Tunisia wants to replace Egypt for the Russians. Is it worth going to Tunisia? Situation on the island of Djerba June

When I first visited Djerba in the summer of 2000, I could not even imagine that I would ever be concerned about safety on this island. However, terrible events occurred that completely changed my attitude towards Tunisia and Djerba in particular. Now I cannot call this island, country, and all of North Africa, as well as the Middle East, safe.

Safety in Djerba worries many tourists, who often ask me about whether Djerba is dangerous. If a couple of years ago I could say with confidence that Djerba, as well as throughout Tunisia, is safe, now I will not say so.

But let's face the truth and answer the question: “Are there many places now where you are guaranteed to be safe?” Terrible events occur even in the heart of Europe, and in other places, for example, in Indonesia, there may also be such phenomena as a tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption, flood.

Is it dangerous in Djerba? Although no one can guarantee complete safety on Djerba, many people living in Tunisia consider this island the most unlikely place that militants could choose to attack tourists. This is mainly explained by the fact that it is more difficult for them to get on and off the island. In addition, almost all Djerba hotels are located in one area on the east coast of the island, and this area is controlled by the police.

Now let's look at security in Djerba without taking into account the possible attack by fanatics on tourists. Is it dangerous in Djerba in general? In resort areas you have virtually nothing to fear, although, as you know, there are bad people everywhere. Of course, you should also monitor your behavior, since danger may lie in wait for those who are looking for this danger.

In non-resort areas of Tunisia, tourists can also feel safe, but you must remember that in such areas life goes according to local laws and traditions. Therefore, you need to be well aware of the rules of conduct in an Arab country in order to avoid unpleasant moments. For example, you should not swim on public beaches in swimsuits, you should not show affection to your partner, you should dress appropriately. In general, remember that in such areas no one looks at you as a tourist - for everyone, you are an ordinary person who must follow certain laws and rules.

Now let's turn our attention to dangers such as animals. In Djerba, the risk of a shark attack is very small, almost zero. As for snakes, there is a chance of being bitten by a snake, but you still need to look for that snake. In hotels, snakes are very rare, but in rural areas the likelihood of meeting a snake increases, although you should also try to find at least one snake. Let's say right away that snakes on Djerba are mostly dangerous.

Also, dogs that are found in cities and rural areas can pose a certain danger. Sometimes dogs come onto hotel beaches, but, as a rule, hotel security guards try to drive these dogs away. In general, dogs in Djerba are quite peaceful, but if you ride a bicycle, they can attack you.

A Metro journalist found out on the spot how safe it is on Djerba, and how Russians accustomed to the all-inclusive system have a rest.

What kind of island
“The island of Djerba is true love. Because we don’t know why exactly we love it...” This is what the locals say. The dimensions of Djerba are small - only 29 by 28 km (this is almost half the area of ​​St. Petersburg). And the main advantages are gorgeous sandy beaches, clear seas and hotels with thalassotherapy centers, conducive to relaxation and tranquility.

Since ancient times, these places for beach holidays have been chosen by the French and Germans, who arrive en masse in Djerba during the season from May to October. Now they have real competition from the Russians, who are very loved and awaited here. Russian tourists - unlike European ones - go outside the hotels and go on excursions, willingly spend money on souvenirs and local goods, and go to restaurants and cafes.

Russian speech on the island is no longer uncommon, and in hotels, service personnel who speak French and English are already studying the language of Pushkin and Dostoevsky with all their might.

Nature, climate and local color
The road from the airport to any of the hotels in Djerba will not take more than half an hour - everything is nearby, and after the flight you won’t have to endure a difficult bus ride (especially for those traveling with children).

On the way to the hotel, many will think that the island is uninhabited. Everywhere you look - endless sandy beaches, emerald blue sea, evergreen palm trees and no one around.
The fact is that on Djerba, ever since the pirate raids, local residents preferred to settle in the depths of the island. By the way, there is still a rule in Djerba - do not build buildings “higher than palm trees”. The most noticeable buildings are often snow-white mosques. They are also unusual - not with a dome, but with a tower, and look like fortresses.

