| Page Views: 628 Last Visit to Ile de Jerba: April, 2006 | Djerba - Isle of Forgetfulness by csordila - last update: May 30, 2009 |
In Homer's Odyssey Djerba, also spelled Jerba was the home of the seductive lotus eaters.
Along the coastal areas you can see thousands of date palms. As you walk further inward the vegetation is
dominated by olive groves, several of them are more thousand years old.
The oasis is full of palm, orange, grapefruit and lemon trees as well as pomegranates and grapes.
Only the famed lotus flowers are nowhere to be found much to the disappointment of those
who come to Djerba in order to eat it.
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|  | "The Lotos blooms below the barren peak,
The Lotos blows by every winding creek;...."
Song of the Lotos-Eaters by Lord Tennyson
Tunisian food is very tasty; a typical dinner starts with a lamb soup; the main course consists of a variety of meat, for example with the national dish couscous prepared in seemingly hundreds of different ways from sweet to very hot; briq - a deep-fried pastry envelope with a range of fillings; tunisian ratatouille (chakchouka), a vegetable stew from succulent Mediterranean vegetables; and spaghetti cooked Tunisian style.
Since fishing plays an important role in the economy it is no surprise that the best restaurants serve fresh sea food freshly caught off the miles of coastline. You will not be disappointed when dining on these fruit of the sea. Octopus and Calarmari are the local specialties.
The finest seafood in the port of Houmt Souk.
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| Amen Bank in Houmt Souk - Exchange rate?? |
| | Tunisia is one of the few places in the world where hotels, money changers give in most cases a better exchange rate than the banks.
The country is the most sophisticated, relaxed and tolerant state in North Africa. Women travelers are very safe when traveling alone.
The best seasons to travel to Djerba are spring or autumn. August is the hottest month of the year, sea breezes generally keep temperatures acceptable on the beach of Sidi-Mahrès, one of the most known beaches of the Maghreb, on the northern coast, but the island teems with tourists.
When taking tours, make sure the guide speaks English. If you do not ask, French will be the language spoken. Most of the residents speak French as fluently as Arabic.
Though the tour companies offer a lot of excursions, but the best way to explore the island is to hire a bicycle since the island is flat and very easy to navigate.
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| In A Nutshell: | "The Lotos blooms below the barren peak," |
csordila's Ile de Jerba Travel Tips
 Comments for csordila about Ile de Jerba | | | | |
Yaqui Fri Oct 23, 2009 17:15 UTC
What an absolutely charming page filled with some lovely photographs and infomation. The Farm of Crocodiles is fanscinating! The camel strolling along the beach is adorable! | jumpingnorman Mon Jun 15, 2009 13:03 UTC
That would be scary seeing those crocodiles moving so fast...but would love to see Tunisia someday. Thanks for sharing, Norman :) | SLLiew Sat May 30, 2009 18:36 UTC
Interesting to know that there is a very old synagogue here. | lynnehamman Wed Apr 29, 2009 03:29 UTC
Excellent information on Ille de Jerba , Lazlo. I wonder what the reason is for the different water used to mix clay? Your food tips are good, as are the rest. Thanks |
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