A Frizzy Weekend in... Athens

A weekend in Athens should have been amazing. My plane took off on time, I booked a good quality apartment in a hotel. Ouuu the hotel had one of the communal rooftop bars that everyone loves and the weather was 36 degrees. My idea of real good time. But BAM it just didn't go down like that. Regardless, I've still got you covered, until I spill the T at the end.

First Impressions

As soon as I left the airport I thought "yes, Apple weather wasn't lying for once." The weather was doing bits, properly make you sweat in awkward places sort of hot weather! Then I noticed the landscape with all the hills/mountains and I just stared in awe because the view was so beautiful.

What To Do In Athens

Athen's major pull factor is that the city is not lacking in things to do, plus there is a whole lot of history squashed in the city. There are historical sites posted up pretty much everywhere. The novelty of having lots of historical sites to visit wore off pretty quickly for me though as there were always lots of people about. There are a few places I definitely recommend though.

• The remains of what was Hadrian's library. This was the largest structure built by the Roman Emperor. It housed music and lecture rooms plus a massive pool. (If you're a bookworm this if for you)

• The National Historical Museum. The building used to be Greek's parliament, and the debates chamber is naturally the first room you venture into. The Museum showcases traditional Greek clothing, warships and some serious weaponry.

• The area of Plaka - Grab food down one of the side streets. It's the old neighbourhood of Athens and has a completely different vibe from the rest of the city.

• Taking a walk in the National Gardens. It's lush and you can easily explore the grounds for hours getting lost in nature. (Maybe pack some pepper spray to come with you)

Hadrian’s Library

In the National Gardens

Food

Every meal I ate tasted fresh, from the salads to the hot dishes with fish and seafood but as a whole, the food contained no Va-Va-Voom! You know when you eat a meal and know that a lot of love went into it. It didn't feel like that in Athens.

There is one cafe that hands down cannot be skipped though. In Psyrri lies a magical little area, that takes you to a fairyland. I'm talking multi-coloured umbrella installations, candy floss flowers and Mary Poppins galore. The Little Kook, is an unforgettable cafe, serving drinks, crepes, cakes and all sorts of filling forming desserts. Apple Pie with Crumbles is worth every filling.

“There’s definitely something anti in the Athens air!  Word to my mumma, I don’t go where I’m not wanted!”

— Frizzy

Nightlife

The nightlife in Athens is super lively. There are various nightclub choices in the area of Keramikos, which also get double points because they were right next to restaurants that looked like they were closing no time soon when I left the clubs at 4.30 am. Most clubs allow for casual wear and you can pay for entry via cash or card.

The Penthouse night club has the DJ's that play the bangers, Afrobeats, Bashment, Rnb, Trap. (The name of the club is misleading as it doesn't even have a door let alone a top view, but the vibes were right so no beef) Latin music was doing the rounds in all clubs as I walked down the strip so if you love Latin artists like J Balvin, Bad Bunny, Rosalia you'll be happy.

If you don't want to shake a leg but see yourself chilling with a cocktail and nibbles visit Couleur Locale in the area of Monastiraki. Monastiraki is a really energetic area so even if you don't have any solid plans you are sure to find a motive there. I stayed in the area and the streets never slept.

Wrap Up

I found my time in Athens to be for the most part horrible. Yes, I enjoyed the food and took good pictures but you can really do that in any country and I don't glow around being treated like a second class citizen.

Out in public, I experienced men staring at me for way too long and also shouting comments at me- this was generally the older men. Oh, and in a National Garden, one man took it to the extreme to watch me whilst playing with himself. Proper sickening. For every good restaurant, there was a far from a good one. I was kicked out of the first restaurant I visited because I sent a meal back that looked nothing like what I ordered. Yeah, and waiters went out of their way to refer to me as chocolate when trying to get me to take a seat in their restaurants. Then there were the occasions where cashiers point-blank ignored me and my home girl when we attempted to purchase things.

Two days after I shared my personal experience of visiting Athens on my Instagram I found out through social media that a fellow Black-British woman had been arrested in Athens and was being held without a lawyer or translator. She was accused of breaching sexual decency, something that she has strongly denied and was later acquitted of. So yeah, it's safe to say Athens is not on my list of places to return. There's definitely something anti in the Athens air!  Word to my mumma, I don't go where I'm not wanted!

