Saliha, Sousse,Tunisia
This super-friendly tourism professional lives in very cosmopolite country: multi-cultural history and background, different traditions all mixed. Loves sharing nice moments, in everyday life or when time to celebrate, with her friends regardless of their religion, nationality or cultural background. And of course, as Tunisian, she thinks that the best spice in the whole world is harissa!
Read her story about a true adventure while travelling with the clients!
Meet Saliha, 62, living in Sousse, Tunisia.
She is unmarried and lives with her sister who works as English teacher. In her close family there are 3 other siblings and bunch of nieces and nephews.
Saliha works in travel agency and owns a travel consulting company.
Mirka and Tiina have met Saliha for the first time in 2009 during study visit in Tunisia: girls worked for a tour operator and Saliha for DMC which customer that tour operator was. Girls still remember Saliha’s kind hospitality and warmness from the very first time they met! Mirka and Tiina especially cherish the memories of the fabulous, full-of-laughter dinner in Tunis: old residence turned into the most atmospheric restaurant!
Tunis is capital of Tunisia. Tunisia gained its independency in 1956 and declared the Tunisian Republic year later, in 1957. French colonization of Tunisia occurred in 1881 when French conquest area from Ottomans who had ruled for over 300 years. French still plays a major role in Tunisian society; it’s widely used in education, in the press and business. Shop signs, menus, road sign are generally written in both Arabic and French.
Thanks to its rich background this country has lot to offer also for the travelers. It is all about history, culture, beaches, Sahara, cuisine, an endless list of activities, Read more about some of the gems: Tozeur, Djerba, ruins of Ancient Carthage, just to name few.
Mirka and Tiina visited village of Sidi Bou Said with Saliha. It’s 20 km from the capital and one of the most popular tourist attractions, even so definitely worth to visit: this idyllic seaside town of 6000 habitants, perched on to top of the steep cliff, all the buildings painted in blue and white, offers a breathtaking view to the sea. Go there, enjoy and just wander around and when time for a dinner, enjoy traditional setting of cuscus with lamb and vegetables, seasoned by a teaspoon of harissa. For dessert highly recommended some makroudh (i.e. a fried or baked pie filled with sweet date). And after dinner, a good cup of strong Arabic coffee or mint thee and smoking shisha pipe.
EVERYDAY LIFE
In a normal Tuesday Saliha works in and out of the office.
She has been working within same travel agent for over 20 years and today also owns a travel consulting company. A normal day consist of meeting and dealing with the clients: all ages, different nationalities. She does everything for her clients and admits that worst in everyday life, luckily very rarely, would be not able to assist her customers.
As many others, especially working in travel industry hit hardly by Covid 19, so is Saliha: a quick change from an extremely stressful, working under pression and challenging work in high-speed business into nothing-to-do; to be all of suddenly jobless is a huge stress.
She has very active social life and it is one of the most important things that gives her energy.
Sports, music, friends, dinners & concerts, books keep her busy and positive!
The number one hobby is travelling, in or outside the country. Meeting new people, connecting and discovering different ways of life. Without travelling she is devastated.
In front of the mirror she talks nicely to herself and always, no matter what, in every single day, treats herself gently as demonstrating how proud she is of herself.
DREAMS & FEARS, PAST & FUTURE
What are your dreams?
“I dream about long holiday cruise, without Covid!”
What is your worst fear?
“Illness and being uncapable to achieve my personal goals that want in life”
What is the most important advice you have received?
“Never give up!”
What has been the greatest global invention of your time?
“Internet”
Where would you donate your time/money to?
“Healthy, safe, clean world and to help as many as possible people having a chance to live a decent life.”
If you could, what advice would you give to your 20-year-old self?
“To go ahead as far as you can to reach your targets without fear. Life is too short.”
What would you say to a woman of your age who lives across the world?
“Life is nice, just take it easy and be happy.”
What about Christmas traditions in Tunisia? “As Muslims we don’t have Christmas traditions, but personally as Tunisian live in a tolerant and openminded family, we used to celebrate Christmas with our Christian friends.”
STORY
“In Tabarka, in the northwest of Tunisia, there is a hunting area. I was with a group of Italians. We left Sousse and drove 300 km to Tabarka by jeep. Arrived safely and overnight in a hotel.
Next day we left early in the morning to the hunting area. Our guide took the clients to the forest: shouting and making loud noise to push wild pigs away. I stayed beside the car chatting with the driver and all of suddenly realized that there was a huge wild pig just in front of me. It stared at me with these big, unfriendly eyes and I was so frightened that I was totally frozen, not able to move!
The driver threw small stones to scare it away, but wild pig did not move.
The doors of the jeep were locked, driver ran away, and I climbed to the roof of the car: I had lost my voice and was not able to shout for help.
Me crying in the roof of the jeep, wild pig fixing at me: for 3 hours! I was in panic!
Finally, after hours, another forest guide was driving by, saw my situation, took his gun and shot the wild pig. And at that right moment, I heard the voices of the clients, our forest guide and the driver who had manage to find the group!”
QUICK ONES
Drink: Liquor drinks
Favorite food: Everything spicy
Delicacy: Truffles, foie gras, caviar
Restaurant/Café: I love French cuisine
Spice: Harissa (i.e. Tunisian chili pepper paste, often described as Tunisia’s main condiment, which main ingredients are roasted red peppers, spices and herbs, garlic paste, caraway seeds and olive oil.
Feeling: Sympathy
Music: Soul, country, oriental
Scent: Something fresh
Travel destination: All the places where different ways of living can be discovered, and new people met
Book: Classic, romantic, historical
Movie: Historical & action
Favorite public holiday: Women’s day (13th of August, public holiday in Tunisia)
Artist/band: Marvin Gaye, Nina Simon, Barry White
Evening routine: Dinner and watching tv with my family
Favorite piece of clothing: Bra
Animal: Dog
Scenery: Land and sea
Sport: Team sport such as volleyball, handball, basketball
Motto: Never give up! Be the one you want to be – not the one that others want you to be!