LARS HOMESTEAD

MATMATA - HOTEL SIDI-DRISS ------------------------------------------------- I made this trip on friday 29 september. What made this to great is that only 2 weeks ago, the crew left when they filmed for Episode II. Luckily our touroperator held an excursion to Gabes - Matmata. Gabes is just a simple town (with an oasis), Matmata is known as the homeground of the Troglodytes (people who live underground in "cave houses"). Matmata is a very popular tourist attraction. Although the Sidi-Driss was not on the program, I asked our guide if I could (= insisted) visit the Sidi-Driss. He told the driver, so I could finally have some rest in the car when we drove closer to Matmata. The landscape is great. It is not the desert, but it is rather desolate. The troglodytes live in houses who look just like the Lars Homestead in general. One big centercourt, surrounded by small rooms. The entire house is carved into the ground so the people live underground. These people also have television, so they aren't to be called primitive no more. Our driver took off for the Sidi-Driss before lunch. I knew I couldn't take too much time, since the other tourists had to wait for our return. The Sidi-Driss is well known in Matmata and even shown on marks in the mountain town. As you all know, the Sidi-Driss is a real hotel. I found out when I arrived and there were some vendors outside. I went inside and talked to the very friendly owners of the hotel. They said I could take as many photos as I would like and that I had to feel at home. I continued my discovery and saw a courtyard, that was somewhat dissapointing. I could not really compare this with the movie scenes. But a very friendly guy came to me and said "Come see the real locations ...". I had missed a small, primitive sign which said "Star Wars" (drawn in the famous letters). I folowed the sign and saw something amazing ! The entire set of Episode II was there. Mural plating, door decoration, controls for the doors, only the vaporators and the actors were missing ... This part was used as the kitchen of the hotel. There even was a bar named the Star Wars Cantina. I started taking photos so fast, I couldn't remember how many I took in those minutes. When I remember correctly, all these decorations (except some of them) were missing when other fans visited the Sidi-Driss, so I had to take many souvenirs. The guy came back and I asked him some questions. He said that only Lucas, McCallum, Portman and Christensen had been here. He didn't know Christensen's name, so I had to say a few names so he could remember Hayden's. He said he was Australian, but Hayden is Canadian. But I assume it was still Hayden who was there. I wonder where actors like Edgerton (Owen), Piesse (Beru) & Thompson (Cliegg Lars) were ... Or they were there and this guy didn't know who they were, or they simply weren't at Matmata in Tunesia. And indeed, they only left a few weeks ago. The people wanted to show us the rooms of the hotel, but time called for us to return to the car. It was a fast, but a really nice visit to a familiar and soon to be familiar setting. How can you visit Sidi-Driss yourself ? Now that I have been there, I want so give some advise to other fans who want to go there. I suggest that using a car yourself is the best way to go there. You can stay as long as you like after all (not like us). Matmata is well signed (as the tourist attraction). When you venture into the old town of Matmata ask for the Hotel Sidi-Driss. The people should know where it is located. You should not have too many difficulties finding the Sidi-Driss. When you go with other tourists, it seems best to tell the guide where you want to go. I don't think there will be guides who do not want to grant your wishes.