Watch my vlog here to see the cheeky meal I got kicked out of a restaurant over and much more.  

Have you visited Athens? What has been your experience in the city?

Frizzy

HOTEL: The Galata Istanbul MGallery by Sofitel

Picking a hotel always leaves me feeling extremely nervous. Even once I've booked one, I'm constantly second-guessing if I've picked the right one, if I'm in a good area, and if I could have found a better-suited hotel for me. This time, however, I felt really satisfied with my decision. When I arrived outside the hotel and saw the red carpet at the entrance, my face lit up. "They've brought the carpet out for my arrival, ah, I'm a superstar." It turns out the carpet is always there, but it was definitely a welcome touch!

Based in the Karaköy district, the MGallery is relatively new. Even though it is just over a year old, the venue has lived a full life. To open an MGallery, there must be a history behind the building. Back in the day, the venue was an Italian bank. If you look behind the reception desk, you can see deposit boxes, which really add flavour. If it's not seasoned, I'm not impressed. The lounge area also houses a bar serving everything from hot drinks to cocktails.

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“The first thing I noticed was the dark brown wooden shutters, and I developed an unhealthy infatuation with the bathroom.”

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The spa offers many treatments, with English prices, of course. However, you could be swayed by the Turkish hammam, which dates back more than 300 years, giving you an authentic experience. Certain packages also grant you access to the sauna and steam room. Plus, in the spa's chill-out area, you receive complimentary tea and snacks. I love complimentary stuff.

Rooms

This boutique hotel has 83 rooms spread out across 4 floors, and not once did I see anyone on my floor. I love feeling like I'm the only guest at the hotel, and I was very much made to feel that way throughout my stay. The staff were smiley and always happy to assist, and their energy felt genuine.

I originally stayed in the deluxe king room and I fell in love with the room's decor. It wasn't loud; the colours were neutral and had a real warming flair. The first thing I noticed was the dark brown wooden shutters, and I developed an unhealthy infatuation with the bathroom—especially the tiles! As soon as I was introduced to the bed, I was a goner. I was actually, knocked out clean for hours, to the point that I woke up frazzled and it was dark outside. I had to order room service, because I had no intention of getting out of my bathrobe and cute MGallery slippers! The only thing missing for me was a bathtub. That said, the shower was fantastic.

Speaking of water, bottled water was delivered to my room every morning without fail. And all rooms have a minibar, and the suites even have champagne stocked in them. Inserts Nigerian voice "Hayyyy" if you cannot afford it, don't touch it!

The rooms on the higher floors have the best views of the city, and many rooms come with balconies. However, if you forfeit a balcony, you do get to enjoy the breathtaking ceiling detail on the second floor. Plus, there's a hidden game-changer on that floor too—the cutest ever 2-level suite. On the lower floor, it has a living room with a toilet, and then on the upper floor, there's a king-sized bed and master bathroom. I spent my last night lying in bed with cake, planning on how I could get away with moving permanently into this suite.

I'm usually indifferent to the complimentary shower gel and toiletries in the bathroom because more time than not they feel basic. But don't sleep on MGallery's products. The body lotion made me feel like I was in a premium advert and shock horror, the hair conditioner actually hydrated my hair. I could write a blog post about hair products in hotels and still be rolling my eyes at the time it would take someone to travel around the world and back, but can we have a moment? These products hooked my afro up.

Side note: I was feeling extra sensitive, because my hair products did not make it out of the airport. So the realisation that these products worked on my hair, hit that little bit deeper!

Nightlife

From 5 pm, the hotel opens its rooftop bar on the second floor. The Anton Peran bar attracts the 18-30-year-old quirky Turkish crowd, allowing you to meet and vibe with locals. Initially, I thought the daily parties going on until 2/3 a.m. would mess up my sleep, but once your room door is shut, you can't hear a thing. The hotel takes soundproofing to a whole different level. Additionally, people attending the bar use a different entrance and exit.

