--- May 06,
1997---
We were now in the area of Tunisia
called the Ksour, whose beauties we would spend the entire day
exploring. "Ksour" is the word used to designate a group of
"ksar", and a ksar is a fortress-like construction with multiple
small rooms, used to store grain and food reserves during the Arab
invasions. To make them difficult to reach, most of the ksar were
built in the mountains. To reach these isolated ruins meant lots
of hiking. But it was well worth the effort.
The ksar have all been long abandoned, and time hasn't been
exactly kind to them. But that's part of their charm: they all
look like ancient towns where weird Tatooine species once lived.
And there was a quietness to them that was very soothing.
Ksar Haddada really looked like it was part of Tatooine. The
arches and white structures so characteristic of Mos Eisley (and
the Lar's Homestead) were everywhere around us, and in pretty good
shape too, since this ksar has been transformed into a hotel, and
is thus taken care of.
But the most spectacular of them all was the one near Chenini,
built like a castle on the mountainside, with exterior stairs and
balconies. David actually forgot his glasses there, in the
restaurant where we had lunch, but of course we didn't realize it
until we were back at our hotel, just about ready to go to bed.
Going back to fetch them would be an adventure in itself... but
that's part of day 5.
Francis Lalumiere - Gold
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