The area along the coast in Djerba is now firmly assigned to the hotels and their inhabitants. That is why a vacation on the island can be called isolated - in complete harmony with nature. By the way, on the island it is quite sparse, but very colorful - there are evergreen olive trees, spreading date palms, exotic cacti everywhere...

But the main advantage of Djerba is its wide beaches with fine white sand, a clean, warm sea with a gentle entrance, in which it is safe to swim even for children.
The climate on the island is hotter than in the north of Tunisia - 5 degrees.

Hotels in Djerba and Zarzis
There are a total of about 160 hotels in Djerba and Zarzis (the southernmost resort of Tunisia on the mainland) - mostly 4 and 5 stars, where you can relax on an all-inclusive basis. The hotel grounds are usually green and spacious, there are at least 3-4 swimming pools and the obligatory bars with drinks nearby, and the sea with gorgeous beaches and free sun loungers is a stone's throw away.

During the day, tourists are offered to warm up in the pool (aqua aerobics), play beach volleyball or darts, and in the evening the animation team, which is found in almost all hotels, organizes a wide variety of shows - from classical music concerts to discos.

You won’t miss the beach fun either - you will definitely get a tempting offer to ride a camel or horse and, of course, a banana boat, a jet ski, or fly with a parachute behind a boat. There are also options for advanced extreme sports enthusiasts – divers and surfers.

Safety in Djerba
The key point when choosing a country for a trip to the sea is the confidence that the safety of the tourist is guaranteed there. In Tunisia, perhaps, they are concerned about this problem more than anywhere else in the country. The government allocates a huge budget to ensure the safety of tourists at resorts. Hotels are not allowed to operate without strict and clear rules and are subject to sanctions for the slightest violations. Thus, video surveillance systems are installed on hotel premises, and 24-hour security is required, including on the beaches. It is almost impossible for outsiders to enter the hotel premises. On boat trips, tourists are accompanied by police on boats, and cordons are posted on the roads. Regular checks take place everywhere - from museums to airports.

From the point of view of the terrorist threat, the island of Djerba is the most protected in Tunisia. Just because it's an island. There is only one road connecting Djerba to the mainland, which is controlled by the police at entry and exit.

The Tunisian Minister of Tourism and Crafts, Selma Elloumi, personally stated in June this year that security guarantees in Djerba reach 100%.

“Safety is everything to us. We guarantee our guests that everything is being done in Tunisia to make you feel safe on vacation,” Tunisian Minister of Tourism and Crafts Selma Elloumi told Russian journalists in Djerba.

Sights of Djerba and useful information

The population of the island is 160 thousand people. Almost half live in Djerba's largest city, Houmt Souk. Here you can stroll along the narrow colorful streets, look at Fort Borj el-Kebir– an old fortress with a dark history, go to the local market.

Another must visit place in Djerba is Museum of Folk Traditions and Crafts, near the village of Gellala, almost in the center of the island. The museum is located on a small hill, and the view from there is stunning - like from an observation deck, because the island itself is flat, like a flat cake.

You won’t be bored in the halls of the museum - they present “compositions” from the life of the Djerbians - how they bake bread, hold weddings, make national clothes and even drink tea.

Pottery Museum- another place where tourists love to visit. It is located in the village of Gellala. Here they make ceramic products in the “old-fashioned” way – on a potter’s wheel. Travelers will be shown all the stages of creating incredibly beautiful dishes and will be offered to purchase souvenirs.

There are no ruins of ancient civilizations on the island of Djerba; you need to go to the mainland to find them, but there is a Roman road. It was laid out over the sea from huge boulders 1800 years ago and connects the island to the mainland. The length of the Roman road is 8 km. Only two cars can pass each other on it; buses will already be cramped.

From the island of Djerba it is very convenient to go on excursions to the largest hot desert on earth - the Sahara. It is only 150 km from here. From the northern part of Tunisia it takes much longer to get there.

This is what will bring a sea of ​​emotions to Djerba - both children and adults - this crocodile farm and island of pink flamingos. Although the latter is accessible all year round, birds are there only in October. You can go to the island on a “pirate” ship. A team of dashing “sea robbers” will entertain you along the way, entrust you with a net and ask you to help throw it into the sea, and on the island you can swim and taste lunch from local dishes.

