Eh Briar... there was no discussion about Big Brother.. only a comment which has a slight bearing on the discussion... thanks but no interest in Big Brother nowadays..
Amanda if you want the site for the tan thro bikinis, after my hols I will tell you if they work.!

Merlot, that would be fab, when are you off, we go on the 26th, just got the tickets when i got home from work, it's serious count down now.

Could do with ordering one soon or may not get it in time! ouch ouch ouch sticky tape on bikini... i'm not doing tan lines! don't mind white boobies but not the strap marks.

you are off before me so I have sent you the site... I am away 31st July for 2 weeks...weyhey!!!

merlot,

Thanks for that, i've had a look at them, there are some really nice ones, but it's saying stock in 30days! do you know if any of the highstreet stores sell them?

I have'nt seen any in the High sts..
but.... I ordered mine on 1st July, they posted it on the 2nd and I got it on Tuesday 7th... so why not order one anyway, you can always return it if it does'nt arrive in time
7 weeks to go til mine... I am bursting already, lol... and 2 new good reviews on my hotel page are helping a lot !

going to pek in july getting mixed messages about toppless bathing is it best for my wife to keep bikini top on? just had a friend come back and she says its ok? no problem going topless?

Topless sunbathing is frowned upon in Tunisia.

In some hotels they turn a blind eye so it then becomes a moral issue.

On the beaches you can be told to cover up - especially on the public beaches.

Vaughanster, I think it depends on how you define the problem. You'll see from earlier posts that some people regard offending local sensibilities as a problem and so don't bare their breasts. Others consider that it's only a problem if you're explicitly asked to cover up and that local people should expect to have to put up with foreign women exposing their breasts. Around the hotel pools nobody is going to ask your wife to put her bikini top on but she if she leaves it off she will be behaving in a way that most local people, including the hotel staff, are likely to regard as immodest and hence offensive. And as Suki says, outside of the hotel grounds on public beaches she almost certainly will be told to cover up or else leave the beach.

I'm definitely of the view that the local norms of behaviour should be respected but not everybody feels this way. In the end it boils down to how much notice you want to take of what the local people think is acceptable and also how comfortable you feel with the stares that bare breasts in most places still attract from waiters etc who tend to regard this as confirmation that all the stories about the loose morals of western women are true, regardless of how polite their behaviour might be because their jobs depend on not offending the guests.

SM

Plenty of people were topless 3yrs ago when we last visited dont see a problem as long as it is not flaunted. My wife goes topless and apart from a few staring tunisians there is not a problem.

Quote"My wife goes topless and apart from a few staring tunisians there is not a problem. " Unqote.

I am happy you don't have a problem...but do the Tunisians? Why do you think they stare?
I don't agree that we should impose on other cultures when visiting a different country...even if we are comfortable doing, like your wife is, and I am too in countries which don't take offense but Tunisia does as most Muslim countries do.. there are many things acceptable in other countries (ie. South Africa,South America, Iraq, Iran, Sri Lanka...ect) which would make us Brits very uncomfortable ..why should it be OK to impress our beliefs on them merely because we have spent money to spend 2 weeks in their country?? I can think of lots of examples which would make me feel uncomfortable and will be sticking with my bikini & my respect for the local people...I also will have a great holiday! As I hope anyone does when they visit my town & beach... (not promising so much sun tho...lol)
Happy hols!!

I do agree that we should respect their religion, i recently have come back from tunisia and yes alot of women did sunbathe topless, however thats their choice.
Seeing the islamic women, bein covered from head to toe made some people doubt the choice that they had made!

In my opinion, if that was my religion, i would feel quite insulted!! x

I agree totally nic16, though I wish people would take more interest in where they are going before booking then they would know how the land lies....and maybe be more prepared to respect the local feelings

Just got back from the Allegro Riviera in P E K and am pleased to report no problems.

I have just got back from Pek, there were a lot of women sunbathing topless in the hotel and on the beach, however my personal view was I wouldnt. When in Greece or spain I happily go topless but in Tunisia I felt that I wouldn't insult them. It's all up to the individual though.

hello,

i am off to the houda in skanes at end of september was just wondering whether many people were sunbathing topless around the pool, and if it is ok to do so there?

I have asked my Tunisian pal his opinion on this subject. He put himself through university working at the resort hotels during the summer so he has several years of experience. He is a very western thinking, educated, young muslim male.

A native Tunisian could never afford a Hammamet holiday. A software engineer working in Tunis makes 480 dinar a month. How far does that go in a resort hotel. While they are grateful that Europeans are bringing their tourist dollars into their developing country, they wish it could be done with a little more respect. Picture a boorish American in Europe - (no offence to any of our american posters) Well, change the picture and see topless sunbather on a public Tunisian beach.

Given the levels of animousity in the Muslim world to all things western, it might be a consideration to try and moderate our behaviour as a sign of respect to a country and their customs- even if it means a few tan lines. After all, we are guests in their country.

Poolside... I think the hotel staff might have to extend the same level of tolerance that the tourist expects from the Tunisian public.

besides girls,... sun tanning destroys your skin!

sunshinegirlie
we stayed at the Sahara beach hotel/ skanes in july, there were a few woman going topless, but mostly german and dutch woman.
I usually sunbathe topless, but didn't do it for the respect of thier culture.
also it depends on the hotel, so I would suggest you see for yourself how many woman are topless, and decide for yourself, to see if you feel comfortable with it.
hope you have a fab holiday.

With respect Joohlia, most Tunisians may not be able to afford Hammamet holidays, but there are those who can. When there in 1984 at New Year the hotel I was staying in filled up overnight with middleclass Tunisians, mostly young and from the Tunis area, to celebrate the new Year.

While there at Xmas 2003 the hotel was also hosting a conference of petro-chemical specialists. 300 delegates (99.9% male) from Tunisia and Libya. Many Algerians and Libyans also holiday in Tunisia as well as ex-pat Tunisians. The hotel staff and locals aren't the only ones whose sensibilities may be offended by topless sunbathing.

I am just passing on his comments. You would also find topless sunbathing almost nonexistent on North American beaches. So, discomfort is not exclusively for Tunisians.

what ever happened to 'when in Rome do as the Romans do'?