The music genre changes each night. On Tuesdays, they play electronic music, which is not my style at all, but I loosened up because the vibe was so contagious. As someone who doesn't drink alcohol anymore, a good vibe is everything because I can't drown a dead vibe out with tequila shots! On Wednesdays, they play R&B and hip-hop. Don't get too excited though; I'm talking Destiny's Child and Sean Paul (with Kainrow) tunes! MGallery, book me to DJ and bring the good-good up-to-date tunes.

Food

The food hit the spot. All food matters go down in the Civarda Peran restaurant, open from 6:30 am to 11 pm, serving traditional Turkish and worldwide dishes. Breakfast was a banquet. Everything I wanted and didn't know I wanted was there. As someone who doesn't eat pork or cheese, I have always found securing a filling breakfast in Europe to be difficult.

But I felt like a kid in a candy store. Lentil soup, fresh waffles, omelettes with all the trimmings, turkey sausages without the plastic taste, fresh fruit galore... I could go on and on, but the big exclamation mark moment was... drum roll... the unlimited freshly squeezed orange juice.

Laziness is not going to cost you your taste buds, and it's also not going to create a hole in your pocket. Room service offers a variety of options. I ordered meatballs, rice, and chips. Turkish meatballs and English meatballs are two different sizes. I didn't get the round spaghetti meatballs; I was delivered mini-burgers without the bun—four of them! I couldn't finish all the "meat mega-balls," so I ended up eating the rest at 3 a.m. while half asleep. You can have 99 problems, but going hungry at MGallery is not going to be one! I knew that MGallery and I would have matched on Tinder when they brought me, as standard, three different types of seasoning next to my food!

Small small tips

Avoid the rooms that face the main road- I felt like I was in a horror film because of the abandoned building staring back at me through the window. If you don't want to be disturbed, make sure you put your "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door because the staff are really punctual and quick to enter your room to clean.

Wrap Up

I strongly suggest staying at this luxury hotel, and I would happily return to Istanbul and book this hotel again. It aligns with the respectable Sofitel brand, but it's very much its own hotel. You are so close to many staple places, but you're also not overwhelmed by being on their doorstep. The Galata Tower is a 7-minute walk away, and the old town is four tram stops away. I was in a lavish establishment and felt like I belonged there, which isn't always the case when I travel.

The nightlife in the hotel attracts a younger audience, but I really can't put an age range on who this hotel is for because there is enough to satisfy everyone who walks through their doors.

A Frizzy Weekend in… Cannes No Festival

I visited Cannes last month, literally in between two of the biggest Cannes festivals Cannes Film Festival and Cannes Lion. Visiting Cannes definitely created an... I came, I saw, I conquered moment. Keeping it all the way 100, you don't need more than one day in Cannes. It's only a 30-minute train ride and €4.90 train ticket from the city of Nice, which is a 2-hour flight from the London. No peer pressure, but I'm going to throw it out there you could fly out in the morning, bang out the day, then be home in your bed after a night flight! Bada-bing Bada-boom.

Shopping

Head to the Boulevard de la Croisette to find the well-known luxury brands. I’m talking the usual premium brands such as Chanel, Gucci and Prada. Imagine Knightsbridge in London except with palm trees. C’mon that’s a nice location to shop in! Plus across the road is the seafront. The road stretches over 1 mile and there are all sorts going on there. People walking their dogs, people jogging, effortlessly, and people heading to and from the beach in their swimwear. 

Between the train station and the main boulevard, there are lots of boutique shops and your well known high street ones. Plus, if you are from the UK and are barely surviving without Sephora, Cannes has you covered!

Beachlife

So how it works in Cannes is there are public beaches and also private parts of the beach. The private parts generally are reserved for restaurants or hotels. Because I went in between two festival there were loads of pop-up restaurants and I kid you not they tried to charge me €13 for a soft drink. And I saw Coca Cola on the menu for €10. Newsflash- I'm not that girl!

The public beaches are perfectly fine and I found that they weren’t packed at all, there were only a small amount people there. FYI the sand feels better than it looks. It looks quite grainy but it feels softer. I mean it’s definitely not Seychelles type of sand but it will do.

