Tozeur: Lost in the Sahara's Weirdest Oasis
okay so i'm sitting in this dusty little cafe in tozeur, tunisia, and i'm pretty sure i've lost my mind. the guy next to me keeps talking about "the gate of the desert" like it's some kind of mystical portal, and honestly? i'm starting to believe him. the weather's doing that thing where it feels like it's mocking you-says 7.53°c but feels like 3.21°c. classic desert trickery.
anyway, i came here because i heard rumors about these weird palm groves that look like they were designed by aliens. *someone told me that if you wander deep enough, you'll find a hidden lake that only appears at sunset. i haven't found it yet, but i did find a guy selling camel-shaped keychains who swears he's seen it. take that as you will.
overheard in the market: "the best dates in the world are here, but only if you know which stall to ask." i asked three people and got three different answers. i'm still date-less but culturally enriched.
if you get bored, nefta and gabès are just a short drive away, though honestly, i'm not sure why you'd want to leave. tozeur's got this weird energy-part oasis, part mirage, part whatever the opposite of a tourist trap is.
i just checked and it's 7.53°c there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. pack layers, or don't-i'm not your mom.
pro-tip:* don't trust the guy selling "authentic" desert maps. they're just old pizza boxes with scribbles. but do trust the old woman at the corner shop who'll sell you a thermos of mint tea for next to nothing. she's seen things.
check out tripadvisor for more Sahara shenanigans, or just wander until you find something that makes you question reality. that's what i'm doing.
You might also be interested in:
- https://votoris.com/post/frozen-coffee-chaos-in-tyrnavos-a-snobs-unlikely-journey
- https://votoris.com/post/so-you-need-a-doctor-in-brazzaville-good-luck-with-that
- https://votoris.com/post/boston-blues-beanpot-brews-a-drummers-dizzying-dispatch
- https://votoris.com/post/drum-circles-and-empanadas-a-drummers-take-on-buenos-aires
- https://votoris.com/post/why-kathmandu-is-ranked-one-of-the-fastest-growing-cities-and-why-that-scares-me