NO MARMITE IN TUNISIA
Life In Tunisia For British Expats
Hello and welcome to the site which is dedicated to English speaking expats resident in Tunisia.
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LIVING IN TUNISIA
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FRIENDS OF NO MARMITE Sousse (5)
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 www.nomarmiteintunisia.co.uk NEW - JOIN US! |
EXPAT GROUPS AND MEETINGS Sousse/Port el Kantaoui Every Thursday Morning, |
LATEST NEWS HEADLINES FROM TUNISIA
NEW GROUP
NABEUL EXPATS
Brooks Cafe, Avenue Habib Bourguiba, Nabeul, 25th February 2010
Thursday 25th February 2010, we finally got together, spurred on by the success of the regular Thursday lunch dates of the British expats in Sousse! We are hoping to make it a regular thing, so any expats living in or around Nabeul, or anywhere else in the country and perhaps visiting for the day, who would like to come along, just email us here at No Marmite In Tunisia, and let us know.
nomarmiteintunisia@yahoo.fr
No Marmite In Tunisia wishes to thank all of its members for the great response to our appeal to promote Tunisia at the festival Memphis In May!
Every year in May, Memphis in Tennessee in the USA holds a festival and chooses a country to honour and promote. This year, 2010, they have chosen TUNISIA! The children from Memphis will be taught all about Tunisia, its food, architecture and anything else that they can find about the country. The schools will have contests and arts projects based on Tunisia!
A teacher from an Elementary School in Memphis wrote to No Marmite In Tunisia after seeing some of the photographs on the website to ask if there was anything we could send to them. I have forwarded today some of the photographs that you have sent to me. If anybody wishes to forward high quality photographs of Tunisian architecture, mosques, food, or national dress, please forward them to us as soon as possible!
Your chance to promote this wonderful country to the residents of Memphis! nomarmiteintunisia@yahoo.fr
ESSENTIAL TUNISIA
Expat Gary launches new online magazine
Gary White, an expat living in Port el Kantaoui
has created a brand new, glossy, online magazine, featuring
"Everything Tunisia!"
Click on the picture below for the February 2010 issue!
THE COUNTRYSIDE AND THE SNOW OF SWITZERLAND
IN TUNISIA
Most, when thinking of Tunisia, conjure up visions of exotic, hot, Saharan desert sands! Few would believe that by travelling to the opposite end of Tunisia's beautiful and diverse country
, would mean stumbling across a mountain resort resembling a Swiss Alpine village! Ain Draham, with a name meaning 'a source of money,' is a spectacularly, attractive town built 1000 metres above sea level by French colonialists. There are houses with pitched, red roof tiles and dense forests of cork and oak, full of game, including wild boar, and at one time even lions and panthers, attracting a very different type of visitor, wishing to take part in the regular hunting season!
Yesterday, January 11th 2010, the town was covered with snow! Ain Draham holds the national record in Tunisia, with 2 metres of snow recorded in 2005. Many Tunisians even travel there to enjoy winter activities such as skiing! Sportsmen in search of pristine air, also regularly visit the town's fully equipped international sports centre which has attracted high level Tunisian and international football, as well as handball teams!
A town, still waiting to be discovered by many, is yet another jewel in Tunisia's crown!
NATIONAL CHILDREN'S DAY IN TUNISIA
In 1995, Tunisia adopted the Child Protection Code. 
Achievements in favour of Tunisian children have now earned the country praise from international institutions such as the UN Human Rights Committee!
The Basma Association promoting the employment of disabled people, giving special attention to children with specific needs and The Parliament for the Child, established on April 17th 2002 are just two of Tunisia's initiatives!
Monday 11th January 2010 saw nursery school children throughout the country celebrating with a day of fun and face painting!
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY IN TUNISIA
http://www.nomarmiteintunisia.co.uk/noticeboard.htm
REGULAR MEETUPS FOR BRITISH EXPATS IN THE SOUSSE AREA
Join British expats every Thursday in the Sousse area for coffee, lunch and social activities!
Mid November and they are still enjoying Port El Kantaoui cafe life in glorious sunshine!
SALSA IN TUNISIA
A week of themed parties, dance classes, entertainment and activities takes place in June in the charming seaside resort of Tabarka!