I can't tell you how nice the sea was for surfing etc because I didn't do that. It was a shame to see that on certain parts of the beach there was lots of oil in the water. It was really off-putting. I'm assuming it's because of all the big yachts parked up nearby, but if you’re after a holiday where swimming plays a large role, I’d reconsider going to Cannes.

Major Key- How happy would you be if you could get a massage whilst you sunbathe on the beach? Some ladies roaming the beaches have got you covered, for €25 per 20 minutes. Don't try to look for them, they'll find you! 

Food

The food in Cannes was the highlight of my trip big time. One restaurant in particular really stood out and is open for both lunch and dinner.  Astoux & Brun serve the good-good fresh seafood. Seafood and fish is their speciality. And I had the opportunity to try escargot for the first time. *Insert Drake lyric* When’s the last time you did something for the first time? They are basically big snails. It sounds nasty when you overthink it but they taste banging. Ooouu and I also tried oysters for the first time... I have no shame saying that I had to Google how to eat oysters. Lobster, Crab and all that good stuff are also available at the restaurant. 

For a light lunch I’d recomment eating the Seafood Spaghetti at L'Avion or getting a Pad Thai Salad at Warner’s Cafe.

*I have a confession I saw a snail in my garden today and found my mind drifting into what it might taste like*

Accommodation

If you want to spend a night or two or three in Cannes there are plenty of places to stay. I went with an apartment I found on Air Bnb which was a 15 minute walk away from the beach and anything important. Cannes really isn’t a big city. the property was clean, bright and cost £69/€80 per night. Plus it had a mini kitchen. I didn’t cook but it’s nice to know the option was there. The closer you are to the beach the more you pay for properties so bare that in mind. Prices range from £150 per night upwards.

Photo’s taken from host’s Air Bnb page *

Wrap Up

If you're going Cannes you need to slay. Cannes is not a humble visit. No, no, no you need to get your "bad and boujie" persona on. So get your shades out of your wardrobe, bring out them Oooh lala outfits and get tah stepping. 

Disclaimer: I will not take any responsibility for you going into your overdraft after reading this post!

Frizzy

A Frizzy Weekend In... Reykjavík

Yoo, it was a cold ass extended weekend in Iceland. I'm not about to pretend that my fingers weren't freezing every second that I touched the road. And I'm also not going to lie and say that I didn't do the cha cha slide and fall over countless times in Reykjavík, because I most certainly did. Expect to slip and slide, and uncontrollably dive in the winter and you'll be fine! 

I visited Reykjavík, Iceland in the winter season. To be dead exact during the month of December. When I went sunrise was at 11 am and the sunset at 4 pm.  It felt mad strange. Imagine heading to breakfast at 9 in the morning and it's still pitch black. Madness.

First Impressions

The flight to Iceland felt a lot longer, in my mind, than it needed to be. Turns out the flight from London to Reykjavík was only 3 hours. Maybe, I was just so excited to witness that level of cold with my own body!?

It's not as snowy as I thought it would be. I imagined some big- big Antartica and maybe Reindeers rolling about on the street (I know my imagination is wild).

"Raar they love big street art in this city".

What is there To Do in Reykjavík

The two places mentioned everytime Iceland is discussed are the Blue Lagoon and Northern Light, and I don't think the two are overrated. As part of my holiday package transfer to and from the Blue Lagoon was included as well as the visit to the Northern Lights.

The Blue Lagoon was magical! Asides from all the cool pictures you’ll take, the experience is mesmerizing. You know the sensation that you get when you jump in a hot bath after a long day? That's the feeling you get at the Blue Lagoon but it lasts for the whole time you are in the water. You also get some face mask included with your entry fee. If you take nothing else from this post please do not be the foolish gal/bwoy who forgets to bring flip flops with them. I was that *insert Nigerian accent* Idjjott whose feet froze. I can't explain to you the level of pain I felt. Book in advance to avoid long queues and to make sure your entry is guaranteed.

