Fall Break, Exploring Southern Tunisia - Exploring Douiret, Oct, 2014

Exploring the hillside around our hotel in Douiret

After we explored the crumbling ruins around us, we then ventured up to the top of the hill where you could see more of the ancient ruins of this town.  The night before, we met the only other guest in the hotel.  He was a Canadian and spoke fluent French and some English.  He was traveling and studying various cave dwellings as he has a B&B in Canada that is similar.  We quickly adopted him as our tour guide, poor guy.  He had walked up to the top the day before.  He told us that the storage areas on the top of the hill were where the majority of valuable items were stored.  That way, it was easier to defend against thieves since it was more difficult for an unknown person to make it all the way to the top without detection.  Makes sense since they were not concerned with views back then!

The adventure begins to the top of the hill!

Hope that there are no earthquakes now!

Stones used to grind some type of food.

A storm is coming in.  Not just dust either.

They kept track of something here on this wall.

Heading back down the hill.

Fall Break, Exploring Southern Tunisia - Exploring Douiret, Oct, 2014

Exploring the hillside around our hotel in Douiret

We woke early the next morning.  Not only to catch the views of the sun rising, but also to get a start before the heat.  We planned on exploring the crumbling ruins around us and then climbing up to the top of the hill where you could see the ancient ruins of the village.  The night before, we met the only other guest in the hotel.  He was a Canadian and spoke fluent French and some English.  He was traveling and studying various cave dwellings as he has a B&B in Canada that is similar.  We quickly adopted him as our tour guide, poor guy.

Come on everyone, it is time to explore!

The views are lovely!

There were many other small courtyards, just like the one
we were staying in.  Most of them crumbling and unfinished.

This was a courtyard that obviously someone was working on.

All across the hillside, you could see caves.
All uninhabited.

Hundreds, if not thousands of people lived year for centuries.  Until 1969, when the rains destroyed this area.

                                           

Just beautiful!

Time for a little breakfast before we set out to climb up to the top of the hill.