Down to the South of Tunisia

So sorry I am so behind on bloogging! I can make 20 excuses or just try to slowly but surely catch up. So here I go!

A couple of weeks ago, two friends and I went to the Southern part of Tunisia. It is near the Sahara desert but not quite that south. I have been there before with Paul when he came to visit- it is a whole different world down there! It is vast and just gorgeous. But very different.

Our tour guide and driver picked us up at the hotel and off we went. We drove by Salt Lakes and they always fascinate me!

Then a few minutes after I asked and surprisingly to our guide, we passed a field of camels! It is so cool to see a bunch of camels grazing freely! So surreal!

Our first stop was to Ksar Gatoufa. It has not be updated and was left as it had been when it was built. It was neat to see it in original form and it was great to explore. It was my favorite Ksar by far!

Then our next stop was Ksar Ezahra. People still live in it and they are fighting hard to keep it that way. It is neat to see how they are making it there own and living in it. The men were playing games and school children were walking home for lunch. It was a neat and authentic experience!

Our last Ksar of the day was Ksar Ouled Soltane. It has been refurbished to look like it did long along. It is also featured on the 20 dinar bill. It was fun to climb in and out of the doors and windows since the stairs has been redone.

Next stop was the city of Tatouine where we had the BEST lunch ever! It was the best Tunisian food I have had! It was very moist lamb stewed in amazing sauce with vegetables.

The front of the restaurant

Horn of Gazelle- these are pastries that are horn-shaped and special to this area

We got to go back and watch how they make it- too cool!

Then we walked around Tatouine for a bit

Our last stop of the day was was to the Berber Village of Guermessa. I'm not going to lie- we had to climb up there (steep hill/walk) and it nearly killed me but I was so proud to get to the top! It was super neat to climb around and see how people use to live in this village so long ago.

Berber writing on the ceilings

Loved this mosque

There was a cross on the top

Then we headed to our cave hotel that we would be calling home for the next two nights. It was great to stop and rest because man were we exhausted! But it was a great day for sure!

Couscous for dinner... yes please!

After dinner and playing a game with Catherine, we crashed in our cozy cave bed!