From June 20th to June 27th Tabarka hosts the second salsa festival, The Tunisia Salsa Festival 2010!
For more information visit the website http://www.tunisiasalsafestival.com
DISCOVER MAHDIA!
In the 10th century Mahdia, for 50 years, was the capital of one of the Muslim world's most important line of rulers, the Fatimids! Ruins of their ancient port can still be seen hugging Mahdia's coastline, gradually being washed away into the sea! Jenny and Frank from Nottingham live there for the winter months of the year. Discover what else Mahdia has to offer by reading Jenny's report and the new report Christmas in Mahdia!
http://www.nomarmiteintunisia.co.uk/mahdia.htm
FASCINATING KERKENNAH!
Kerkennah was a place of exile with prisoners shipped over there for centuries! The islands were originally called Cercina as legend claims that the witch-goddess Circe was supposed to have imprisoned Odysseus there, believing him too handsome to let go! Furthermore, it is also home to one of Tunisia's oldest native population, the Amazigh. They blended first with the Phoenicians and later with the Romans. These are just a few of the fascinating facts that have led an Australian television channel SBS TV to broadcast a 30 minute documentary this week on the islands!
The documentary showcased the history of ancient Mediterranean civilisations, as well as the islands' strategic position which has been explored by famous figures, tourists, researchers and photographers namely from Greece and Malta! A major source of living for the inhabitants of Kerkennah is fishing, said to be sometimes collected using palm branches, as well as octopus. The Festival du Poulpe (Octopus Festival) is normally held during the Spring (2010 this may be changed to December) and the Festival de la Sirène (Mermaid Festival) is held in the Summer.
For more pictures of Kerkennah, view our page, Our New Life In Kerkennah! http://www.nomarmiteintunisia.co.uk/ournewlifeinkerkennah.htm
TWO YOUNG TUNISIANS CYCLE ACROSS AFRICA
TO PROMOTE YOUTH SOLIDARITY AND PEACE
From November 21st until June 3rd, 2010, two young Tunisians, Montassar Zaghouan and Mourad Ghzaiel originating from the town of Zeramedine, near Monastir, will be attempting to cycle across Africa to promote solidarity and peace amongst the youth of the world!
The countries they hope to cycle through include Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Mal
awi and Zimbabwe, before finally arriving in South Africa.
Mr Zaghouan, whose passion for cycling started as a young child and having already cycled from Zeramedine, on December 20, 2005 for Egypt arriving in Alexandria on January 22, 2006, claims that the only luggage they will need is his mother's home-made baked, sweetened semolina, "Bsissa!"
PROMOTING THE TUNISIAN CHECHIA
The Chechia is the close-fitting traditional red skull cap worn in Tunisia. The history of the Chechia in Tunisia dates back five hundred years, to the time when Andalusian 
Arabs arrived from Spain. A cousin of the European beret, the head piece comes in several types and colours, but only the Tunisian Chechia is red in colour.
Before Tunisia's independence in 1956, all civil servants wore the Chechia. The industry is now in severe decline, despite attempts in the 1990s to revitalise it by manufacturing new varieties in different colours. Wearing the Chechia is now typically confined to holidays and religious occasions, or is associated with the elderly! Figures show that the number of Chechia makers, which used to exce
ed 100, has fallen to fewer than 50 craftsmen!
Discounts of between 5 to 20% were offered from 15-30 November 2009, to promote the Chechia, in the second traditional Chechia promotional campaign, to encourage Tunisians to buy more traditional products! Every year, March 16th in Tunisia marks National Traditional Industries and National Dress Day, when all civil servants wear traditional dress, including the Chechia!
This summer, 2010, Tunisia will organise 'The International Festival Of Chechia.' Programmed in, are carnivals, stage shows, theatrical events, an operette, as well as lectures and documentaries on the subject. During the festival Tunisia will also attempt to enter the 'Guinness World Records,' by creating the largest Tunisian Chechia! The event is set to visit different countries, starting with France and Spain in future years!
RESTORATION OF TUNISIA'S MOUNTAIN VILLAGES
Toujane Taoujout
Toujane, Taoujout and Zraoua are three mountain villages included in the project of The National Heritage Institute (INP) which is to preserve Arab and Berber specificities, including religious monuments, as well as integrating them into the tourist track!
