The power of tipping

Tipping is not required in Tunisia and locals don't.

I read up on this and for my first week here I mostly followed that custom. But I'm headed toward my third week here and every morning I go to the hotel breakfast room and see the same waiters. They are very nice and even try English with me. It just wasn't feeling right.

So, yesterday I left 21 dinars by my plate. This is a little over $16 or in other words only about $2.30 a day.

This morning, I had two virtual slaves slobbering over my table, fetching me clean napkins, pouring me fresh coffee and delivering, unasked for, a plate of unblemished fruit artfully cut into a design that put tidbits of peach and pear at my fingertips.

I am gonna tip the chambermaid tomorrow morning to see what happens. Extra towels? Shoe shine? A new paint job?