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Some spend summertime with their relatives who live on coastal towns. It is an opportunity to catch up and to spend time together as one to enjoy the beaches and the cool atmosphere of the summer. Millions of tourists rush to Tunisia every summer to enjoy the beaches, the hotels and the thrilling nightlife ! Many open air night clubs thrive during the months of summer, July and August ! Over the week-end, many families spend whole days at the beach. They bring their meal and all other beach toys, games and equipment. Some bring whole tents with chairs and tables which become the family’s home for the day. Related families gather together. A day at the beach is an opportunity to socialize, relax and have fun ! In the evening, people can either stay at their summer residence where they continue to spend time with family and friends or they can go out to enjoy the many cafes, ice cream shops and restaurants in coastal towns. They can also go window shopping in the alleys and galleries which are full of touristic shops and local food shops. Local food is particularly tasty and inexpensive ! Many varieties of snacks are available at small prices ! At night fall, young persons borrow the family car to go spend the night with friends at night clubs while the older and younger members of the family enjoy the cool air of the night until late ... |
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Meeting place of the cultures of the world |
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The English as First Foreign Language Initiative |
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Summer in Tunisia |
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In summer, administrations and companies in Tunisia switch to summer time shift i.e. : Everybody works only 6 hours a day from 7:00 to 13:00. This way everybody can enjoy summer time at the beach or with family ! Tunisia has lots of magnificent beaches over more than 1400 kms of coast. In summer, Tunis is emptied from its inhabitants which go to other places for “Khleaa” or “leisure and refreshment” … Families rent homes in coastal towns. Some go to the hotel along with tourists. |
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Feet in the sand while sitting in a lounge chair |
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Kids surfing … Many activities are available at hotel beaches like wind surf, scuba diving and water skis ! |
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By Mahdi Mrabet
mehdi.mrabet@gmail.com . |
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Send us your articles about your culture : contact@englishffl.org |
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New town hall of the city of Tunis |
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Women doing henne |
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A car decorated for marriage |
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In the many places tourists and locals go to, one can enjoy the very beautiful Tunisian architecture (which is part of the Arabic Muslim school) with its many arches and domes and intricate and varied elements ! Old cities are particularly attractive with their specific doors and arched alleyways. Many coastal cities have also an old fort which can be visited ! These forts used to be used to protect the coast from the invaders. They have a very specific architecture. Sometimes there are even cafes or restaurants inside the fort with a magnificent view. |
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The Medina of Yasmine Hammamet |
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Summertime in Tunisia is also the favourite period for marriages. The ceremonies of marriage are very complicated ones in Tunisia. Traditional marriages lasted for 7 days and 7 nights with a different setting and a different happening every night. Brides have a different dress for every night. The dresses vary according to the region and the city. There are nights for women only and ones where both men and women are mixed. The atmosphere during marriages is wonderful ! Everybody is happy and the big family comes together and lives together in the home of the bride or the groom for the whole week. Meals and evenings are particularly cheerful moments where everybody are joined together and have fun. During marriages, women do Henne. It is a sort of tattoo specific to the Arabic culture made out of plants. Every region has its own specific customs and dishes for marriage. The day of the marriage the groom goes to the Hammam with a male escort. The groom has often lots of hair and a long beard, on purpose, to look better after shaving the day of the marriage. Afterwards, the groom goes to fetch the bride in a luxurious and specially decorated car. |
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The bride and groom and their families and friends go then to the location of the wedding in a cortege where everybody make tunes with the car horns. Some marriages occur in town halls where, after the ceremony the married couple as well as their parents line up to receive the congratulations of the guests. In general, weddings happen in big spaces where the bride and groom are portrayed in a highlighted position and a musical band plays. All guests spend the night dancing, drinking soft drinks and eating local pastries ! Marriages are the occasion for single men and women to meet. Single women in particular wear stunning outfits for the occasion. In summer you always hear marriages with music put on loud speakers all over the country … They play popular music called “mezoued” that Tunisians enjoy. |
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Married couple after their wedding |
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Entrance to the townhall of Tunis |
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Arches in Tunis |
