Desert rush – it would best describe my 2 days circuit in the desert after leaving the hotel in Sousse at 7 am. We left the city going south to stop at El Jem, the Roman Colosseum, at least as impressive and well preserved as the one in Rome. It is a must on all visitors list. After that our journey continued to Matmata, for the troglodytes homes.
It was with this occasion that our guide informed us that after the visit to a local traditional house we are going to have lunch in a typical Tunisian restaurant. It sounded great considering that I was starving. I looked forward to take some pictures of the house and then taste the delicious traditional dishes.
In the middle of the rocky desert the car stopped. Around us nothing in sight. After a few steps I noticed a rabbit on top of some stones over our heads. I could swear he was trained to show us the way into the yard of the house – small, simple, swallowed by the landscape. After the visit, we entered the courtyard descending below ground level and entering a room dug into the ground: our restaurant. I was so hungry! I must admit that I had been spoiled in the hotel in Sousse, having a lot of and varied food at my disposal. Now I was a little disappointed by the couscous and appetizers, tasty but in small quantities. Still hungry we left pretty quickly to arrive in Douz by light, the place where the rocky desert meets the sand and land is delimited by the sea. At least it seemed like that to me.
In haste we have been equipped with Arabic clothes and turban that smelled like a camel L . One by one we started our way to the dromedaries and camels which waited patiently, seated to the earth. As it was December, it had rained in the desert so the dromedaries, not the most beautiful animals, were wet and smelly! Now I understood the origin of the clothes smelly scent.
When we started walking one behind the other, the landscape was magical. The route took us climbing the dunes or descending through the small oasis with palm trees. Among us, passing very quickly – galloping – the Bedouins, dressed nicely in traditional outfits, made riding demonstrations.
Soon, we checked in to a hotel nearby, having time until dinner to go around for a quick stroll. As it was already dark we walked down a street at the edge of the desert, eating figs directly from the trees. Just stretch out the arm and reach them. Time seems to stop in Tunisia somehow. Eventually, we returned to the hotel, for what proved to be a feast compared to the midday meal. A dinner show with belly dancers and even with beer J. For tourists beer is allowed. The next day would start with a surprise. But about this I will tell you another time
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