Our last day in Tozeur was also rich with excitement. We hired a driver to take us into the Sahara with a 4x4, since our car could not have made it. We drove extensively through unmarked sandy roads through occasional Bedouin villages, and then we spotted a monstrosity, like a cathedral in the desert, out of nowhere. We couldn’t tell what it was, then our driver told us we were seeing the rear of a movie set.
We drove to the front and it looked amazing, a door to the desert; It was immense. Unfortunately, Mohamed did not know what movie it was made for, but he did say it was recent, within the last decade at least. I would love to know if anyone recognizes it.
Do you recognize the movie? Or maybe was it a series?
Mohamed is a gentleman of few words, in his sixties. He is not a guide, he is a driver. He knows places, but not necessarily history or geology, although he did say that all those shining specks in the sand were small pieces of Micah.
This area is dotted with large dry lakes. I assume they dried up in very recent geological times, because as you walk closer to the center, the topsoil looks dry but is actually muddy, quicksand-like, under a strata of dried mud. It will drag you down.
Mohamed surprised us by driving the vehicle with the left tires on the edge of the road and the right side along the base of steep hills. It scared the crap out of us. Thought we were going to capsize. We did it a few times. We spent a good chunk of time driving up and over large dunes. It was quite fun, actually.
Suddenly, we stopped at the edge of a high cliff. When we got out of the car we immediately saw a small city below. Tattoine, for Star Wars fans. It was the movie set, not a replica, in an area called Moz Espa! It was left there, in the middle of the desert after filming was done. No striking needed. It looked amazing.
Walking around the “base” was cool. I mean, Star Wars, c’mon. I can see why they filmed it here, no light pollution, no wires, no towns, nothing strictly earthly, let's say. A small number of Bedouins have set up a few rickety tables selling trinkets, mostly. None are pushing anything.
We drove up another high dune and this time, we parked it there to watch the sunset, which was yet another dud, but from here a good sunset would be majestic.
On the way back, a herd of at least 100 camels were walking along the road.
Quite the sight. And quite the day. Time for bed.
May the force be with you.
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