Oh wonderful, wonderful Tafroute

Well, what a absolutely fantastic place Tafroute was, is!

Not only was the drive their spectacular, it was a village nestled in the foothills of the anti-atlas. These mountains are red, golden, yellow, purple magnificent mountains. We ate a lovely flavoursome meal and slept in a hotel that cost a mere £1.30 a night. We instantly met fantastic Hussain whose wise wisdom and storytelling only sealed my love for the place.

We cycled to the Almen valley and I had a wedding in tradition house with Mohammed. We learnt how clever those Berber's are. Living above the animals for heat, and having a shoot direct from the kitchen to the animals, carrying all the vegetable waste. There was the beautiful guests room, which the family never slept in. They preferred to sleep in the hall, saving the best for guest!

Me and Missgohome spent some time scrubbing in the hammam, before the party for the Kings new daughter! We played Jingle Bells to the unsuspecting fantastic Berber musicians, who loved our well acted rendition! (Personally I think the absinthe and mint tea had something to do with it!)

Then finally a day spent walking in the valley of Ait Mansour. Where palm trees, small ponds and rocky mountains made the view. We saw the miles of burnt and black palm trees;

One day a infestation of crickets hit the valley. The elders lit a fire with incense to send the crickets on their way, but just then, a high wind blew up and the fire flew away. Off and off the fire spread burning everything in its path. The Berbers could only scrabble onto the mountains and watch the fire engulf their paradise valley. Finally when the fire had eaten everything it died down, to leave only palm trees living, their trunks scorched and black.

So for a piece of Berber wisdom: 'Slowly, slowly, put the camel in the pot!'

Marrakeshi Madness

Noise, smells, noise, smells, animals, more noise, smells and animals!

Fantastic Marrakech. What an amazing hubbub. The spices and perfumes waft across the whole city. There are cats, monkeys, hedgehogs, more cats, donkeys, snakes, cats still more, tortoise, horses, ...cats, dogs, chameleons, birds, big storks and cats. Acrobats and drummers, story tellers, berber henna ladies (who will attack you until you relent), little boys with pleading eyes, snake charmers, tarot readers and cats. Food stalls with snails, couscous, tajine, bread, soup, omlette, sheeps head (ugg), but no cats on the menu! The men, oh, even hissing sex, sex, sex. What do they think will happen? The daily dose of vitamin c with fresh squeezed orange juice.

It was so hot, about 27. Ohh! After 4 days and a big dose of vomiting lamb and prunes, I was ready for the off. But ohh, wonderful exotic Marrakech.

Now for the south....