Category Archives: Travel stuff

Lezard Rouge

Posted on March 7, 2012 by EllieGee

The “Red Lizard” was the personal train of the Bey (the King, before 1882 and the French colonisation) and makes a little known but iconic sightseeing journey. Restored 19th century carriages are pulled by a modern diesel locomotive – unfortunately … Continue reading →

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The mountain oases

Posted on March 7, 2012 by EllieGee

We’ve explored most of the oasis towns in Tunisia’s south and were really looking forward to seeing the dramatic sounding mountain oasis villages in the far west of the country along the Algerian border. The desert plain stretched flat and … Continue reading →

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Across the Chott

Posted on March 5, 2012 by AdrianC

There was only one way to go when we left Douz – across the Chott el Jerid. Shown on maps as a lake, for eleven months of the year it’s just a flat salt pan, extending 100km east-west and 50km … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Culture stuff, By Country - Tunisia, Food stuff, Travel stuff | 1 Comment

Half a dozen days in Douz

Posted on February 29, 2012 by EllieGee

We rolled into Douz around noon after our drive from Ksar Ghilene. There is nothing on the way save a few closed-looking cafes and semi-nomadic shepherds and their flocks. First we tried to find the campsite on our own, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Culture stuff, By Country - Tunisia, Food stuff, Travel stuff, Wildlife stuff | 2 Comments

Through the desert in a van with no name

Posted on February 28, 2012 by AdrianC

Ksar Ghilene is as far out into the sandy desert as you can easily go. Until very recently, there wasn’t even a tarmac road all the way there – just piste, compressed dirt – but the main route, the “pipeline … Continue reading →

Posted in By Country - Tunisia, Travel stuff, Uncategorized, Wildlife stuff | 3 Comments

This place is the pits…

Posted on February 24, 2012 by AdrianC

The road from Metameur wound up and down through spectacular scenery and views into the mountains, taking us through Toujane – semi-abandoned ancient dwellings tumbling down across both sides of a gorge, with the ruins of old forts high above. … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Culture stuff, By Country - Tunisia, Travel stuff | 1 Comment

Of ancient villages and ksour

Posted on February 21, 2012 by EllieGee

Driving west and then south after leaving Djerba, the scenery continued to change gradually and we were in the desert. The south east of the country is hamada, or stony desert. Not knowing quite what to expect of the hamada, … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Culture stuff, By Country - Tunisia, Personal stuff, Travel stuff | 3 Comments

Farewell to the coast – for now

Posted on February 9, 2012 by AdrianC

The drive towards Gabès was a long one, with nothing on the way, and after the boat from Kerkennah docked and we fought our way out of Sfax, we knew we were a bit tight on time. So when we … Continue reading →

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A short stay on the Kerkennah Islands

Posted on February 8, 2012 by EllieGee

Our next stop after El Louza was the Kerkennah Islands. These tiny islands lie an hour by ferry off the coast at Sfax, so it was back on the road south from El Louza. It took us a little while … Continue reading →

Posted in By Country - Tunisia, Food stuff, Travel stuff | 1 Comment

An absolute Jem

Posted on February 5, 2012 by AdrianC

After a predictable stretch of road – olive trees and small settlements spaced apart by the odd rural grey-market filling station, no more than a pile of grimy 20 litre plastic drums of diesel and a funnel on a stand … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Culture stuff, By Country - Tunisia, Travel stuff | 6 Comments