Fez to Midelt

Today we had a 5 hour drive south into the Middle Atlas to Midelt. First of all we stocked up at a huge supermarket for a picnic lunch, water and snacks. Not forgetting some carrots for the camels which we will meet (and ride!!) tomorrow.

We passed through, and had a coffee stop at an incredible 'Swiss' style village - forget the name and no internet to check- built by the French as a skiing/holiday resort. There's a private school there, a Royal Palace, and a huge stadium and accommodation for athletes training at high altitude. Very well kept and tidy, of course.

We stopped at a local market and had a walk round. I had my camera sitting on my camera bag, with the flip out screen, and just pressed away willy nilly. And I had it on Auto! It's been difficult on Manual settings, moving constantly from bright sunshine to deep shade, so I was quite pleased with the Auto results. They were selling everything. The colours were amazing.

Our treat today was eating our picnic lunch in a Berber tent! Abdou stopped the bus when he saw a tent quite near the road, popped in and asked if we could join them. I (as the old granny with the bung knees) got the only stool in the tent, as there is no way I can sit cross legged on the floor! The Berber wife made us tea (with loads of sugar of course) and then the husband came home with the week's market shopping. We all gave the children some wee presents (already bought at the supermarket on Abdou's instructions) and left a few Dirhams for the tea. So I'm thinking that's a good ploy to pitch the tent quite near the road, awaiting tourists.

Another drive and as we neared tonight's destination, we were dropped off for a walk through the countryside and past a couple of villages, where the locals must have thought we were a strange sight indeed. A couple of Berber women were going the same way, and so I got a shot of them. The place is full of apple blossom - this area is famous for apples.

The bus then met the lazy/incapable ones and took us to the hotel, out in the middle of nowhere, while the others had another hour's walk up over the hills.

Just had a Berber omelette chopped veges and spices with a couple of eggs plopped in and cooked in a tagine. Not an omelette as we know one, but tasty nonetheless. Then we had a rowdy Berber card game involving actions and fast reactions. I was hopeless. I was never much good at snap...

Did I mention sleeping in a tent in the desert tomorrow?

Did I mention large hairy animals as transport?

The excitement continues...