Oct. 11 to 13, 2007. We stayed in MONASTIR for a couple of nights...

... the view from our balcony. Monastir is a popular tourist spot.

The Tomb of the Unknown Solidier, a symbolic grave for all Tunisian soldiers who fought for the freedom of their homeland.

The street leading up to the HABIB BOURGUIBA MAUSOLEUM.

The gilt cupola and twin minarets of the Mausoleum.

Bourguiba's family is laid to rest here...

... as well as Habib Bourguiba himself.

The marble sarcophagus of Habib Bourguiba, first president of Tunisia.

With Ramadan over on Oct. 12, 2007, we finally could find some street food.

What is it? Who knows, it was good and very hot as a lot of Harissa (red chilli and garlic sauce) was used.

Another Mausoleum located on the Route de La Corniche.

Tunisia is known for it white houses and blue decorative doors.

Oct. 13, 2007. We visit the RIBAT in Monastir.

This Ribat, is one of the oldest and best preserved in Tunisia.

Originally built for the holy war against Christians, and constant skirmishes with the Berbers.

The defensive corner.

The Defensive Walls were completed in the 11th Century and included accommodation for the soldiers.

The Minaret...

... which we of course had to summit.

View of the interior of the Rabit.

This Rabit was used for scenes in the Monty Python's Life of Brian.

The Minaret of the Bourguiba Mosque peeks over the defensive walls.

A great view of the adjacent Sidi el-Mezeri cemetery.

The cemetery cover a large area ...

... and with Ramadan over ...

... the muslims visit the cemetery to remember relatives.

The Bourguiba Mosque.

The Tunisian Flag.

We leave Monastir behind and travel south-wards to EL JEM.

This Amphitheatre was built in the 3rd Century AD and ...

... is the third largest surviving theatre.

Less than a month earlier we had stood inside the Colosseum in Rome.

This Amphitheatre seemed better preserved and ....

... allowed access to the upper levels and below the elliptical arena.

A great view from the upper levels.

Approx. 30,000 spectators could be seated.

The Elliptical arena, measuring 65 x 39m.

View of the corridors that led to all levels of the auditorium.

Below the arena, where the animals were kept.

From El Jem we make it all the way to Kibili and set up camp at the Les Amis Du Camping site.

The supply of water for the campsite comes from this well.

Oct. 14, 2007. We are up at sun rise, as a big day of riding awaits us.

We are excited to be in the desert again.

We take the road from Kebili south to Douz and then start skirting the great sand dunes of the Sahara Desert from Douz to El Faouar.

In some spots the road almost disappears under the sand drifts and we can't resists stopping on the side of the road to run up the dunes.

The sand is fine like powder and each step uphill makes you slide back. We are like a couple of kids seeing our first snow of the season again.

Just past El-Faouar we hit the southern end of Chott el-Jerid.

The largest salt lake in north Africa, stretching over 51,000sq km. The bed is mostly dry until the rainy season hits and as flat as a pancake.

There is nothing as far as your eyes can see, except the blue of the sky and white of the salt/sand. The Causeway across CHOTT EL-JERID.

The most striking about the Chott el-Jerid is the remaining water holes,...

... which due to the crystals, shimmer pink, set in contrast by the white dried salt edges and blue sky.

Pending on the crystals present ...

... the color of the water holes can range from blue, white to pale green.

The white of the salt stand in contrast to Mike.

A vendor along the causeway selling various items like the famous desert rose.

As it is only 2pm in the afternoon we decide to make a detour to Tamerza.

Another great highlight. It lies approx. 60km north east from Tozour and only 4kms from the Algerian border.

The scenery at Tamerza was made famous by the filming of the English Patient.

The road climbs and winds its way from the desert floor to an elevation of 600m into a reddish canyon.

The Grand Canyon of Tunisia.

Tamerza is an oasis and has a couple of small waterfalls situated at the canyon bottom.

We decide to explore some of the canyon bottom.

The ruins of former TAMERZA ...

... can been seen from the location of the now closed Tamerza Palace Hotel.

Another small waterfall.

Chez Sghair Arafat, the owner of the campsite, has supper waiting for us, which is now only 5 Dinar/person.

Supper is Couscous with beef and potato, biscuit and yogurt.

We enjoyed our stay with the personal Chez Sghair Arafat. Campsite GPS coordinates are: N33Deg 41' 42.7" and E8Deg 57' 45.7".

Oct. 15, 2007. We arrive in MATAMATA and park in-front of the HOTEL SIDI DRISS, a troglodyte pit home.

Pictures from the original Star Wars filming line the walls.

There are several other burrowed underground homes which are to this day occupied by Berbers.

A Star War sign in the Sidi Driss Hotel.

The home consisted of a large central circular courtyard, dug out of the sandstone a few meters deep, ...

...and rounded rooms are then tunneled off the perimeter.

George Lucas used the location in his first Star Wars film.

The now Sidi Driss Hotel was used for interior shots of the Lars family homestead in Star Wars.

From Matamata we ride ot Tataouine and met French/Tunisian man Ahmed on his Aprilia Pegaso 650.

We get our air compressor out ...

... to inflate his tires.

Oct. 16, 2007. We mount our bikes and ride to KSAR OULED SOLTANE.

A Ksar is a fortified Berber village which provides storage for grain.

The central courtyard is surrounded by 2 to 4 story high cylindrical ghorfas (rooms). (Ruby takes a peek inside the upper levels)

The entrance to the inner courtyard is concealed.

The Ksar Ouled Soltane is approx. 20km south of Tataouine and one of the best preserved fortified Berber villages in Tunisia.

It lies at an elevation of 500m and can be seen from the distance as a large square walled compound.

Once we enter the small courtyard we are in awe.

Skinny stairs lead up the side of the building to each ghorfa (three to four stories high).

The slave quarters in Star Wars were filmed here.

Several other ksours are located around Tataouine and ...

... most of them are still occupied and used for grain storage and dwellings.

A closer look at the construction of the stairs and entrances.

The external wall of the ksar.

Local Berber.

More traditional sweets and some healthy yogurt.

Returning to Tataouine we venture west to CHENINI, ...

... an ancient hilltop village located in the rocky ochre slopes.

A white washed mausoleum is set picture perfect in the red rock of the mountain.

The view amazing.

The landscape barren.

We continue our ride up the mountain on a rocky pathway until it turns into a mere foot path. Leaving the bikes behind ...

...we continue on foot.

As we walk along the ridge we observe the locals going about their daily activities.

Camels are used in the Berbers day to day life.

The ruins blend in with the surrounding rock,...

...a berber woman walking the streets with a donkey.

Across from the ancient town of Chenini a rocky road winds it way to the upper level of the mountains.

The remains of the houses of the Chenini.

The white mosque in contrast to the ruins of the houses.

Locals visiting and chating.

The doors leading into some of the houses are tiny.

More local berbers socializing.

This area is still used by the berbers today.

Berber women are colorfully dressed, mostly in bride red scarf's.

A different life.

A few kilometers from the Libyan Border, a sign reads 2522km to Cairo, Egypt.