Crocodile Farm at Explorer Park- This is a kind of zoo. About 800 individuals live here - from 4-meter toothed reptiles (the oldest crocodile is 20 years old) to tiny harmless crocodiles, which you will be offered to pet and, for the thrill of the sensation, may be placed on your shoulder or head.

Crocodiles here are not bred for “handbags” and steaks, they live like in a sanatorium - meals are served by the hour, a cozy warm lake overgrown with mud, plus an additional bonus - demonstration feedings for tourists... It is this entertainment that attracts many vacationers to the park.

Huge pieces of meat are thrown to the crocodiles and they immediately open their toothy mouths and swallow the “prey”. Blood flows down the crocodiles' faces, the reptiles even depict some kind of activity in the fight for meat, the audience is delighted. It is explained to the curious that crocodiles eat strictly according to a schedule, and demonstration feedings are just a show.

Transport
You can get around the island by taxi – it’s inexpensive. A trip from one end of the island to the other in 20 minutes will cost 10 dinars (about 300 rubles). You can rent a car. The average cost is 100 dinars per day. But you need to remember that there is nowhere to drive it, and gasoline in Djerba is not cheap - 1.6 dinars per liter.

Curious.
Motorists will notice that there are no traffic lights on the roads of Djerba. As it turned out, the nearest “regulator” is in the capital of the country - Tunisia, 800 km away. At the same time, there is no chaos on the roads of Djerba - there are roundabouts, there are few cars, however, as well as pedestrian crossings. People calmly cross the road in any convenient place, only by showing the appropriate hand sign to the drivers.

People
There are many Jews living in Djerba. One of the island's attractions is the large synagogue. Berbers (local people) and Jews coexist very peacefully. When Muslims are in the month of Ramadan, during which they cannot eat until sunset, their Jewish neighbors even try not to prepare aromatic dishes so as not to tease the appetite of those fasting.

What to bring from Tunisia and what to try
It is wrong to think that there is nothing on Djerba except dates and olives. In the interior of the island, farming flourishes on private farms. Watermelons and strawberries, apricots, peaches, oranges and melons are grown in cultivated areas. All these fruits are available in abundance in local markets (strawberries 1.5 dinars per kg, small watermelon - 3 dinars, figs - 2.5 dinars per kg) and, of course, in hotel restaurants. Bananas, kiwis and pineapples are brought from the mainland.
A special treat is seafood. In Djerba you can try the freshest Mediterranean fish, octopus and king prawns, which cannot be found in the north of Tunisia.

Local beer and wine are acceptable in taste and do not cause any complaints even among gourmets. But Djerba’s strong drink, booze, is very specific. Bukha is a 40-proof date vodka with an unusual aroma and aftertaste. Tourists are usually willing to buy booze at the expensive Duty Free airport on the way home.
Buying alcohol in Djerba is not an easy task. Alcohol is sold only in special stores.

What is available and cheap is locally produced olive oil and dates. For a liter of oil they will charge 8 dinars, for 500 grams. dates – 5. By the way, Tunisia ranks 3rd in olive oil exports in the world.

You won’t have to look for shops with souvenirs, clothing, leather goods and other goods necessary for tourists on Djerba - they are located right opposite the hotels. Smiling salespeople will be happy to greet you and show you everything you want. Bags and wallets made of camel skin and very cute textile souvenirs are popular among shopping lovers in Tunisia.

Currency - what to take
In Tunisia, they love dollars more than euros, and rubles will not be accepted under any circumstances. There are ATMs on the streets and in stores, and cash can be withdrawn from a card without any problems. But paying with a card is already more difficult - only when purchasing from a certain amount - usually at least 15 dinars.

Why Tunisia?
The resorts of Tunisia and the island of Djerba in particular have become a good alternative to Turkey, beloved by Russians, but now unsafe. First of all, for the price.
A trip for two to a 4* hotel in Djerba or Zarzis (all inclusive) for a week can cost 70 thousand rubles (at prices as of July 2016). For this money, tourists will receive 4 meals a day, decent service, free drinks - from juice and coffee to beer, wine and local rum, and most importantly - sun, sea, clean beaches... And the bonus will be absolutely free sincere smiles of Djerbians.

