We hired two taxis drivers again who agreed to be tour guides for us for a morning out to the countryside. We were taken up to the mountain area above Hammamet to see the region where the Berbers-- the indigenous people of North Africa--live.
Our taxi drivers explaining the surrounding hillsides.
Small groups of sheep munching on straw and a farmer keeping watch were found frequently along the road, and even in town. This weekend is a big Muslim celebration (El Aid--remembering Abraham's sacrifice) when each family kills a sheep for the family dinner. Our taxi driver said that the sheep is bought just before the holiday and of course people try to get the best price. He showed us the sheep he bought at the Berber family we visited. He paid 300 dinars for his and was very proud of the good price he got (about 150 euros--$200).
Cacti serve as fence rows. These cacti also produce fruit (the orange ends you see) called
les figues de Barbarie--prickly pears. They are very juicy but have an enormous amount of seeds.
The taxi driver's sheep is inside this hut behind Otto. He wanted us all to have a good look at it. The lady, 90 years old, beside Otto is Berber. She had a bluish mark on her forehead indicating which tribe she is from.
The Berber women use mules to go into the village. The men often use a moped to go into town to work in the hotels.
An outdoor oven where the bread is cooked--the fire is in the bottom of the pot and the dough is placed on the inside walls of the pot. It takes about 5 minutes to cook a round bread.
Amongst the very traditional farms, there are scattered on the mountain side villas built by Tunisians or Europeans with lots of money (according to our guide).
We stopped at a Hammam--a public bath where a women quickly applied henna on Anna and Isabelle's hands without mentioning a price. I knew they wouldn't get a better deal in town and was happy to pay the women the 10 dinar (5 euros) she asked for when she was done. It took her about 2 minutes to do each hand.
The girls were told that the designs will last a month.
Our next stop was at a olive oil factory. Green and black olives were getting processed here.
At the end of the various stages, pure green olive oil, which we tasted with some bread. Very fresh and a bit acidic, but good. One liter direct from the grower sells for 10 dinars (5 euros).
Driving back to town, this was a common sight.
Our taxi drivers explaining the surrounding hillsides.
Small groups of sheep munching on straw and a farmer keeping watch were found frequently along the road, and even in town. This weekend is a big Muslim celebration (El Aid--remembering Abraham's sacrifice) when each family kills a sheep for the family dinner. Our taxi driver said that the sheep is bought just before the holiday and of course people try to get the best price. He showed us the sheep he bought at the Berber family we visited. He paid 300 dinars for his and was very proud of the good price he got (about 150 euros--$200).
Cacti serve as fence rows. These cacti also produce fruit (the orange ends you see) called les figues de Barbarie--prickly pears. They are very juicy but have an enormous amount of seeds.
The taxi driver's sheep is inside this hut behind Otto. He wanted us all to have a good look at it. The lady, 90 years old, beside Otto is Berber. She had a bluish mark on her forehead indicating which tribe she is from.
The Berber women use mules to go into the village. The men often use a moped to go into town to work in the hotels.
An outdoor oven where the bread is cooked--the fire is in the bottom of the pot and the dough is placed on the inside walls of the pot. It takes about 5 minutes to cook a round bread.
Amongst the very traditional farms, there are scattered on the mountain side villas built by Tunisians or Europeans with lots of money (according to our guide).
We stopped at a Hammam--a public bath where a women quickly applied henna on Anna and Isabelle's hands without mentioning a price. I knew they wouldn't get a better deal in town and was happy to pay the women the 10 dinar (5 euros) she asked for when she was done. It took her about 2 minutes to do each hand.
The girls were told that the designs will last a month.
Our next stop was at a olive oil factory. Green and black olives were getting processed here.
At the end of the various stages, pure green olive oil, which we tasted with some bread. Very fresh and a bit acidic, but good. One liter direct from the grower sells for 10 dinars (5 euros).
Driving back to town, this was a common sight.
No comments:
Post a Comment