Works will focus particularly on building walls throughout the mountain slopes to prevent landslides, as well as the paving of the main streets of these three localities.
Zraoua
Well worth a visit, as these spectacular spots are so very different and seem a world away from the more well-known and popular resorts of Sousse or Hammamet, the villages are strategically located on the map of new mountain roads linking tourist attractions and archaeological sites to southern Tunisia.
- The village of Toujane is perched on top of a 700 metre high mountain overlooking the sea and the plains of El Arradh and Jaffar.
- The village of Zraoua is located at a height of 200 metres above sea level, a strategic passage between south-eastern and southwestern Tunisian towns.
SNOW IN TUNISIA?
Snow appeared for the first time of the winter in Tunisia yesterday, (but only fake) on the set of Hors La Loi!
"Off set," the skies were as blue as usual!
FILMING CONTINUES IN TUNIS
HORS LA LOI BY RACHID BOUCHAREB
Filming continued in Tunis this week of the movie Hors La Loi by Rachid Bouchareb.
Following the lives of three Algerian brothers after the Massacre of Setif in 1945, the story tells of the fight for the independence of their country! Expats Katrina Benna and Sue Ellen Reyes Johnson are pictured on the set, in scenes from the 1950s with the actor of numerous well-known films, Jamel Debbouze.
Expats Katrina Benna (right) And Sue Ellen Reyes Johnson (left) On The Set Of
"Hors La Loi" With The Actor Jamel Debbouze Filming Taking Place In Tunis
Djebba National Park, Tunisia
If this photograph looks familiar, it is perhaps because this picturesque area, located in the district of Beja, in the North-West ofTunisia, is not unlike the Cheddar Gorge and its caves in Somerset, England! Try climbing to the top of Djebel Goraa, just a little over 900m, on the steps built into the cliff face, for superb views over Beja Plain.
In May 1903, the missionary society, The White Fathers erected a statue of the Virgin Mary on a high ledge on the cliff, to create the "Notre Dame of Goraa!" The statue survived right up until 1998, but is now locked away in a concrete bunker under the cliff face, with a broken arm, following the attempted theft by some young bright spark, who dropped the statue after being surprised by the park warden!
MISH-MASH MARMITE
No Marmite In Tunisia Features In New Book!
Alth
ough most of us here in Tunisia in October can still be found on a beach somewhere, soaking up the warm Autumn sun, choosing the "pefect gift" or how to achieve "the most interesting Christmas stocking" are the thoughts on most peoples' minds now, back in the UK!
Whether you are a lover or hater of the spread, The Mish-Mash Dictionary Of Marmite by Maggie Hall, former New York correspondent for the Daily Mirror and freelance journalist in Washington DC, is perhaps the most quirky gift for 2009! Available from October 15th, 2009, this book for all tastes (literally,) includes more than 100 years of the history of marmite, how it all began and its many unlikely uses the world over!
Maggie tells us that the No Marmite In Tunisia website has made a wonderful entry! Available now for order through Amazon!
A MOVIE CAREER IN TUNISIA
FOR EXPAT KATRINA?
No Marmite In Tunisia's very own Katrina, currently resident in Tunis, who helped contribute to our page Teens in Tunisia can these days be found on a film set, with the latest scenes being filmed in the capital of Tunisia.
With more filming due later this month, Katrina, pictured with the actor Jamel Debbouze shares with you, photographs taken with the whole cast dressed for the part of the film set in the 1940s!
October 2009
FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR BUILDING WORK ON TUNISIA'S
FIRST 5 STAR OFF-PLAN DEVELOPMENT!
Building work has now commenced on the superb 5 star development, The Dunes Golf and Spa Resort, located near to Port el Kantaoui. The completion date is expected to be a year ahead of schedule with the handover of the keys in the Autumn of 2010! Despite the credit crunch in Europe, reservations at this award-winning development consisting of apartments and villas leading down to the beachfront, still continue to pour in! For more information, plans and prices for the remaining apartments, contact Adel of The Tunisian House. info@thetunisianhouse.co.uk View photographs and images of the apartments on The Tunisian House website http://www.thetunisianhouse.co.uk/offplandevelopments.htm
Digging The Foundations For The Dunes Golf And Spa Resort - October 2009
RENTREE SCOLAIRE
Although the delightful sunny days of the long Tunisian summer seem to go on forever, Tuesday, September 22nd was finally the start of the new school year! Cameras and camcorders were at the ready to record the moment, especially for the 6 year olds starting in Year 1!
