Tozeur, a city at the edge of the Sahara.

I feel so bad that the pictures we took on Thursday, when we explored the north side of Djerba, did not turn out because I was absent-minded enough to forget to re-insert the photo card into the camera. Essentially it means that we will have few pictorial memories of the island, because yesterday we stayed put at the hotel. I had, unexplainably, a night where I could not sleep, and was exhausted, so I stayed most of the day in bed, while Diane was able to relax and read her book.

Heading toward the ferry in Djerba

Last few images from Djerba island

Time to say goodbye...

Today, however, camera-card in place and feeling more rested, we left the island, skirted the Libyan border, and headed west to the Sahara desert, where we are lodging now, in the exotic town of Tozeur, only 15 km. from Algeria.

Back on the mainland, camels are a road hazard.

Sandwich stop in Mareth

Back roads of the south

The drive here took about 5 hours, 7 if you count the wait time and crossing on the ferry. Some of the scenery was surreal, but none that translates too well on pictures. Especially amazing was the Chott El Djerid,, a salty expanse that extends as far as the eye can see.

That was en-route, we are actually much much closer to the border now.

The Libyan flag flying in the Tunisian desert

Chott El Djerid

In Tozeur we are staying in a wonderful, classy place, where the owners are arranging some tours for us to take in the next couple of days. Already, we arranged for and enjoyed a horse-drawn buggy to take us to a luxuriant oasis where all sorts of plants thrive, especially dates, figs, jasmine, and pomegranates. When dusk was settling, we continued on to the medina and could appreciate the town’s Berber way of life and the architecture.

Inside the walls of our lodge in Tozeur

Our buggy picking us up at the lodge

Tozeur, a desert city with charm

Help, our buggy is being assaulted by a marauding army of kids!!

An incredible oasis in the center of town

Dates growing at the oasis.

Entering the town's medina at dusk

The Berber way of life, Berbers are the first inhabitants of the country. They are not Arab.

The sun having set, it's time to say goodnight.

We are sure we’ll be in for a treat over the next few days, and we’ll gladly be sharing it with you so you can tag along and explore this corner of the world as well. Until tomorrow.