SaharaDay 1 - Today was the start of the trip we'd really been looking forward to. An early pick up had us on the road south. First stop was El Jem which although is only the 6th largest amphitheatre in the world, it is the best preserved. We enjoyed walking around the 30,000 capacity towering relic, even into the rooms below where the lions and gladiators would have been held before making their grand entrance.

Onwards through the endless olive groves it became apparent that olives really are the biggest income source for Tunisians. A brief stop at a cafe at then it's into the Atlas Mountains to the troglodyte houses. We stopped to meet a family still living in the hand carved out caves. Found it amusing that most somehow had electricity and TV reception! Back on the road again but only a short while before a photo opportunity over the hilltops to capture the desert terrain filmed as Star Wars' lunar surface.

Next stop was the first big one for Star Wars fans as it was off to the set of the 1977 original film. The site is now a hotel and restaurant so we stopped here for lunch in a cave dining room then we explored the set taking many snaps to capture the moment.

Back onto the coach for the long journey down into the deep south of the country towards the Sahara. I'm glad I wrapped up as the temperature fell as quickly as the sun. There was plenty of time to get up onto our camels and head across the sand before it fell though. I loved my camel & found it very relaxing plodding across the land. Camels definitely have character and we laughed at the naughty ones, cheeky ones, comical ones & dopey ones!

At long last we reached our stop for the night and whilst others enjoyed the thermal pool (I forgot my cossie!) we headed to the bar. Day 2 was going to be a very early morning so we called it a night early and dropped off in record time exhausted from the day's travels.