its citizens leave Tunisia and not visit it for anything other than essential travel. That council has now been downgraded and normal tourist coastal areas are considered safe. However, the border areas with Libya and in some parts with Algeria are still not safe areas.

Female travelers

Apparently it is not considered rude for a man to stare at a woman's body, which should indicate that modesty will attract less attention. Women can expect to be the target of frequent boos ("Gazelle" seems to be especially popular). If you are traveling as a couple, stay together as long as possible, as the traveler should not wander alone if she does not want to be disturbed. Annoyance usually amounts to nothing more than strange words and the occasional touch, but it can be extremely persistent and annoying.

Tunisian women often wear outfits that would normally be seen on the streets of any major city in the world (skinny jeans, skintight blouse), but they do so while displaying traditional modesty by exposing virtually no skin. The arms are covered up to the wrists, the collars go to the neck (the neckline does not exist) and a headscarf can be worn. Visiting Western women can minimize attention by selecting clothing that minimizes the skin showing. V-necks are fine if you wear another layer with a higher collar underneath.

Note that in most cities, there are outdoor cafes around the squares and on the streets, but they are for men only; incluso cuando están acompañadas por hombres, las mujeres no son bienvenidas. Los precios son mucho más baratos en estos cafés que los cafés y salones de té mixtos que se encuentran en Túnez.

Dinero y estafas

Los viajeros informan que los molestan para comprar algo o para otros fines. La persistencia es una queja importante. Algunos dicen que un rechazo a menudo resulta en una mala reacción, "ser silbado" es un ejemplo, pero aquellos a quienes se les ha aconsejado que se nieguen cortésmente con una sonrisa rara vez se quejan. "Non, Merci" es una muy buena respuesta, con una sonrisa. Esto parece estar confirmado por los informes de mujeres que viajan solas a las que se esperaría que recibieran la mayor atención, pero que a menudo informan menos problemas (de una muestra ciertamente pequeña), tal vez porque son más cautelosas que las mujeres acompañadas. Ciertamente parece ser el caso de que las bañistas marinas solteras atraen una gran cantidad de atención no deseada (incluso acoso) hasta que llega un amigo.

El robo de pertenencias, incluso de habitaciones de hotel y cajas fuertes, se informa ampliamente y se aplican las advertencias habituales: mantenga los objetos de valor en un lugar seguro (por ejemplo, depósito de seguridad supervisado del hotel), no muestre demasiado dinero en efectivo y guarde billeteras, carteras y otros artículos deseables. artículos donde los carteristas no pueden alcanzarlos. Una buena recomendación es llevar suficiente efectivo para sus necesidades inmediatas y solo una tarjeta de crédito o bancaria, siempre que pueda estar seguro de la seguridad de sus reservas. Además, la mayoría de los distribuidores automáticos de billetes están disponibles y se aceptan tarjetas de crédito extranjeras. Puede sacar efectivo (en dinares tunecinos equivalentes) directamente de su cuenta bancaria con una pequeña tarifa adicional (transacción bancaria de 1 € a 2 €).

También se denuncian robos en los aeropuertos. Mantenga sus pertenencias bajo su supervisión directa todo el tiempo.

Cuando llegue el momento de liquidar la cuenta en un café o restaurante tunecino, es recomendable asegurarse de que se le presente una copia impresa y detallada de la factura antes de entregar el dinero. Con frecuencia, su camarero afirmará haber calculado el monto total adeudado en sus cabezas y esto siempre será más de lo que realmente debe. Además, consulte los precios de los menús antes de realizar el pedido. Algunos establecimientos afirman no tener menús, por lo general tienen menús montados en la pared. Los trabajadores tunecinos reciben salarios muy bajos (£ 300 por mes aproximadamente) y con frecuencia intentarán aprovecharse de los turistas sin su ingenio.

Tenga en cuenta que la exportación de moneda tunecina está prohibida y que en el aeropuerto de Túnez se pueden registrar carteras y carteras. Si se le encuentra con más de DT20 - 30, se le invitará a regresar por tierra para cambiarlos. El problema es que esta "invitación" llegará después de que haya pasado por el control de pasaportes y haya entregado su tarjeta de salida; por lo tanto, no es práctico. A continuación, se le invitará a entregar parte o la totalidad de su dinero tunecino (que, en cualquier caso, no se puede gastar en la tienda libre de impuestos) al oficial uniformado. Discutir no le llevará a ninguna parte y una solicitud de recibo se encontrará con una negativa total. A juzgar por la forma en que se reparte rápidamente el dinero, es casi seguro que acaba de pagar un soborno.

