Anniversary Weekend in Hammamet

Sept, 2014 - Hammamet Tunisia.

 
   It was our anniversary weekend so we decided we needed to get away for a little break.  Work was really busy for both of us for the past month; 6 days a week plus so we needed a little R&R.  Besides, we were celebrating 7 great years of marriage.  Not a record we know, but the key word is "great".  A nice weekend in the sun on a beach sounded perfect.
   The town of Hammamet is famous for it's wonderful beaches and big hotels.  We had not been, but we had heard a lot about it from co-workers.  We tried to book at the hotel that everyone recommended, but it was full.  So I found something on the internet.  Now, I am not a hotel critic and I am not paid to be one, so I won't go name names  Let's just say that we will never stay there again.  It is bad when it takes 24 hours to get a towel in your room, there were/are no pillows on the bed, the nightstand was disgustingly dirty with a gooey brown substance, and the food is fine if you are starving, etc.   It is a "4 star hotel".  We will go back to the town again, but we will book early at the Aldiana, which we keep hearing is excellent by the way.
   The town is interesting.  As you drive into town, there is a large police presence, which I personally find reassuring.  I believe that this is one of the places that had a problem a few years back.  The police pull over every car entering the tourist area, then when they see you are not a local, they wave you through.
   One thing that shocked me was a topless gal.  She was young, with friends and on the beach in the tourist zone.  But still?  I know that when you are on vacation, you should be able to do what you please.  But I really had to question her judgement on this one.  If you are visiting someone else's country, shouldn't you really try a little bit to be respectful of their beliefs???  Especially when the country is a conservative one?  It is enough that they build a Tourist Zone, but can't you keep on your string bikini top just for a few days?  The men were walking by and gawking.  I am not against nude or topless sunbathing, I have done it myself but isn't there is a time and place???   I was embarrassed for Westerners and wanted to put a towel around this gal.
   You can tell that Hammamet was just developing into quite the big resort town a few years back.  Like so many places in Tunisia, it has seen better days and tourism is desperately needed again.  Some of the huge hotels sit empty and abandoned, some are not quite built and others are just hanging in there.  The beaches are not very busy, the restaurants are barely full, the sidewalks have a few people wandering on them and all the merchants seem quite hungry for business.  The garbage is piling up in various areas and some hotels don't bother to keep things very clean.  Despite all, the place is beautiful, the water is warm and clear and it is an ideal place to hang out on the beach if you are not a high maintenance movie star.
   Speaking of which:  I guess the weekend that we were there, it was Tourism Day or something and they had a big shin-dig with important people.  I guess that Angelina Joile and Anthony Banderas were in town for the weekend.  I do know that they did not stay at the same hotel!  I invited them over to our hotel room with no pillows, no towels, a ripped sofa, and a gross gooey substance on my nightstand, but they were busy and took a raincheck.  Next time maybe?

View out of the hallway at our hotel.
Looking back, away from the Sea.

View out of the hallway at our hotel.
Looking down upon the pool that is beckoning us!

The avenue along front of the hotels.

The beach and small restaurant that are part of our hotel.

Looking down the beach from our hotel area,
down to the marina.

Palapas just waiting for the tourists.

Our hotel.  The upgraded us to one of those corner rooms
with the blue windows so our view was incredible.  I told
them it was our anniversary.  They still could have provided
us with pillows and towels.  And cleaned the room too?

Beautiful views along the beach.

The large marina had many impressive and expensive yachts.

I liked the sign.  Pirate Ships?

Ahhh, and there is the Pirate Ship!

Nothing like a stroll down at the pool with a cup of coffee
in the AM.

A beautiful hotel down the road from where we stayed. 

I was impressed with the carved wall art.

And again, the doors.  I will go back to the
US and wonder why our doors and doorways
are so boring.

The lobby at this hotel was impressive too.

Our upgraded room.  Nice size and looks OK until you look
closely.  The sheets were clean, but no towels for 24 hours.
Luckily we brought our own pillows.  And took
some off the couch here.  Nice views though.

Again, looks nice.  But the cushions were really dirty and
a couple of them were really ripped.

Something ooey and gooey on my nightstand?