Tunisia - Sahara Festival in Douz: second attempt

After a rest day and a relaxing, refreshing, regenerating time in camp, we venture a second attempt at the festival.

We have a leisurely breakfast (it's Christmas Eve, I forgot!) and are driven into town. We refresh ourselves with Coke and freshly squeezed orange juice (the oranges here are a real hit!) and stroll through the hustle and bustle of the market. 

But it's about time, because at half past two the spectacle begins. We walk along the street in the (completely crazy) hope of catching an empty taxi. Eventually, a larger shared taxi stops, actually already full, everyone slides together a bit and takes us with it. The fact that we don't even have to pay afterwards, "Welcome to Tunisia, thank you for visiting our festival!" almost seems to be a programme. But we are the tourists who want to bring money into the country.

At the festival, it's Ramba-Zamba hustle and bustle. We don't know whether we are more fascinated by the hustle and bustle on the grandstand, on the desert field or rather "backstage", i.e. where the Berbers have set up their tents and offer all kinds of things. 

The sun is blazing, my scarf becomes a headscarf and because it's Christmas, Gerd gives me a henna tattoo (actually I wanted a camel, but henna is okay now).

After about two hours, it's enough for us today too, we find a taxi and roll home to our Felix. Because here the fragrant red cabbage is waiting and we celebrate a cosy Christmas Eve.

Outside, in front of our van door, a campfire is spontaneously lit and all the Travellers come out of their campers, vans and expedition vehicles and move their chairs closer to the fire and everyone tells a little about themselves. Much later, a beautiful, magical and peaceful evening comes to an end. 

The stars twinkle through the skylight (says Gerd, I don't have my glasses on in bed) and you really can't get more romantic than that today.

Thank you, you wonderful life!

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Merci for "travelling with us

We are thinking about taking another break from travelling in the summer and visiting our families in Germany and Switzerland. One of the ideas is to organise a Lecture about our long journey to the Persian Gulf to prepare. If you would like to, what would interest you the most? We will also tell stories here that don't find a place here on the blog. We're thinking of the Bern and Berlin area - simply because we have family there. But other places are also conceivable. Feel free to write to us.

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