*If you have a wig on let that go sis! Let your plaits breath unless you are not fussed about messing up your wig. My orange wig was never the same after!*

The Northern Lights were proper groovy! I saw green and purple lights in the sky and it was breathtaking. My iPhone decided to move proper basic and didn't pick up the colouring. I was initially annoyed but I now think that there is something beautiful about having an image locked in your mind. Something to note though, you can be waiting around for anything up to 90 minutes after you've seen the lights whilst others attempt to take pictures and hang around the space. If you are kind of anti and impatient like myself, you might want to rent a car so you can leave when you're finished rather than when a coach full of people are.

If you have time I'd recommend venturing out of Reykjavík and visiting some hot springs. Go forth and be at one with nature whilst you warm up your body. Also, if you are into vintage clothing, the fashion stores in Reykjavík will have you grinning from ear to ear. 

Food 

The food in Iceland is not low-low prices. Food is on the E-X-P-E-N-S-I-V-E side. Once you've mentally accepted this fact the holiday gets better I promise you.  You'll easily spend £25 on a lamb burger and fries. On the plus side, everything I ate in Iceland tasted fresh and non-fatty.

Side note: If you have specific dietary requirements let the staff know even if it seems totally irrelevant for what you have ordered. I ordered the fish of the day at a restaurant and there was no mention of anything else coming with it. Yet when my meal came I realised they had put slices of bacon in my meal.

3 Food Spots I Recommend

Sumac - Octopus and hummus with Crispy baby potatoes.

Hotel Island -  Fish of the Day (Fresh Icelandic Fish).

Rustik - Lamb shank with mashed potato and seasoned vegetables.

Wrap Up  

Wrap up well like the British roadmen do in the summer and you'll be well prepped. I know instagrammable clothes is the go-to for holidays but if you’re visiting Iceland in the winter I can't stress how much comfort over style is a must. If you're thinking about trying out solo travel I would strongly suggest Iceland because I felt at all times extremely safe. (And that means a lot coming from me because my paranoia levels can peak) Also, when I left Iceland I noticed how clear and healthy my face looked. I'm not sure what exactly caused it but myself and my homegirl were left feeling really radiant and refreshed.

Have you visited Reykjavík? Would you visit there in the winter? Watch my Insta vlog to see how Icy Iceland got.  

 Frizzy

Doing Up Big Birthdays All-Inclusive Style in Cancun

I've been all-inclusive before but oh my, this holiday opened me up to a whole different level of all-inclusive. I wanted to enjoy the lavish lifestyle for a milestone birthday. Introducing the 5* Dreams Sands Cancun Resort and Spa. Where do I even start? This was a package holiday - flights, hotel and transfer. On arrival at the hotel, we were greeted with a glass of champagne each. I gave mine to my homegirl, as I don’t drink alcohol, as you can imagine she was well happy! I waited for the ugly all-inclusive band that always messes up my tan but it never came. 

Room

We booked a deluxe oceanfront room with a balcony, and that gave us our own King size beds which were really comfortable. Being someone with back problems comfort is a major deal-breaker for me. The way the suite was set up glass panels acted as dividers, so you can be in bed and see someone washing their hands. At first, I thought “hold up, what if I'm trying to do my business in the toilet and I'm being stared at?" Dramatic much... Turns out that part was opaque so all was good there.

Deluxe Room with Partial Sea view and balcony

Things to do

This holiday was not my usual style because for pretty much 7 days and nights I did nothing other than eat, read, sleep and tan. I'm talking about 24-hour room service... Yes, sometimes I ordered food at 4.30 am... no shame! My homegirl said she woke up and saw me chewing in bed at some mad time in the morning, and all now I cannot remember.

The resort offered a large choice of activities. When I looked at the choices I told myself I’d try the Spanish lessons, then I'd join the Caribbean dance classes and then I'd top it off it with yoga aerobics, but I’d be lying to you if I told you I actually did anything. *You know when you go on holiday and sell yourself a bag full of dreams* Regardless, the options were there. However what I did do was, spend my birthday jet skiing in the sea, and I found myself attempting to retrieve my homegirl’s, wig, well it turned out to be her cap, from the sea. (Let’s leave that story for another day.) Oouuu and I also attended a foam pool party and the music was vibezy throughout my whole stay. Proper up to date music, not that awkward stuff.

