Hi Melsmum - you can get a birthday cake at any good patisserie - cost about 12 dinars (£6) for a good sized one. Order a day in advance if you want special decorations. Having said that, I do think the hotel will supply one if you inform them that it is your son's birthday and the passport as proof. They generally do - and the waiters carry it in aloft singing the birthday song! I've had the experience!!
Leather shoes? We live in Tunisia for 6 months every winter and buy all our shoes over there. Not from the markets though - they tend to be cheap and cheerful and don't usually last. If you go to one of the many shoe shops you will find beautifully made mens and ladies shoes at reasonable price. Think that my last pair of much admired leather lace-ups cost me about £18 and are super quality. Do enjoy the holiday - Tunisia is lovely! Jenny

P.S. - you can get all sorts of "quality"!! watches on the markets and no-one cares a dot about trade description either, so you'll no doubt be assured that they are the real thing. It's all a game on both sides! Jenny

thanks Jenny,
Go next sunday and cant wait to get some decent sunshine. My sons birthday is on the second day we are there hence the panic! I am definitely going for the shoes! thanks for the tip to stay away from the markets for them. Been told differing opinions regarding taking kids to the market, some say its not very safe for them.

Melsmum

It is physically quite safe to take children into the Medina and could be fun for them but the problem may be that the shopkeepers could focus on them with their sales pitch - can you withstand the blandishments of your children as well as of the shopkeepers

HI melsmum

We stayed at the Houda last October and it was my husband's birthday while we were there. We told our waiter and he said to tell them at reception which we did. The waiter decorated the table and my husband was presented with a birthday cake and had Happy Birthday sang to him by some of the waiters - he was so embarresed!!!

Have a lovely holiday, its a great hotel.

Jane

Hi there
just came back from PEK 2 days ago
Leather goods are very cheap in Tunsia. €150 for a leather jacket compared with roughly €300 in Dublin. The only thing is to be careful what type of leather it is as they sell various types but its usually marked on the ticket. I would recommend the Soula centre Sousse for fixed prices and peace to browse around. Or at least you get an idea here how much things should cost. I paid 15 dinar €9 for a pair of shoes. I bought a leather bag for 38 dinar €22. They have lovely ornaments and jewellry but I found the best buy to be shoes (happily for me ). There is a street on the way up to Soula centre with a fixed price shop called "shoe palace" and "casa shoes" with both western and Tunisian style shoes at great prices

Hi aagin melsmum - I agree with Aslemma - the markets - souks are fine for the children and an experience not to be missed in my opinion. Personally I never feel threatened or intimidated in any way what-so-ever - although I realise that we all feel different in strange situations. I certainly can reassure you of one thing - and that is that Tunisians adore children and this is evident in their interaction with them. enjoy!! Jenny