Why Djerba

Before answering the question “Why is the island of Djerba most suitable for an ideal holiday?”, you should know why you should go to Tunisia. Everything is simple here. Previously, Russians had two favorite destinations for beach holidays abroad - Turkey and Egypt. They went there because, firstly, it was quite cheap and, secondly, it was familiar - thanks to the established tourist flow, these countries adapted to Russian tourists and their needs, so vacationers could feel at home there.

Now a trip to Egypt, as well as to Turkey, is accompanied by considerable problems and difficulties. We should not forget about concerns for the safety of tourists. Therefore, many experts advise finding some reasonable alternative to these destinations, and Tunisia fits perfectly here. In addition to the fact that the country can offer the utmost concern for the safety of tourists, local officials are making a fair effort to ensure that the trip of Russians to the North African coast does not hurt their pockets.

Airport. Photo: "Morning"

Getting to Tunisia is not difficult - the country has a visa-free regime for tourists from Russia. Upon arrival, just fill out a short form. It is advisable to save it until the end of the trip, then you will not have to answer these questions again during exit border control. In principle, these are all formalities - Tunisia is open to tourists and is happy to welcome every vacationer.

Tunisia, like Egypt, Turkey, France and dozens of other countries, became a victim of international terrorism, but drew the necessary conclusions from this, and now this country can boast of one of the most developed security systems. And if the whole of Tunisia can be imagined as an impregnable fortress, then the island of Djerba is its most protected part. This factor, along with objective circumstances - a long season, comfortable air temperature and warm sea, friendly locals and comfortable hotels, turns this island into an ideal holiday destination.

The island of Djerba is a dry place. Photo: "Morning"

Security situation

National Guard. Photo: "Morning"

The Spanish Reconquista left Tunisia a legacy of blue doors and window frames of the same color, French colonial policy - bilingualism and signs in French. The Arab Spring is also reflected in the everyday appearance of the streets - in the form of Tunisian military, police and national guards equipped with automatic weapons, who here and there catch the eye of a curious tourist.

However, for Tunisia itself, which became the “first sign,” everything went most successfully, and now local residents are rightfully proud of their youngest democracy and the Nobel Peace Prize. But neighboring Libya was less fortunate, and now this war-torn country is a factor destabilizing the situation throughout the region.

Roman road. Photo: "Morning"

The Tunisian authorities do not skimp on security. In particular, it became known that the country had erected a wall on the border with Libya. Special police units are on duty in cities and near tourist sites. Also in the city there are ordinary law enforcement officers and people working undercover, without showing either uniform or weapons. On field excursions, groups of tourists are guarded by the National Guard, who also controls the coastal part of the country. The hotels themselves have undergone serious re-certification - without a metal detector frame, surveillance cameras placed around the perimeter, enhanced security with a dog and additional staff training, a hotelier simply will not be able to obtain a license to operate.

Also, Tunisian intelligence services actively cooperate with their European colleagues and use the most advanced technologies and innovative approaches to monitor the situation in the country. According to statements by country officials, they are open to cooperation with Russian specialists.

Roadblock. Photo: "Morning"

What to do in Djerba

The first advantage of Djerba is a beach holiday. All hotels located on the island have their own comfortable beach. At the same time, vacationers can use not only umbrellas and sun loungers, but also ride a jet ski, fly on a parachute, test their agility on the famous “tablet” jumping on the waves, or, if they want to jump on the waves more calmly, sit on the no less famous “banana” .

Unlike sunbeds and umbrellas, these services are paid. However, vacationers themselves are happy to note: they are much cheaper than in competing countries.

Pottery. Photo: "Morning"

In addition, Djerba offers tourists golf courses, a crocodile farm, museums that demonstrate with historical accuracy the life of local residents, trips to pottery, where, in front of the amazed public, an elegant table service will be made from a shapeless piece of clay, and all this on tools, not changing over centuries.

Even the most demanding tourist can be interested in local life. For example, the market in the city of Houmt Souk, although half consisting of souvenir shops, still retains a truly Tunisian charm.