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“I went for 7 nights and I’m telling you it is not enough. Considering the flight time was 10 hours from London to Cancun, I’d recommend at least 10 nights. I cried internal tears when checking out of the hotel.”

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Food

Even just typing this and reflecting on my holiday has my mouth watering. Dreams Sands Cancun really impressed me. I can be 50/50 about all-inclusive places because a lot of hotels have left me feeling that I'm on a strict eating regime, especially if they recycle the same typical buffet food for the whole week. But Dreams Sands is all about gourmet dining.

It felt so refreshing not having to set an alarm to make sure I made it to breakfast in the morning. If I missed breakfast for whatever reason, I mean breakfast was from 7 am -11 am, I could just order room service. And the room service didn't compromise the good good food. I'm fussy/particular yeah, I like squeezed juice, not from concentrate, not some 20% fruit plus 20 spoons of sugar. So you can imagine my face when fresh orange juice was delivered like clockwork to my room each morning. Lunch was a treat too. I spied my greedy little eyes on some big ass lobster (The only thing that wasn't included in my all-inclusive package cha!) I couldn't complain though because I fell in love with some staple Mexican meals in the buffet and refused to eat anything else after.

Dinner wowed me massively, giving me a choice of 7 different restaurants to pick from. And yes I tried all of them. El Patio and Wave and Sands were my favourites. In the evening dinner falls between 6-11 pm. Let that sink in, it's a whole 5 hours, and you can turn up to the restaurant of your choice without a reservation. I might have on numerous occasions ate at the buffet at about 6.30 pm and then went to eat my gourmet dinner later in the evening. 

Nightlife

Every night there was a different live musical performance. From the Pan-Asian restaurant, I had a banging view of performances. It felt like a mini carnival so I was super involved, whining my waist as I ate my dinner* If after the performances you have the "turn down for what" attitude, the hotel has a sports bar that plays everything from reggaeton to traditional Mexican tunes to pop music so the party can continue.

Also, if you want to venture out there is a lively nightlife in the strip down in main Cancun. I went to Coco Bongo and from picking up the vibe I could tell lots of the clubs down there were not disappointing. Most of my nights ended with me tucked in bed watching a DVD that I'd rented for free from the concierge. Don't expect some new school 2019 or even 2018 film, but you're never too nice to re-watch 'Lilo & Stitch' or 'Dirty Dancing' are you!

Small small tips

I went for 7 nights and I’m telling you it is not enough. Considering the flight time was 10 hours from London to Cancun, I’d recommend at least 10 nights. I cried internal tears when checking out of the hotel, I was not ready to come home and live off of my basic noodles. Also, I was so tired after travelling to Cancun that I fell asleep in the restaurant whilst waiting for my main dish to arrive after eating my starter. Don’t judge me.

When travelling in Cancun book your taxi from the hotel, and always inquire what the price is for that journey, because I kid you not drivers start doing 2+2 and getting 25!

Pay for activities/excursions in US dollars. I found the best rates were offered that way.

Dip your plantain in peanut butter, I’m telling you now it’s a game changer! You’ll thank me later!

I can honestly say I lived good, recharged my soul, had my belly filled up, and my food was well seasoned! Dreams Sands was so good. Until we meet again Mexico, sometime very soon I hope. Watch my vlog to see how I lived a Vida Loca in Cancun.

Frizzy

Everything You Need To Know About Tunisian Weddings

In England I’m used to rocking up to a wedding in my cute outfit for the day, and if I'm lucky getting fed. Boom, Bam, finished! But in Tunisia weddings are a whole different vibe.

Trust me they are truly amazing and it really goes down on the dance floor. Having had the opportunity to attend a few weddings, the most recent being last month, I’m giving you the lowdown on what happens at a Tunisian wedding. Typically, Tunisian weddings are made up of 5 events. Some people are fully involved and attend all 5 of them and some people choose a smaller selection. 

Hammam

On this day family and female friends go with the bride to be to the steam room. On the way to the hammam, the bride walks alongside her loved ones in traditional Tunisian wear, whilst her hype women sing all around her. The bride leaves the hammam looking so fresh and so clean.

