FEBRUARY
2007
TUNISIA-Kerkouane
TUNISIA-Kerkouane
Thursday 1st dawned wet and cloudy so we decided to travel south to Sfax, searching for camps en route. We visited Hammamet’s three camps, we also noted the camps at Sousse, Monastir and Mahdia the latter three without success, before continuing on to Sfax, where we booked into the Hotel Syphax to enjoy net access on Howard’s laptop, an evening meal and breakfast as well as a hot bath and shower. Friday morning we took a taxi to the Casbar and the Museum which showed the construction of the the walls of the city and the houses, very interesting. On return to
the camp we left to head for Gabes,
where a cyclist guided us to a fully equipped camp site among the palm
trees. During
the day we passed orchards of Olive Trees disappearing into the
distance, in straight rows. We also saw three dhows sailing
on the Mediterranean Sea.Saturday 3rd was a rest day. Mervyn baked a loaf of bread, a cake and some biscuits. We went for a short shopping trip in the afternoon. Sunday we started off to go to Ile De Jerba, we had a puncture and sent to a garage to remove the over tight wheel nuts, as the tyre had a half inch hole the mechanic took it to get a replacement. Being Sunday all shops were closed so the mechanic promised to return by 0900 Monday with a new tyre. Howard hand washed his ski socks. Monday 0900 the new tyre, a Bridgestone not a Michelin, arrived for approval, £160-. Mervyn approved and half an hour later we had a spare. We left for Ile De Jerba arriving at the ferry at noon, with the massive cost of £1.20 we sailed across. We went on to the camp at Aghir,
easily found on the beach, in a combined
hostel and
campsite. An idyllic setting but with two brief power cuts.
Tuesday we decided on
a rest day, in the afternoon Howard fitted two brackets to the
ladder for the bunk over Mervyn’s bed. Wednesday another lazy day,
Mervyn went for a walk on the beach, Howard went for a paddle in the
sea much to Mervyn’s amusement. Thursday we drove to Houmt
Souq and Mervyn took a walk round the town. We left the Ile De
Jerba on a causeway and spent some time trying to get to Erriadh,
finally giving up. Then we went down to Zarzis, where there was
an
exquisite turquoise sea. More time was spent looking for a non
existent camp, before leaving for Matmata where the underground
dwellings used in “Star Wars 4“ were filmed. Matmata is near
Tataouine The turning for Medenine was missed and we drove to Ben
Guerdane. Leaving Ben Guerdane we again missed the 
turning, a few
signs would have helped. Half way to Medenine there was a sign
for Tataouine, we found a tarmac road instead of the track shown on the
map and arrived safely to stay outside a
restaurant, with electricity. While driving along we passed ten
groups of Flamingos, one of a hundred plus. The Olive Trees are
still with us, the only difference being they are further apart. Friday morning Howard went
into town to have a bag made for dirty clothes, to hang in the
wardrobe. In the afternoon the eldest of the three brothers on
the restaurant staff, guided us to Ksar Ouled Soltane to see the Old
Granaries. On the way back we visited Beni Barka, more granaries,
but on top of a hill.Saturday 10th we visited Chenine on our way to Medanine, where we camped at a Youth Hostel. As the window security consisted of closely set bars, our electric plug had to be taken off to pass the wire into the building and replaced inside in order to plug
in. Sunday we left for Ksar
Ghilane, having reversed last night’s electric connection. The
road was under construction causing a return to the road to Douz
arriving at Douz camp by 1500. On the way following the mountain
road, we had superb views northeast of the plains to the sea, 30km
away. We also saw a herd of Camels, with young, beside the road. Monday was a day for
chores, Howard did his washing while Mervyn went for a walk in the
palmeraie. In the afternoon we went shopping with out much
success. Tuesday
we set off again, a 60km circuit in the desert, with small dunes, west
of
Douz, then north to Kebili en route for Tozeur across the “salt”
desert, to arrive just before 1500. Mervyn baked the cake he
prepared yesterday. Wednesday
we went shopping in town, we were unsuccessful again. Thursday proved better for
shopping, we
went to Metlaoui in the morning seeing some unusual road signs on the
way. In Metlaoui we took a train ride in the local gorge, quite
spectacular. In the afternoon Howard went for a one hour horse
ride, it was excellent. Friday
on to Gafsa via Tamerza, a village wiped out in a twenty two day
cloudburst, and rebuilt near by. Then through back roads to
Gafsa. Finding the camp was not easy until a local said “follow
me” and we followed his car to the camp.Saturday 17th we left Gafsa for Sbeitla and visited the extensive ruins there, then on to the Hotel Continental in Kairouan. During this day and others, we passed
hundreds of miles of hedges of Prickly Pear
with
a few Centaury Plants included. Sunday involved a visit to
the Medina, Howard was hoping to get his trousers shortened but all the
tailors were closed. The visit to the Grand Mosque was well worth
while. Mervyn continued on to see several more Zaouias, while
Howard returned to the caravan. Monday the journey
northwards continued to Makthar to see the Roman Ruins there, and then
on to Dougga, via the ruins at Nustis. Tuesday on a showery day we
went to the Dougga Ruins, they were very good, the best, so far, in
Tunisia. A guide told us that Carthage and Sbeitla were
better. We have not seen Carthage yet, but Dougga far exceeds
Sbeitla. Wednesday
we continued on to see Bulla Regia, extensive but not very
impressive.
Onwards north to Tabarka en route to Sejenane to camp. A police
man told us that the camp was 30km on, off we set to find a sign to the
camp after 11km. The downhill road deteriorated into a sandy
track. As the track was heavily rutted by large lorries and very
wet, we
turned back before getting stuck, to go on 40km to Bizerte and the
Hotel Sidi Salem, our most expensive overnight, double some and treble
most, but at 1830, who cares? Thursday on to Carthage
where we made a very impressive entry, there were police stopping the
traffic at cross streets and waving us through the red lights.
The ruins were far less impressive, six limited sites spread around the
town, with no parking. We did manage to park at The Baths, but we
were
not impressed with this site. Lastly, at the Museum we found out
that we could have parked there and hired a taxi to take us round the
sites. We didn’t bother. Hammam Lif was our chosen camp but
it was still closed, so on to Nabuel. Friday it was raining so we
had a lazy day in the caravan.Saturday 24th was fine, we went to Thuburbo Majus. The site was excellent, the ruined Roman Buildings were well signed and there were plenty of standing columns as in the Temple to The Three Gods of Rome, Jupiter, Juno and Minerva. Sunday we were due at La Goulette Dock in Tunis at 0930, due to the lack of direction signs we only just made it. The formalities went on and on, the boat left 90min late!! This made us late in Palermo and again the formalities seemed endless. We arrived at the camp in Finale just before midnight. On Monday we had planned to do the washing. Rain stopped this there being no dryers at the camp. We relaxed. Tuesday was better so we did our washing and then went shopping in the van as there was so much to buy, this passed the day. Wednesday dawned fine and sunny, we compleated our washing and shopping.
ITALY-Finale