From the Sublime to the Ridiculous!

 

Well … we’ve made it to El-Kef, and it was a long drive – almost 5 hours.  

 

Up this morning about 5 am, and I wanted to get on the road by 9.  Had to repack everything, as we had spread out quite a bit, but it didn’t take long at all.  We headed to breakfast about 8, and it was lovely.  From there, we went to settle the bill at Reception.  When we came in the other day, they asked for our credit card, but for some reason it wouldn’t process!  They said not to mind, that it often happened, and that we could settled when we left … well, I have to admit, being the worrier that I am (and from a long line of the same, I assure you!) I was a bit concerned about the possible “what if”s” if it didn’t work this time!  No worries, though!  The card ran through almost instantly, and we were finished!  Amir, one of the wonderful bell men, drove us on the golf cart/shuttle to our lovely room 107 to pick up our luggage, then delivered us safely to our rental car so we could get packed up.  Oh!  And he provided us with yet two more cold bottles of water!  I think we should be about floating with all the water we keep getting, although I’m definitely not complaining!

 

Back on the road and to Gafsa, although this time we took the road around town, rather than going through it, and it worked out really well!  Not much traffic at all, and we were starting to head northeast!

Leaving the Mora; beautiful desert morning!

More souk!

 

The road was long – and of course, speedbump filled, and there were several souks we had to navigate through – apparently it’s the “done thing” here on Sunday, as that must be a day off – although at several points along the way we did pass road crews that were doing construction!  As if that would ever happen on a Sunday in Tucson … or any day, for that matter!

 

Not sure where Hannibal and the elephants fit in...

R really liked this building...

We eventually turned due north and headed to Kasserine, the site of the first Allied defeat at the hands of the Axis powers in WWII.  It is so interesting to actually drive the terrain and think of tanks and other armored vehicles going through these areas!  It’s nothing at all like I imagined when I read the book Tunisgrad.

 

Kasserine area

Beautiful mountain range

Fence of prickly pear!

We finally made our way into El-Kef.  We wanted to find gas and fill up the car, but the only gas station we could find didn’t have gasoline – go figure, so we’ll have to do that tomorrow!  Robert brilliantly navigated us to the inn – it’s definitely not a hotel, and we parked in a blank space immediately in front.  A nice man let us in and showed us two rooms.  One was one flight up and the other was four … thinking that R might not like 4 flights with suitcases up a winding staircase, I wisely took the one flight … it’s fine, but really – basic, I guess is the word!  No shower curtain/door/anything, for instance!  Oh boy!

 

Our room at Dar Saida

We’re in and settled and have decided that we will stay tonight and then hit the two main Roman sites that we wanted to see (Dougga and Bulla Regia) and then head back into Tunis for two nights rather than one.  That way, we will at least be assured of a shower curtain!

 

So, now needing to find out where in the world we’re going to get something to eat – and can only imagine what it will be!  

 

More later!

m

xxx

 

Well, we just got back from a wonderful dinner, although what exactly we had, I’m just not sure!  Inquired of the gentleman in charge the name of the restaurant; Le Petit Bateau.  (The Little Boat). I asked for directions, and was directed to my phone!  Makes sense.  Turns out, it takes 12 minutes to walk, 2 by car … and there ain’t no way, I’m moving that car tonight.  So … taxi!  The nice man walked us to the nearby main street and voila! Taxi in seconds!  Truly, this is a country that runs on taxi as they are EVERYWHERE you want to be!

 

In just a few minutes we were dropped off in front of a row of restaurants/bars/lounges.  The first one we entered wasn’t the right one; we were one away!  Into Le Petit Bateau, and no one else was there; just three ladies talking.  Motioned to seat ourselves wherever, which we did, and were given a menu.  The menu was in French and had some interesting choices.  I decided I wanted pizza, as our Brandt guide said it was the best place in town, and made great pizza.  Well, a rather surly waitress came and told us that pizza wasn’t available!  Surprise!  And, most other things on the menu!  So, I ordered their chicken.  R ordered their pasta with four cheeses, which surprisingly was available.  Also, a bottle of water (sparkling apparently unavailable also).

 

That’s when the surprises really started happening – and all good, seriously!  One of the best meals we have had yet!  First we each received bowls of good vegetable soup – it was really yummy, along with baguette.  It had been a long time since breakfast (it was about 4 pm) and I hadn’t had a big meal this morning, so I really was hungry!  Then, we each got plates of three salads!  One was a spicy eggplant salad, one was a tomato, onion and tuna salad, and the third was lettuce, tomatoes and onion.  The eggplant and the tuna salads were fabulous!  From there, we got our meals!  First, R’s four cheese pasta – excellent!  And then my chicken leg or part or something, with a large quantity of couscous with chickpeas.  Oh my!  And finally, just as we were finishing all of this, we had two vegetable bricks put down in front of us!  (Basically phyllo dough stuffed with veggies and then deep fried!)  Fabulous!  And, to round things off, very sweet mint tea!

 

Excellent soup!

Fabulous salads!

R's four cheese pasta

My chicken with couscous and chickpeas

Our "bricks" veggie filled

An interior shot of Le Petit Bateau

VERY sweet mint tea!

Couldn’t believe it!  And all for the price of 40 Dinar – or $13.57 – for the entire meal – for two!  But everything was so tastiful, that I could definitely do without the pizza!  

 

Caught a taxi back to the Dar and now we’re in for the night.  Actually, as the Mora didn’t start serving dinner until 7, it’s kind of nice being able to get posted and to bed a bit earlier!  We’ll be up and out fairly early tomorrow, as our plan is to go first to the Roman site at Bulla Regia, and from there work our way to Dougga (also Roman) and then Tunis.  

 

So love to all from the true hinterlands of Tunisia – something like 19 km from the Algerian border!

 

m

xxx