My homegirl Rah, who got married last month, absolutely despises going to the Hammam, so she broke the rules and made her Jacuzzi bath her steam room. Imagine 20 women walking her into her bathroom whilst cheering, singing and lighting candles. Everyone is dressed casually on this day.

Legal signing

The official legal document signing is the quickest part of the wedding. It lasts about 30 minutes. Females sit on one side of the venue, and men on the other. Generally, people then queue up to congratulate the bride and groom saying “ma-brook” which means congratulations in Arabic.

You know that outfit that isn’t really comfortable or them shoes that look really banging but you can’t wear for long. Now is the time to get them out.

Small Henna

Henna is a big deal in Tunisia, it’s associated with bringing good fortune to a bride, so on this day henna is put on the bride-to-be in her house. The bride’s family also generally provide food for guests. Usually a nice hearty Tunisian dish- Couscous, beef and salad.

Even this day varies depending on individuals. On one occasion it was a very small event with only close family and on another, a tent appeared out of nowhere after dinner with a fully formed band playing live music until 1 a.m. 

Big Henna

For women, this is one of the biggest days. It generally happens in a rented venue like a hall. This is what you can call the bride’s personal celebration. Bride’s take centre stage and carry out traditional rituals, such as swaying their shoulders from side to side with their eyes closed and stepping over a “fish”. There's always a large live band and a big dance floor of course!  I’ve seen the bride’s change their outfits an average of 4 times on this evening. Big extravagant outfits come out and at the end, the groom arrives and joins the bride on stage. Many people who cannot make all the 5 celebrations come specifically for this day. I personally love this day so much because lots of Tunisian pastries and fresh juice get given to guests. Dress all the way up. Think prom night and ball gowns.

The Final Celebration

“Here comes the bride all dressed in white.” Yes, the bride puts on her beautiful white dress and effectively sits on a cute sofa on display until the groom and his hype men turn up to take her away. The groom and his family turn up to the bride’s house around 2 hours after the event begins. On the main road outside the bride’s house, the groom’s entourage will announce their arrival. My homegirl's husband announced his arrival in a large white limousine and Porshe Cayenne (not bad at all). After exchanging rings inside and about 500 hundred pictures, the newly-weds head to the groom’s house followed very closely behind by both the bride and groom’s loved ones. 

Cars put on their hazard lights and beep regularly throughout the drive. Imagine the film 'Fast and Furious' and you’ll have an idea of what to expect during the journey. On one occasion, I witnessed my aunty pass out as she was so overwhelmed with the driving styles used. The night ends early, compared to the majority of the other nights, outside the groom’s house where loved ones celebrate one last time the joining of the married couple.

Small small tips

I'm not even joking but make sure you carry earplugs around with you because the music is really loud and at times distorted. When planning outfits prep for at least 1-2 more outfits than you think you'll need. I'm telling you at least one un-official event will pop up. And last but not least, bring some cash in notes to the big henna. (You'll have the opportunity to go on stage and give some to the bride.)

Tunisian Wedding Outtakes

At one wedding, a friend brought me outside to see a “surprise” and when I walked around the corner there was a cow tied up on the floor bleeding out. It turned out to be some of the finest beef I had ever eaten the next day when I ate it with my couscous, but I froze when I saw it initially. 

On the last night of Rah's wedding, after heading home exhausted, we had to go all the way back to the groom's house after to deliver her suitcase as it had been left in the boot of her mum's car, and she was heading off to her honeymoon hours later.

On the fourth day of the first Tunisian wedding I’d ever attended, I fell asleep on a sofa in the bride's house. I was so tired. The closer your family relation to the bride the more you're supposed to be present and we were at the bride's house every day from the afternoon until the early morning. 

Tears of joy

I feel really privileged to have been invited to weddings in Tunisia, especially Rah's wedding. The night before the final celebration she had a hen do where all of the young-ish girls closest to her, came together and had a party. What happens at a hen do, stays at the hen do.

And on the day of the final celebration, I spent the morning with the bride and we got our harkous done by a woman who came to her house.