Health

El sistema tunecino de salud reposa en tres tipos de infraestructuras médicas.Los hospitales públicos considerados ser gratuitos y accesibles a todos. Encontramos allí a menudo a los los mejores especialistas pero la falta de equipos y de interés para los pacientes allí es grave.Las clínicas son reservadas para las personas que tienen medios financieros. Su prosperidad y su capacidad de equiparse en materiales modernos reposa en el boom de la cirugía estética. En efecto, estas clínicas disponen de unidades dedicadas a la realización de intervenciones de cirugía plástica para los extranjeros traídos en Túnez por agencias de turismo médico.

• Por fin, los dispensarios que tienen muy pocos medios pero que son totalmente gratuitos.
• Malaria: no hay mucho riesgo de malaria en Túnez, pero empaca tu repelente de insectos.
• Quemaduras de sol: recuerde que el sol es con frecuencia su mayor enemigo y aplique con frecuencia un protector solar alto (factor 30 o mejor). Por lo general, es más barato en su supermercado local que en el destino de vacaciones.
• Tenga cuidado con qué y dónde come y bebe (recuerde también los cubitos de hielo); la diarrea es una queja común de los viajeros incautos. The agua del grifo en la zona de alta gama de Túnez-Cartago-Marsa parece ser segura (2006).

Vacunas

Siempre consulte con su médico de 4 a 8 semanas antes de viajar (las 4 a 8 semanas son importantes, ya que algunas vacunas tardan semanas en ser efectivas, y con la poliomielitis usted también puede ser contagioso por un tiempo):

• The fiebre amarilla es necesaria para todos los viajeros que lleguen de un área infectada con fiebre amarilla en África o América.
• Generalmente se recomienda la hepatitis A Dos inyecciones de Havrix, administradas con 6 meses de diferencia, brindan 10 años de protección contra la hepatitis A
• Tifoidea
• Polio
• Hepatitis B: muy recomendable si es probable que tenga contacto íntimo con los lugareños o si visita durante más de 6 meses.

Mantenga contacto

Teléfono

Los teléfonos públicos están disponibles en todos los pueblos y ciudades y en la mayoría de los pueblos con el nombre de Publitel o Taxiphone; en las ciudades, simplemente mire a su alrededor, hay al menos uno en cada calle. Las llamadas internacionales tienden a ser bastante caras (1.000 DT / minuto para llamar a cualquier parte de la UE). Hay tres operadores GSM de telefonía móvil, el privado Tunisiana, el privado Orange y la estatal Tunisie Telecom, que ofrecen una amplia cobertura móvil (incluidos algunos oasis en el Sahara). Las tarifas tienden a ser bastante bajas para llamadas nacionales, pero muy altas para llamadas internacionales (alrededor de 1.500 DT / minuto). Solicite una carte prépayée para una tarjeta SIM prepago. Orange en julio de 2016 ofrecía paquetes 2 por 1 (30 minutos 500 MB por un mes para DT2.5) y tarjetas SIM gratuitas para los turistas que ingresan al aeropuerto de Túnez.

Llamada de emergencia

• 197 Número de emergencia de la policía - emergencia general
• 198 Número de emergencia sanitaria - Ambulancia SAMU
• 1200 Información telefónica

Internet

El acceso público a Internet está disponible en muchas ciudades y pueblos, generalmente con el logotipo de Publinet. Busque un gran cartel morado con el logotipo de Publinet. El acceso suele ser de 0.8DT / hora y las velocidades tienden a ser bastante bajas (1024 kbit / s es la norma en Susa y 4096 en Túnez). Internet residencial (ADSL) no es tan caro como solía ser, puede tener 1 año de ADSL de 4096 kbps de velocidad, por solo DT400 por año. También puede tener acceso a Internet 3G a través de cualquier operador de telefonía celular (Tunisie Telecom, Orange Tunisia o Tunisiana), el acceso FTP y peer-to-peer está disponible en cualquier lugar de Túnez, ya no hay restricciones de acceso por parte del gobierno. Las llaves USB para Internet son bastante populares y se pueden encontrar por períodos variables, incluso para estancias cortas.

Enviar

La Poste Tunisienne es bastante eficiente y rápida. Post restante se ofrece en ciertas oficinas (más grandes). Un sello para cartas internacionales cuesta 0,600 DT.

Rapide Post es el servicio de Poste para enviar correo y paquetes rápidamente. Una vez que un paquete de Rapide Post ingresa a los EE. UU., FedEx lo maneja. Es la mejor y más segura forma de enviar cosas en Túnez.

References