La Gazelle | Page 69

La « chambre bleue » propose une découverte culinaire au travers d’un petit déjeuner différent tous les matins, bien loin du petit déjeuner continental, ici vous découvrirez les spécialités tunisiennes, lors de cet instant matinal. En Tunisie, le moment du « café » est une sorte de rite, un moment de calme et d’apaisement, un moment d’échange. A « la chambre bleue », ce moment d’échange est très important pour les hôteliers comme pour les visiteurs qui séjournent en moyenne 2 ou 3 nuits à Tunis. Ils y séjournent soit en début ou en fin de séjour et ont souvent peu de temps pour découvrir toutes les merveilles que propose la capitale et ses alentours (la médina, Tunis ville, le Bardo, Sidi Bou, Carthage). Ce moment leur permet d’être guidé, conseillé par Sondos à sa famille. Depuis avril 2014, elle s’est associée, toujours dans cette notion d’échange et de découverte à un autre établissement similaire afin d’organiser « les dîners d’hôtes ». Une fois par semaine chaque établissement invite les hôtes voisins à partager leurs expériences de vie, de rencontre autour d’un dîner, certains sont à la fin de leurs séjours, d’autres le débutent et restent attentifs aux conseils de leurs voisins le temps d’un diner. À « la chambre bleue » chacun s’ouvre à d’autres cultures, se connecte aux autres. I a La chambre bleue «The Blue Room» mong the numerous rooms and guesthouses available in Tunis, some stand out by the originality of their propositions. Besides decoration and hospitality, they put the emphasis on human qualities, it is about passing along, sharing. “La chambre bleue“ is one of them. Located in the heart of the medina, this two bedroom guesthouse is managed by Sondos Belhassen and his family. “La chambre bleue“ refers to the blue suite, the reason why the guesthouse opened. The story begins in 2008, after the purchase of a part of an old traditional Dar*, “the ali barani“ reserved for the family’s guests and the Marzen (House). Beyond simply welcoming visitors, the main idea was to practice hospitality in a different way. “It was important for us to focus on discovery, sharing, to show another face of Tunisia and its capital. There are too many stereotypes, too much folklore around the medina, but the medina is more than that. The medina is contemporary, my relationship with the city is totally different, I go everywere by foot or bicycle. People must learn how to live in a neighbourhood and understand the importance of safeguarding this heritage“ says Sondos. The guesthouse and the hotels don’t share the same clients. Here, families, couples, travelling professional workers looking for the discovery, the exchange and the encounters. “La chambre bleue“ offers a culinary experience, a different breakfast every morning, nothing like the continental breakfast, here you will discover the Tunisian specialties in the morning hours. In Tunisia, “coffee time“ is a sort of ritual, a moment of calm and peace of mind, a moment of exchange. At “La chambre bleue“, this moment of exchange is as important to the hoteliers as it is to the visitors who stay an average of 2 or 3 nights in Tunis. They stay there either at the beginning or at the end of their travel and often lack time to discover all the marvels that the capital and its surroundings offer (the medina, Tunis city, the Bardo, Sidi Bou, Carthage). This moment allows them to be guided, advised by Sondos and his family. In April 2014, it has partnered with another guesthouse in order to create “the dinner d’hôte“, still in the same spirit of exchange and discovery. Once a week each place invites the neighbours to share their life experiences, their encounters around a dinner table, some are at the end of their stay, others are at the beginning and listen carefully to the advice they’re given. At “La chambre bleue“, guests open up to different cultures and connect with each other. I 71 I 60 ‫الغـزالــــة‬