The Tunisian Government has allocated 300 million dinars for the new school year, including 50 million dinars for the recruitment of 4000 teachers, trainers and primary school teachers, 23 million dinars for extension works and 50 million dinars for the creation of new educational establishments!
The Education and Training Minister Mr Hatem Ben Salem also made it top of his agenda to call in on several schools to check on preventive measures for H1N1, as well as viewing a pilot project in Soukra, Ariana, intended to provide the most brilliant students with close guidance and advanced training!
Ecole Primaire Tahar El Haddad, Beni Khiar. Zarina, Year 1 2009
Expats all over Tunisia are now breathing a huge sigh of relief and enjoying the peace and quiet after the long summer break, extended this year to fit in the Eid celebrations after Ramadan!
CHECK THIS OUT!
Kite surfing in Tunisia has arrived! The extreme sport, taking the world by storm and one of the hottest crazes around, is now becoming a "must" for expats in the Tunis area! Office, bank and embassy staff are spending their weekends taking lessons with Francesco Corte's kite surfing school, the Blanko Kitesurf Club in Gammarth.
A websit
e in Italian, English and French describing the location, sport, beach bar and regular soirèes, means there is no excuse not to both keep fit and have a great social life at the same time! http://www.blankokitesurfclub.com
Facebook users can become a fan of the Kitesurf club and keep up-to-date with all the latest events and happenings! A packed-weekend, planned for the end of Ramadan, included a barbecue on Friday 18th September, tonight's event is "Hat night" on Saturday 19th September, a cocktail party with a prize of a bottle of wine for the best hat and an "Eid Mubarak party" from 12.30 pm on Sunday 20th September.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=94121516758
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New Article On Tunisia |
FUNNY TUNISIA!
The month of Ramadan in Tunisia, brings with it an excellent choice of television programmes, especially comedy! 2009 also saw many unforgettable advertisements, with the prize undoubtably going to the creators of the publicity for the soft drink Boga Cidre! Starring the actor Dhafer el Abidine, the actual filming of the advert was interupted by an elderly lady, who preceded to reprimand the star for his womanising ways, acted out by his character in a local soap opera! It has yet to be determined if this was just a publicity stunt or the dear, little, old lady had actually got carried away with the storyline from his show!
Both the hilarious adve
rt, showing an attractive, young lady stealing Dhafer's can of Boga Cidre and the video of the old lady giving him a piece of her mind can be viewed on Facebook, using the following link :- http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1109913516838&oid=61616718043
La Presse, Tunisia's daily newspaper also carried the joke one step further by publising an advertisement in the small ads, entitled SOS PERDUE (SOS LOST,) asking for assistance in retrieving the can of Boga Cidre! To attract attention the ad was created to seem like it had been encircled in pen and the contact led to the website where a competition was held to find the Boga Cidre with the prize being a day on the film set with the actor himself!
http://www.bogacidre.com
RAMADAN IN TUNISIA
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JET2.COM |
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THE TUNISIAN MACHMOUM The intoxicating smell of the Machmoum, made from the flower “Fell,” and the Arabian Jasmine tree, unique to Tunisia, is the scent that Tunisians believe, “Feeds The Feelings!” FAST FACTS
It is impossible to be in Tunisia in the summer without spotting the Jasmine arrangers, found abundantly in differ Sold on the beaches, in cafes, or even at road junctions, and produced specifically for the Tunisian bride and groom on their wedding day, many of the vendors are often young boys anxious for extra pocket money and usually dressed traditionally with a bouquet of Jasmine pinned between the top of the ear and head. They carry and exhibit their wares in a wicker basket placed on their head or carried under their arm. To celebrat |
ent towns and villages! Whole families, men, women and children alike are kept busy throughout the entire summer 
e this flower, the city of Radés, near to Tunis, devoted a festival for 15 years. In 2007, Ferjeni Alaghrbi prepared a giant bouquet, which was recorded in the Guiness Book of Records! It took a whole day to prepare for a giant "Machmoum" and the cost of production was estimated to be about 200 dinars! HINDI - TUNISIA'S WONDER FRUIT!
