However a man arrived on time in a Pajero to collect us and another couple. We headed out of town and first stop was to see the goats that can climb trees!
All animals are grazed
using a shepherd and there are no fences to be seen. So beside the road there were 2 big coach buses stopped and a few cars. The shepherd makes his money by getting a coin to allow people to photograph his animals! I think he is on to a good thing going by the amount of people that stop to watch. It was quite weird watching these goats climb the trees and go out on very narrow branches to get the leaves. Some trees would have 5 or 6 goats in them. .JPG)
Watching the villages go past and looking at the architecture we were amazed to find basically all houses are not finished, the second storey is always incomplete – the reason- if you have a completed house you pay tax!
We stopped at an orange grove for morning tea and could pick the fruit for ourselves -Yum!! Fresh lemons too. Not sure about this and maybe how much you'd have to pay at the end we were reserved.
Taroudant is called ‘mini marrakesh’ a varied town that has a windy medina (the oldest city centre) inside a fortified wall built in the 17th century. I again was astounded with the pollution – the plastic bag has a lot to answer for. The narrow lanes with donkeys carrying the loads to the souk, carts and even horses and buggies clogged the lanes. Shops were nothing more than a hole in a wall. Butchers with meat strung up on display in the blazing sun – live chickens getting their heads chopped off adds to the noise and atmosphere.
Very simple life – back to people taking big sacks of grain to and from the markets. Carts loaded high with fresh produce. Then in amongst this you suddenly see a hole in the wall selling brand new washing machines! Very interesting and words cannot possibly describe the experiences. Amazingly we did see the tourist buses and their guides doing the same tour as us!
We succumbed and bought a traditional berber carpet that has silk in it - hopefully we will find a spot for it at home!
We then continued on to a small village in the Small Atlas Mountains – Tiouit! A much simpler village and houses were shacks that have been straw -clayed on the outside. Small doors leading inside dwellings. On the top of the hill was a restaurant and sure enough the tourist buses were there too. This was our lunch stop – it had a beautiful look over the 7 smaller villages in the valley. It also had an oasis – a palmerie for figs!
We then continued on to a small village in the Small Atlas Mountains – Tiouit! A much simpler village and houses were shacks that have been straw -clayed on the outside. Small doors leading inside dwellings. On the top of the hill was a restaurant and sure enough the tourist buses were there too. This was our lunch stop – it had a beautiful look over the 7 smaller villages in the valley. It also had an oasis – a palmerie for figs!
Unfortunately the camera we bought decided at this point to run out of batteries and no more photos were taken!
Lunch was served in typical low seating couches and stools around a round table. First course was a chicken tajine.
These are served in a ceramic platter that is covered in a cone to keep it hot. Vegetables were also in this ragout type dish. It was very tender and had delicious spices. Next was couscous with lamb and vegetables. Finally we had fresh mandarins to finish. Freshly picked and super sweet!
After lunch was a donkey ride around the palmerai. I must say donkeys are not comfortable to ride at all!
We then headed back home via a different route - I just love looking at all the surrounding areas and seeing children miles away from a town on bikes or a donkey with their back pack on making their way to and from school.
School in Morocco is not compulsory but the new King is going to make it compulsory within the next few years. School at the moment can be just 2 hours a day with 50 in the class and then other students come, all in a roster basis from 8:00 – 5:00. There are private schools and looking at their buildings thay are incredibly flash compared to everything else around and even to us!
Back at the hotel for drinks and dinner!
Steakhouse РSoup, Tortilla, Pepper steak and saut̩ed potatoes, Chocolate mousse
Show – Lion King
After lunch was a donkey ride around the palmerai. I must say donkeys are not comfortable to ride at all!
We then headed back home via a different route - I just love looking at all the surrounding areas and seeing children miles away from a town on bikes or a donkey with their back pack on making their way to and from school.
School in Morocco is not compulsory but the new King is going to make it compulsory within the next few years. School at the moment can be just 2 hours a day with 50 in the class and then other students come, all in a roster basis from 8:00 – 5:00. There are private schools and looking at their buildings thay are incredibly flash compared to everything else around and even to us!
Back at the hotel for drinks and dinner!
Steakhouse РSoup, Tortilla, Pepper steak and saut̩ed potatoes, Chocolate mousse
Show – Lion King
1 comment:
Still waiting to see your outfit for the Awards Ceremony Tiffany! Come to think of it, you haven't posted your award on your blog yet!
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