The seashore of Djerba
by croisbeauty
Last year I was in Nabeul, in the North Tunisia, where the sea-water is very shallowly but pretty clean and almost without sea-grass. Comparing it with Island of Djerba, it was acceptable. The seashore of Djerba, however, wass the biggest disappointing to me. I saw people standing in the water several hundreds of meters far from the shore and yet the water was barely over their knees. Besides, this endless brown coloured sea-grass is covering entire shore around the island making entrance into the water almost fastidious.
Bargaining in the Souk
by csordila
Bargaining is expected in the souks!!
If you want to buy something, there is no question, that the bargaining is unavoidable. The life without bargaining is no life for the Djerbian vendors! Actually the prices indicated first have nothing to do with the real price of the goods, they may be easily three times or four times higher than the normal price. I learned that you really have to bargain like mad to get reasonable prices here. Offering third of the requested price is a good starting point. In the end you still do not know what is reasonable and what's pure nonsense.
To make some good deals and achieve an acceptable price, you should be as stubborn as a mule and you have to spend much time, energy and patience. At the beginning it may be amusing, but sooner or later for most of the European a long lasting bargaining becomes tiring.
A lot of business go up in smoke because some of the tourists fear to enter a boutique thinking, they will never be able to get out without buying something although they are really interested only in certain products.
Many tourist offices think that this negotiating system should held for tourists, in order to please them, in order to fulfill their expectations of the Curiosity.
I think, that bargaining process is a quaint system that needs however to change in the best interest of all. Fortunately, outside these tourist zones, Tunisian commerce has evolved and has adapted to modern ways such as selfservice.
In Guellala: Ali Berbere
by Kid-A
Ali Berbere is an old man who makes pottery and is happy to give you a history (in French) of pottery and the making of olive oil on Djerba. This history he explains of how they made olive oil in former times is especially interesting.
He lives in Guellala, a village on the southern end of the island. The town is sort of famous for pottery, in that a lot of the pottery found on the island comes from this town. Ali Berbere is entertaining and accomodating. In the end, you're supposed to give him a Dinar or 2 for his time. You can also buy pottery from him, or help him make some pottery. The building he lives and works in was built in Roman times, he says.
I'm not sure how to describe where he is located. If you want to find him, I imagine asking a local will get you there very quickly. He's well known in the area.
Dishes
by JLBG
The earth ware dishes and vases are beautifully decorated. They are lined on the soil, for your pleasure. The décor shown here does not seem to be produced in Guellala but might come from other potter's places, on the continent.
Midoun
by barryg23
Midoun is the second largest town in Jerba, after Houmt Souk. It's the nearest town to Sidi Mahares and the East coast of the islands, where most of the tourist hotels are located. Hence, Midoun gets a fair number of visitors. This is reflected in its central market where almost everything on sale was for the benefits of these tourists. Aside from the market, there isn't too much else for visitors to see. There are a couple of nice mosques, though they are closed to non Muslims, and an olive press workshop where you can observe how olive oil is produced.
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Exterior view
Ali Berbere demonstrates pottery making
Me inside the synagogue
the four whells scooters