Port. Photo: "Morning"

One of the main attractions of the shopping arcade is the fish shop. The way trade is carried out here can be called one of the attractions of the island and could be included in the list of UNESCO cultural heritage. The seller raises his hand with a bunch of fish. Buyers who do not know the weight, the exact quantity, or even how many types of fish are in the bunch, begin to offer their price. Local residents really organize these auctions, and not at all to attract tourists - this is an ordinary part of their daily life.

For lovers of history and culture, Tunisia also has something to offer. “There are about 40 thousand archaeological sites, many of which are under the jurisdiction of the UN,” said the country’s Minister of Tourism and Traditional Crafts, Salma Ellumi Rekik. The island of Djerba also appeared in Homer's Iliad and was already positioned as a very attractive place.

Crocodile farm. Photo: "Morning"

However, the main thing that Tunisia is famous for is thalassotherapy. This is similar to the well-known SPA in Russia, but the procedures here use sea salt water and other seafood, such as algae. Moreover, Tunisian thalassotherapy boasts a rich history and ancient traditions. This craft originated here in ancient times, when veterans of the Roman legion were sent here for treatment. Now tourists from all over the world come here to get acquainted with the process, perfected over many centuries. As statistics show, the French are especially fond of thalassotherapy, but local salons can also please Russians with low prices and an incredible level of skill.

What you need to be prepared for

For many Russians, the language threshold is the determining factor when choosing a country for a holiday. Tunisia speaks Arabic and French. However, local residents also understand English. Anyone who does not speak any language other than Russian should not be afraid. Tunisians have actively begun to study it.

Hotel. Photo: "Morning"

Shawki Dahri, a bartender at the Palm Beach Palace Hotel, boasts a command of five languages ​​- in addition to the required Arabic and French for Tunisians, he is able to carry on a conversation in English, German and Italian. “Don’t worry about the languages,” he assures, “in one or two seasons, all of Tunisia will speak Russian.” Moreover, he, apparently, really means full command of the language, since you can place an order, explain or ask for something in Russian now.

Shawki, not without pride, displays a booklet hidden under the bar counter - this is a short phrasebook that lists the most common phrases and concepts necessary for work. However, the learning does not end there - all hotel staff attend lessons with a Russian-speaking teacher. And this is the case all over the island. Local hoteliers seriously intend to charm tourists from the Russian Federation, like the sirens who once lived nearby - Odyssey.

We thank the Tunisian National Tourism Office in Moscow and the tour operatorAnex Tour for the opportunity to visit Tunisia.

Tunisia has taken Russian tourists seriously. The advertising budget for promoting the Tunisian tourist destination in Russia required 1.5 million euros from the country's leadership. The country began to cooperate with several tour operators at once, who switched to a new direction. " ", " ", " " and " " are organizing new tours for Russians. Before the need to quickly replace Turkey and Egypt, only Express Tour worked with Tunisia. Now, along with the popular resorts of Sousse and Hammamet, the southern island of Djerba and the city of Zarzis have been opened to Russians. Russians now coexist there with former regulars - the French and Germans. Like the more southern resorts of Djerba and Zarzis, they are ready to receive tourists much longer, from mid-April to the end of October.

Refocusing in numbers looks like this: the flow of Russian tourists to Tunisia increased by 650% in January-May this year, said the head of the Tunisian National Tourism Office in Moscow, Mezhid Kahlaoui. In the first 5 months of 2016, more than 74 thousand Russian tourists visited Tunisia; specifically, 20 flights fly to Djerba daily from 20 Russian cities. Thus, the Russian market took second place after France, and if we talk about Djerba, then first. In 2016, the number of seats on planes flying from St. Petersburg is almost 16% of the total number of seats on planes flying to Tunisia, according to the Tunisian National Tourism Office in Moscow.

Making a serious bet on the Russians, Tunisia has undertaken to further subsidize travel companies and pays Russian operators 4 thousand euros for each charter flight. The goal of all events is worthy: according to the Director General of the Tunis Tourism Office, Abdelatif Hmam, in 2016 the country expects to receive 400-500 thousand Russian guests.

