Taxis in Tunisia are really one of a kind. In the time taxis in Jordan are willing to get you in the cab for any distance, no matter how short, Tunisian taxis have their own conditions, and their own mood.
It happened more than once that I’d stop a taxi from my work in “Les Berges du Lac” to go to downtown Tunis, for my French course. And after I get in, and tell him where I’m going he goes like: “sorry, step out, I wont go there, there is a huge traffic there and I simply don’t want to get stuck”. But when I’m going from work to home, another taxi would say: “sorry, it’s not on my way, I’m going downtown!”. And what I really hate is this: I stop the taxi, ask before I get in if he’s ok dropping me in a certain place, and then he says OK, but when I get in he keeps swearing and cursing, blaming me for forcing him “indirectly” to give me a ride!!! I mean I always ask in advance to avoid any inconvenience, but NO, they have to keep making me feel so unwelcome, and so guilty for taking them in the wrong direction. As if they’re driving me for free!!!
But worst of all is when I tell the drivers where I live, lol, they go mad, because, thanks to the very practical infrastructure people, the main street leading to our area is broken, flooded when it’s raining and is simply terrible. And this street is famous, and many taxis avoid going there. But when you give them an alternative, tell them you wont even go near that street, and you’re gonna pay even more, and then the driver says no, then it is really shitty. And even worse is what happened to me yesterday, I asked, he was ok, I got in, and then we went for the alternative way home, yet he saw a small spot of the street filled with water, other cars were ahead of us and driving normally, and then he asked me to STEP OUT of the taxi, I had a fight with him, I mean he wanted me to get out in heavy rain, with no human on foot, they were all cars. Anyway I had to get out, got a “refreshing” natural shower of dirty rain. Lol, that was pathetic, I had to walk some distance , and got my home all wet, lol, that felt disgusting 😛 Anyway, hope I wont have to get into any fight with today’s driver.

Oh my GOD! It was a beautiful sunny morning, and I mean SUNNY. It was really beautiful, and now look at it, all of a sudden it’s windy, cloudy, raining heavily, and it’s so damn dark outside. :((((( I thank God that I followed my husband’s advice in the last minute and got my umbrella. He was like: “you never know, weather is unpredictable and crazy these days. Take it just in case”. So I took it, the small one 🙁 so again it wont stand the wind and I’ll have to take another shower on my way home.
God, when the weather is like that in the beginning of the week I feel how long this week will be. I mean this weather is for nothing but being lazy. And I can hardly keep my eyes open 😛 God, is this day long or what!! I WANNA GO HOME!
Ooops, the wind is blowing, rain is falling, it’s getting stronger, and stronger, and strongeeeeeeeer. Hope the cancelled the flights today.
This weather is sure crazy!! It’s not only that, but I have something to admit, I hate strong thunder, every time I hear it, I feel my heart beating really fast, yes, unexpected for someone of my age, but it’s unfortunately true.

It’s not enough that I didn’t get enough sleep last night. And it’s not enough that I’m having one busy day at work, no, the weather HAS to become so windy, the sky has to turn orange, and to give it a romantic touch, it rains every now and then, and not any kind of rain, no, sandy rain 🙁 Wait a second, what the hell is that?? What’s that thing knocking heavily on the window!! OH MY GOD!!! It’s this, hmm, what do they call it!! It’s not snow, it’s this icy stone-like drops. I forgot its name! Oooops, looks like the windows of the cars on the streets are getting scratched, lol, here is an alarm that went off, Oh my God, a car has already lost a little part of its window, I can’t see that of course, but I can hear the guy swearing downstairs: “It’s still NEW and the window is BROKEN!” :PP poor guy, good thing we didn’t get our car washed 😛
Oh and ever since this morning the electricity is being cut every once in a while. I must remind myself not to use the lift when I g
I’m so tired, and not in the mood of attending my French course for today, and God is giving me signs through the weather, so I decided not to go 😛 It’s not that I’m lazy, but I think I wont be able to make it till the bus, I’m too tired to walk, and my umbrella wont stand the wind, SHIT!! My umbrella wont stand the wind?!! GOD!! That means I’ll have to walk under this hard dropping thing, struggle the wind until I get a taxi 😉
Oh my God, here comes an airplane, my they have no difficulties landing.
Anyway, in such a weather the best thing one can do is relax at home, watch TV, no matter how terrible the programs were, still, I’ll enjoy myself, drink a cup of coffee, or eat a bowl of popcorn or a plate of French fries with ketchup , yummyyyy.
Yes that’s what I’m willing to do as soon as I get back home. Relax, although I know I’ll find out that there are 100 things I should do, but well, to hell with everything, I have decided to relax… after washing the dishes that is 🙂 oh, and after preparing dinner, not to forget to buy some stuff I need on my way home, and God I have to wash the clothes again, they must be full of sand spots, and … oh, the never ending story 😛 don’t I just love my exhausting life…

I love bikes, they’re really healthy, practical and simply refreshing. I’ve always wished to go to work and back home using a bike. But every time this idea crosses my mind, I can’t help feeling insecure. I mean, I’d be killed so easily if I used one in a main street 😛 Which got me wondering, why don’t Arab countries have special routes for bikes? And I’m not talking about the special “biking places” where you can ride a bike as a hobby in a certain limited area, almost all Arab countries have those. But I’m talking about the biking-routes which are used for transportation just like cars.
I’ve never been to an Arabic country which has special routes for bikes all across it, maybe there is, but I personally don’t know. In Tunisia for example, there are places that have special paths, but not all places have them.
I know that there are some countries in which biking can be so tiresome and might even end up as a torture rather than a pleasant transportation device, like sunny countries of very high temperatures, or countries with many “ups & downs”. But what about the ones with a biking-suitable surface? It should be reconsidered, because when routes like this exist people will be more encouraged to use bikes instead of cars. This will decrease both traffic and pollution. On the other hand it will make it safer for those who cannot afford cars and already have bikes to use them.
There are times when you have to go get something from a certain place, which isn’t that close for you to go on foot, nor that far to start your car, a bike would be enjoyable in that case. There are times when you feel like going somewhere, but you think the weather is too beautiful to be missed when you’re in the car. There are times when you simply feel like enjoying a bike trip with friends or family, you feel like refreshing your energy and tanking in more sun rays, would there be something better than a bike?
Also for children, whose schools are in the neighborhood, why not use a bike to go there? They’ll be more active, healthier, and will save the parents the time of dropping them in and picking them up.
There are so many good reasons to use bikes instead of cars, I’m not saying to replace cars completely, coz that’s impossible in so many cases. But why don’t we use them from time to time, or every time we go to close places, when weather is ok?
I really wish we’ll be having bike routes with their own signs and maps soon in all Arab countries, and I’ll be the first to use them 🙂 .