After three incredibly enjoyable months, it’s time for a new adventure. Tunisia has truly surprised us, and we’ve met some of the kindest people since we started our travels nearly two years ago. From market traders and cab drivers to fishermen and our wonderful hosts, everyone has warmly welcomed us into their country. It’s difficult to pick a favorite part of Tunisia, but I think the remote and arid beauty of the southwest, around the desert, stands out the most.
Mo On Saturday, June 17th, I put together an ambitious travel plan to leave Tunisia. If we missed any flights, we’d be stuck with our car and accommodation left waiting. Since we were staying in a remote location quite far from the airport, there is always the doubt of will the driver over sleep. However, my fears were unfounded as he arrived early. So, at 5:15 am, we set off for the airport, and just over an hour later, we arrived for a flight scheduled to depart at 7:45 am and arrive in Tunis an hour later.
After checking ourselves in and wondering if we would see our luggage for a while, as there was a 45-minute window for loading our luggage and checking in. We had prepared for the worst by packing our carry-ons with essential items. The flight departed just after 8:00 am and landed in Tunis at 9:05 am, giving us a 25-minute window to catch our next flight to Palermo.
Fortunately, we were seated next to the exit, we quickly grabbed our cases and were the first to disembark. As we reached the bottom of the stairs, I found out from the attendant that the same plane was heading to Palermo, which was a relief. However, even though we were already checked in, we had to go back through the departure hall to get our passports stamped before reboarding the plane. Thankfully, everyone in the airport was understanding and allowed us to push in at the front of every line. We eventually reached the gate at 9:35 am, where they had held the plane for us. Drenched in sweat and filled with adrenaline, we flopped into our seats—phew!
We landed in Palermo just before midday and were relieved to see our two suitcases, which were the first to arrive on the baggage belt. Renting the car proved to be a bit more challenging, but after some careful negotiation, we eventually got what we had paid for and hit the road to drive from Palermo to Santa Maria del Focallo, embarking on a 300km journey through the incredibly mountainous and green terrain—a complete contrast from what we had become accustomed to. I should have taken more pictures, but there weren’t many places to pull over, and honestly, we needed to meet our host to ensure we could get into the villa. So, after a five-hour drive through breathtaking landscapes, we finally arrived around 7 pm, utterly exhausted but relieved to have made it here.
Dream Chasers 