The few hours around sunset is even more popular for flirting. Like here on the beach promenade in Hammam Lif. The other side of love, the "quartier" of Sousse, the walled area, with only one entrance, with streets of tiny, tiny brothels. Lifestyles in Tunisia are far more modern than most visitors expect, especially in the larger cities. Young men and women meet freely, and pre-marital relations are far from uncommon. This rests both on the traditional society values, where women played an important role in society and was predominantly responsible for finding a life partner by her own, and on the politics of the country which emphasize the freedom of women.
If you look closely, you will notice that the freedom of both sexes is expressed in a far more direct fashion than in many Western societies. Put on your goggles and notice what happens out in the waves on the most popular beaches.
Under the surface! Many female travellers to Tunisia complain about not having been left alone by men, always getting attention and suggestions thrown after them. Note that this is simply the Tunisian way of life, that a bit of friendliness and clear messages will help a lot. Nobody will await you in dark alleys to violate you. Also note that Western men may experience something of the same from Tunisian women. Tunisia is the only place where I have experienced women groping me in crowds!
Tunisian women are usually not condemned if having a relationship with Western men, but modesty is in this case important, and if there has been any sort of openness marriage is considered as the only honorable outcome. Note that according to Tunisian law, a Tunisian Muslim woman can only marry another Muslim, so conversion to Islam will be the only option for a non-Muslim man falling in love in Tunisia. Relations between Western women and Tunisian men is still the most common, but unfortunately many of these relations are disgusting old woman-young man in return for a visa and a life in the West unions.
Quite a high number of the older women or unsuccessful women in their home country seem to believe that true love occurs, that finally they have been appreciated. All around Tunisia there are young women waiting for their sweethearts to get the divorce through, so that they can be reunited in Europe or somewhere else. My impression is that love marriage between a Tunisian man and Western women are limited to the ones where he has some education at least and the Western women is of about the same age.