Large-scale plans for Tunisia could disrupt, on June 2, the Russian department recommended that tourists be careful when visiting Tunisia and warned about the growing terrorist threat in the country, specifically in new directions - Djerba and Zarzis. For Tunisia, the terrorist threat is not just words, but a proven reason for the record decline in tourist flow. After last year's terrorist attack (two Tunisian hotels were attacked), in 2015 the demand for the Tunisian Republic among Russian tourists decreased by 83%. And if we compare 2016 with 2014, the growth in tourist flow is quite significant, about 80%. In some hotels in Zarzis, the share of Russian tourists reaches 80%, a year ago this figure was 18%. As the Minister of Tourism and Crafts of Tunisia, Salma Elloumi, described the priorities, the safety of tourists is now a matter of life and death for Tunisia.

Refuting the fears of Rostourism, this year, the Tunisian authorities are taking unprecedented measures to ensure the safety of holidaymakers. Russian journalists and bloggers who were in Djerba for several days were able to evaluate these measures with their own eyes. For security, each hotel has hired new personnel, employees patrol water areas and beaches, and on some of them you can see dogs trained to find explosives. Metal detectors are installed at hotel entrances, hotel halls and corridors are equipped with cameras. Each hotel provides security on its own, otherwise the hotel may lose its license. Outside the hotels, security is provided by the Tunisian police and national guard. Buses are equipped with a GPS system, pleasure boats are accompanied by armed patrols and tourist police.

"This year, allocated for these purposes huge budget. We have signed a memorandum of cooperation with the governments of Great Britain, Germany and other countries and provide security at a European level: in hotels, airports, museums, in all tourist areas,” says Selma Elloumi.

Russian tourists themselves feel calmly, some admit that they were nervous before the trip, but they still didn’t give up their permits. Some hotels claim that Russians did not refuse tours, despite information about possible terrorist attacks. Many understand the motives of Rostourism, some were reassured by the refutation and assurances that terrorist attacks are being prepared almost throughout Europe, and here you can no longer guess where to go. The hotel staff sitting on chairs on the beach really calms you down, and the requirement to show your room key upon entering the hotel grounds is met with only understanding.

In addition to beach holidays, Russians, Unlike their European counterparts, sun loungers prefer to actively spend money outside hotels, say Tunisian hotel managers. Russians buy excursions to the Sahara, visit thalassotherapy centers, go to a crocodile company and swim to uninhabited islands, go to explore museums, pottery workshops, ancient mosques and synagogues, and actively shop at local markets. In general, the Russians are satisfied with the replacement of players on the beach holiday field, the price and quality are satisfactory, but people miss the familiar Turkey and are waiting for its opening. In search of new beach destinations, tourists considered Greece, Cyprus and Tunisia - many rejected Russian resorts due to the high cost and lack of an all-inclusive system.

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Hi all!

The island of Djerba is a fairly young holiday destination, and in this review I want to orient those who are thinking about a holiday in this place.

Backstory or how I got to the island. Djerba.

It was July 2016... I was visiting and listening to enthusiastic stories about holidays on this island - about snow-white beaches and turquoise water, that this island is as safe as in Israel and the inclusiveness is no worse than in Turkey. When two weeks later the question arose about choosing a holiday destination in very limited conditions, there was no doubt left - we were flying to Djerba. Firstly, Tunisia is a new country for us, secondly, you don’t need a visa to go there, and the most obvious thing is that the flight from Moscow is only 4.5 hours.

Hotel chosen, tickets purchased

Speaking of hotels, the locals assured us that the best hotel on the island is the Radisson, we stayed in another five-star hotel, I’ll leave a link to the review below.

Beaches on the island of Djerba and the area behind the hotel.

The biggest disappointment in Djerba was the sea. Dirty, muddy and with a lot of algae washed up on the beach line every day. The beaches here are municipal, and Americans don’t pamper this place with their presence, so….

Just look at the photo.

I’m a squeamish person, so I swam exclusively in the pool throughout my vacation.

And yes, the Mediterranean Sea is cold in these places. Even in early September, getting into the water is extremely unpleasant. Of course, if you take a few glasses of strong drinks, this will not be a problem for you.

