4X4 on the dunes

Living in La Tranche you'd think we'd be used to the sand but the vastness of the desert was breathtaking, not to mention the ochre colour. It was also pretty hot already at 9.30 am!

This was OUR 4X4. Luckily there was help to hand!

The colour of the sand is very real

Three nomads

We loved the trail this beetle made!

Djorf and the salt lake

Rather than take the Roman causeway back to Djerba island our guide decided to catch the ferry from Djorf as we were near to the small port. Little did he realise what a long wait we'd have, arriving back rather late at the hotel but luckily there was still plenty enough to eat!

Our next visit took us across a huge salt lake that only has water for a few weeks each year. 

Water is a very precious commodity and you see pipelines all around the area

A caravan of 4X4s?

Naturally formed patterns

Troglodytes!

We journeyed past Matmata village and onto the troglodyte home of a local Beber family. Large pits were dug into the ground then caves burrowed off to provide rooms for the family. Many families open up their homes for tourists to visit, sometimes providing them with a glass of mint tea.

The entrance to the home

Our hostess, more than happy to have her photograph taken!

Yes, that's a TV in the corner!

We enjoyed the local tea far more than the local coffee!

The exit, with garden tools conveniently placed on the wall!

A make-shift washing line

Our hostess, left on her own again...

Camel ride at Douz

Our camel ride was definitely a highlight of the holiday once you got over the fear of falling off, the 'seat' precariously balanced on the camel's back. 

Tine and your faithful blogger ready for action!

Luckily there was lots of help about

Tine holding on tight as her camel kneels down

That's my camel on the right watching her friend take a sand bath

Even sandier than the beach at La Tranche

The sand was so fine, more like flour in texture

Dbebcha

We stopped for a toilet/coffee break at an amazing site where the wind has sculpted the sand into incredible shapes.

There weren't many neighbours about!

The café itself was a beautiful construction. Not sure about Tunisian coffee, though!

Tozeur calèche ride & date picking

Still in Tozeur we took a tour of the town and oasis in a calèche, or horse drawn carriage. Most of the photos were somewhat blurry but here are a few to share with you!

Into the oasis itself where the land is 'farmed' by numerous families, particularly the local delicacy: dates!

How do you fancy this job, many times a day at harvest time?

The pollination is all done by hand. Here you see the male & female flowers.