driving through tunisia with family: what surprised us

We just wrapped up a road trip across Tunisia with our family of five, starting and ending in Tunis, and making our way all the way down to Djerba. We rented a car because we thought it would give us more freedom, but let me tell you, the roads were a whole adventure on their own. Some stretches were smooth, but others had us dodging potholes and random herds of sheep. We’ve traveled in Morocco before, so we thought we knew what to expect, but Tunisia threw us a few curveballs. For one, people were either incredibly warm or totally uninterested—no in-between. At one roadside café, the owner practically adopted us, but at a gas station, we got the coldest stares just for asking where the restroom was. I’d heard people say you either love Tunisia or you can’t wait to leave, and honestly, I get it now. The landscapes are stunning—especially the Sahara views near Matmata—but sometimes the hassle with police checkpoints or the random traffic rules made us wonder if we’d bitten off more than we could chew. We tried to dress modestly and be respectful, but sometimes I felt like we still stood out a mile away. Has anyone else felt like you’re doing your best to blend in, but it’s just impossible? And is it just me, or do some places feel super welcoming, while others make you want to get back in the car and keep driving? #TunisiaTravel #FamilyRoadTrip #TravelStories #Travel