AMAZING MOROCCO

Morocco was so much more than I expected.  I certainly hadn't expected to fall in love with the place.   I came to dance at La Maison Anglaise in Taroudant, because I could combine it with a visit to my cousin Sue who lives by the sea in Agadir.

The varieties of dates and spices in the souks were amazing.

The week of circle dancing just flew by.  We danced on the roof terrace each morning before breakfast. and again after dinner.  We visited the local hammam, where we were washed and scrubbed clean.  The locals go there once a week and it is a very social place.  We also had some very interesting cultural experiences up in the High Atlas Mountains.

Sunrise by the mosque, view from the roof terrace as we started dancing at 7.45am

Dancing on the roof terrace overlooking the town

More dancing on the roof terrace after dinner as the sun sets over the mountains

The Women's Berber Band came to entertain us one evening with their very loud percussion playing and crazy rhythms.  It was great fun and they got us up to dance with them.

More delights in the souk

The food at La Maison Anglaise, as everywhere else, was delicious

Anyone for a gorgeous lamp.  Morocco is a place to come with a full wallet and an empty suitcase

 

Visiting the Berber villages up in the High Atlas Mountains was like stepping back 100 years, apart from the fact that many people now have electricity.  The women spend their spare time cracking argan nuts to earn a little money.  The nuts are then processed in co-operatives to produce argan oil, very good for skin, hair, cooking.  Nothing goes to waste.  The outer husks are fed to the animals.  The hard inner husks are used for fuel.

Village street in the High Atlas Mountains

The original houses here are made of rammed earth, which keeps the inside warm in winter and cool in summer.  There were extensive floods in the area a few years ago with many houses badly damaged.  Repairs have been made using concrete blocks.  Although these give added strength, the insulation is very poor.

We went for a 4km walk in the High Atlas Mountains.  I was fascinated by the aquaduct that the local villagers had built, half way up the cliff, to share water between villages. There are some springs in the area, but the annual rainfall has fallen to around 150mm per annum.

Irrigated fields with the mountains in the background.  We saw pumpkin, maize, lucerne and tomatoes growing.  The work is done by hand, or with the help of animals. Crops are fertilized with animal manure.  The government gives subsidies to put in trickle irrigation, saving water instead of using flood irrigation.

Prickly pears grow very well and are seen for sale on the market stalls

Goats love the argan trees, but over-grazing has destroyed much of the argan forest.  The goatherds allow the goats to graze the trees as there is not much else for them to eat in many areas.

I had a day trip to Marrakech, which wasn't nearly enough to see all the sights.  But I got a taste and would love to come back and see and learn more.  These wonderful mosaics and carved stone were in one of the minor palaces.

More mosaic work and stained glass in Marrakech

My last week in Morocoo was spent in Agadir, staying with my cousin and her little dog Bertie.  We had long walks on the beach every morning.  The temperature was just perfect, and a pleasant relief from inland where it had been very hot

I will be sorry to leave Morocco and hope to come back to see more some day.