August in Tunisia is the month to try Hindi, the fruit from the Cactus plant! Sometimes known as Prickly Pear or La Figue de Barbarie, the Hindi can be found from roadside sellers or green grocers throughout Tunisia! With a refreshing taste, very similar to Passion Fruit, Hindi also has a host of health benefits. Just 100 grams of this fruit will provide the following :-
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27% of the daily recommended amount of Vitamin C
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24% copper
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7-8% of magnesium
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6-11% of iron
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6% of calcium
Known to reduce the blood sugar level, cholestrol and used to treat diarrhea and diabetes, the leaves contain a gel said to be an
excellent healing and anti-wrinkle cream!
Our builder and a laughing 12 year old boy, taught me today, to no longer be terrified of the fruit! To harvest the fruit, simply pick with covered hands, brush with some leaves and wash the spines away with water. Top and tail and then peel and enjoy!
LABLABI IN TUNISIA
For those who like their food spicy and the hotter the better, try Lablabi, a dish eaten throughout Tunisia!
Made from a broth of chickpeas, bread pieces are broken up and soaked into the dish. Topped with cumin, sometimes an egg and lashings of raw garlic, as well as huge spoonfuls of the traditional, fiery chilli paste, harissa, this dish is definitely not for the faint hearted!
For expats and visitors living in, or visiting the town of Beni Khiar near to Nabeul, dishes of Lablabi, priced at only 1 dinar 500, (2009) are served throughout the day at the popular beach cafe with its lawned, family garden and handy beach access!
Customers will, traditionally, often break up their own bread into their bowl, in the cafe, whilst waiting for the broth to be added!
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SUMMER IN TUNISIA 2009 Residents and regular visitors to Tunisia will know that summer in Tunisia is not only about soaking up the sun on its miles and miles of glo |
rious sandy beaches!
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HAPPY TUNISIA - JULY 2009!
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In a report recently published by British think-tank "New Economics Foundation" (NEF), Tunisia is ranked 29th out of 143 countries in the world, according to the institution's "Happy Planet Index." 
ssessment of peoples' happiness, which is measured by life expectancy (health), environment protection (rational utilisation of natural resources) and life satisfaction (living quality), is calculated on the basis of a score ranging between 1 and 10 from individual surveys carried out on a sample of population.
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* New Page * The Jewel In The Crown NABEUL |
Emma from Rotherham
marries Marouine
and
Carly from London
marries Anis
in Tunisia
See the photos
Expat Weddings In Tunisia
32 degrees in Hammamet today - 23 May 2009!
Springtime In Beautiful Nabeul, 24th March 2009
Lovely To Walk Through Sousse Medina, With The Weather Hotting Up Nicely!
19th March 2009
The National Handicrafts And Dress Day - March 16th 2009
Friday 13th March 2009 saw school festivities celebrating the National Handicrafts And Dress Day! Children at a Beni Khiar Nursery School were treated to traditional singing and dancing, cakes and a pretty, little woven basket as a gift!
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* New For 2009 * |
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VILLAGE D'ENFANTS AKOUDA SOS |
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SPENDING THE WINTER IN TUNISIA?
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DIY IN TUNISIA!
Tradesmen not up to scratch? Missing those Sunday afternoons browsing at B & Q? Now open - Tunisia's first DIY store, Bricorama, creating many new employment opportunities and a lot more choice for the house and garden, all under one roof!
Read Man In The Hat's Latest Report!
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SOLAR ENERGY FROM THE SAHARA ENERGY PROJECT OF THE CENTURY? Read More
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Website detailing the best events, clubs, soirées, disco bars, djs, where-to-go and the top music across Tunisia |
http://www.trektunisia.com
Contact expat Carly
View the website for details of
the ultimate in tours across Tunisia!
Click on the flag
for the latest updates
Zarina 2007 - A Proud Brit In Tunisia!