The area behind the hotel was also quite disappointing - we tried to take a walk several times, but our attempts were not particularly successful - there are simply no sidewalks in many places - you have to walk along the road on earth and sand, this type is accompanied by spontaneous garbage dumps that are simply lying along the road, and no one is in a hurry to get him out of here. There are practically no decent cafes on the island either, and most likely you will have to take a taxi to get to them; there are no souvenir shops.

The general impression is an ownerless, abandoned territory that has no owner. But what potential... many compare Tunisia with Egypt, but for me Tunisia is more alive, here at least something grows on its own along the coastline.

The island looked much more presentable if they cleaned it up, but apparently no one did. An additional contribution is made by abandoned hotels, of which there were plenty on the island in 2016

Shopping that doesn't exist

Several times we made taxi trips to the capital of Djerba - the city of Houmt Souk, but there was nothing to do there besides visiting the market. In the evening, no bars, no clubs, no shopping centers. It’s partly understandable, the country is Muslim, but here everything is somehow completely bad.

In the evening there is not a single tourist on the streets, only local men gather in open cafes to watch football together. You feel very uncomfortable. I would like to quickly take a taxi and return to the hotel, at least there is some life there.

In general, there is nowhere to go out in the evening, there is no life outside the hotel

The market (open only during the day) also won’t surprise you with anything special - leather, mirrors with doors, olive oils, and so on.

We found a more or less decent store in the city of Midoun - there is a large French supermarket, a pharmacy and a Yves Rocher store. Not by any means, but better than the local noname.

My humble shopping trip from the mentioned pharmacy

You shouldn't count on duty free on the island either. It is very small there with an extremely poor choice, although we still took two bottles of Jack Daniels at a very attractive price from there.

Incident at a restaurant in Djerba

Disappointed with shopping, we decided to try seafood and visit the Princess Haroun restaurant, which is considered almost the best on the island.

The restaurant is located on a ship near the port, the view from the deck is very depressing:

We ordered langoustine, couscous (national dish) and something else for a total of $120. They also brought a dish with water, as is usually the case when ordering seafood. Then something incredible happened.

No, we are dressed in luxury brands, speak good English and in general everything is clear to us, but the waiter gave out “not drink” along with the dish. To say that we were shocked is an understatement. To our round eyes and silent shock, he turned around and left.

We never returned to this place again.

Is it true that Djerba is as safe as Israel?

There is an opinion that since the island is connected to the mainland by one single bridge, and there is a checkpoint on it, there is nothing to worry about.

But, I was in Israel and believe me, the difference in security is just heaven and earth. If in Israel military men with machine guns can easily enter your tourist bus, here such buses do not slow down for inspection at all, and taxis on the island at checkpoints do not slow down either. Everyone just nods to each other and moves on.

So I can’t say that it’s very safe here compared to mainland Tunisia.

What do Fr. Djerba and Dominican Republic

If you look at the promotional photo of Djerba, you can easily confuse it with the Dominican Republic - there are white beaches, flamingos and seaweed... But these are just promotional photos that have practically nothing in common with reality.

Flamingo

In the Dominican Republic, probably, these birds live in any self-respecting hotel. There is no need to run after them, hunt them - I walked around the hotel and saw enough.

In Djerba, flamingos can only be seen from the end of September to October (one might say it’s not the season, since it’s already cold there), and not in the hotel, but on the dirty coastline along the road. I was lucky and I still saw them on the way to the airport when we were leaving the island. Naturally, I didn’t have time to take a photo. So don’t count on photos with these pink beauties like your friends on vacation in the Dominican Republic.

Seaweed

There are both here and there. But the Dominican Republic is an American territory where everything is tailored to please tourists from the USA, and Djerba is…..So feel the difference.

Both are beaches of five-star hotels, and both are municipal beaches. But in the Dominican Republic they strictly monitor this,

and in Djerba, cleaning algae is just some kind of holiday. More precisely, on top of the algae, excuse me, camels and horses will shit. The bags were not hung in the proper place, so the animals relieve themselves along the coastline.

But you, dear tourists, no matter how much you paid for the hotel, bask in this splendor to your health)

Where is the best place to buy souvenirs in Djerba?

It’s amazing, but true – we encountered the cheapest prices and high-quality goods in the ethnographic museum in the village of Gelala during a sightseeing tour of the island. So I recommend taking more money with you