A Family in Jerba
Greetings. I feel better about NO, thank God things are getting better for the people there.
So back to blogging!
I forgot to mention the best thing that happened to us on the island of Jerba a few days back. Jerba is a very touristy place. Beautiful, but touristy. So Jamm and I were not overly excited to be there. Our hotel was a beautiful tiled caravanserai with a courtyard in the middle. We planned on spending our time just relaxing in our hotel.
One evening, we decided to walk to the beach from the medina, and stumbled upon a small park on the beach with slides, seasaws, etc. for kids. SO we decided to stop there and let Layla enjoy herself.
I started talking to the waiter who was waiting on us. I told him what a relief this park was, since it was only Tunisians there, and that i wasn't that fond of Jerba, because of the whole tourist situation.
Note: i have no problem with tourists, we are some, but when many tourists visit a place, the energy changes, the situation changes. The locals see you more as dollars than people, and the tourists become colder and more rude, and it spirals.
Anyway, so i am telling him all this, and he understands. He tells me how he just waits on tourists as his job, but feels comfortable with me and appreciates me talking to him. Of course he loves Layla, so invites us all to lunch the next day at his house, so Layla can play with his 3 children. I didn't know what to say, so I said OK.
So next day he takes us to his humble abode in Riyadh [a small town famous for its beautiful old synagogue] . His wife cooks for us a wonderful Tunisian spicy spaghetti, and Layla has a blast playing with his kids. We were so moved by their hospitality, generosity and openness. His wife was also very nice, and we all had a nice afternoon.
Over and over we are blown away by the hospitality, genrosity and openmindedness of the Tunisian people.
So back to blogging!
I forgot to mention the best thing that happened to us on the island of Jerba a few days back. Jerba is a very touristy place. Beautiful, but touristy. So Jamm and I were not overly excited to be there. Our hotel was a beautiful tiled caravanserai with a courtyard in the middle. We planned on spending our time just relaxing in our hotel.
One evening, we decided to walk to the beach from the medina, and stumbled upon a small park on the beach with slides, seasaws, etc. for kids. SO we decided to stop there and let Layla enjoy herself.
I started talking to the waiter who was waiting on us. I told him what a relief this park was, since it was only Tunisians there, and that i wasn't that fond of Jerba, because of the whole tourist situation.
Note: i have no problem with tourists, we are some, but when many tourists visit a place, the energy changes, the situation changes. The locals see you more as dollars than people, and the tourists become colder and more rude, and it spirals.
Anyway, so i am telling him all this, and he understands. He tells me how he just waits on tourists as his job, but feels comfortable with me and appreciates me talking to him. Of course he loves Layla, so invites us all to lunch the next day at his house, so Layla can play with his 3 children. I didn't know what to say, so I said OK.
So next day he takes us to his humble abode in Riyadh [a small town famous for its beautiful old synagogue] . His wife cooks for us a wonderful Tunisian spicy spaghetti, and Layla has a blast playing with his kids. We were so moved by their hospitality, generosity and openness. His wife was also very nice, and we all had a nice afternoon.
Over and over we are blown away by the hospitality, genrosity and openmindedness of the Tunisian people.
posted by Sami at 3:04 AM
1 Comments:
So glad to hear that you are having these wonderful experiences. God is sending your way good people, and I am grateful for that. So, Layla is not tired yet? great. Please keep some energy for Cairo. I want to have fun with you. The one thing I picture in my mind over and over again is going to Khan al-Khalili, and to the Pyramids. The problem is that there are many beautiful places outside Cairo, but I am not sure if we have time to do any of it. All my love. I want to see pictures...pictures....pictures.
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