Estonian travel journalist Thea Karin reveals Tunisia's hidden contrasts

Estonian travel journalist and art historian Thea Karin shares insights about Tunisia after twelve years of experience with the country. She discusses the cultural divide between Tunisia's Mediterranean north and its conservative south, local men's strategies for approaching Western women, and how the desert can permanently change one's worldview.

An Estonian travel journalist and art historian Thea Karin has spent twelve years exploring Tunisia's many faces — and her relationship with the country began with an unexpected start. During a filming trip in the central Tunisian desert, a white racing camel suddenly spun around, sending Karin flying headfirst into a Bedouin tent. "The cameraman filming next to me said afterwards that this should definitely open a documentary about Tunisia," Karin recalls with laughter. "Welcome to Tunisia — and there I go, flying into the tent."

Despite the dramatic introduction, Karin has since become one of Estonia's foremost voices on Tunisian culture and society. She describes a country of striking contradictions: the northern regions, particularly around the coast, can feel reminiscent of the south of France, with Mediterranean architecture, café culture, and a relatively relaxed atmosphere. Travel further south, however, and the rules change dramatically — conservative values shape daily life in ways that can surprise unprepared visitors.

Karin also speaks candidly about the social dynamics that female Western travellers often encounter. Local men, she explains, follow recognisable and well-established patterns when trying to connect with European women — a kind of informal playbook that, once you know it, becomes easy to spot. She is equally thoughtful when discussing the lives of Muslim women in Tunisia, painting a picture more nuanced than either idealistic or alarmist Western portrayals tend to allow.

Beyond social customs, Karin reflects on the spiritual and psychological impact of the Tunisian desert. Tunisia's ancient wedding traditions, she notes, carry echoes of rituals that date back to the second century — a living connection to a world that most modern Europeans encounter only in history books. For Karin, the desert in particular holds a transformative power: she argues that experiencing it can permanently reshape a person's understanding of the world and their place within it.