Morocco
Djemmaa el-Fna, Marrakesh
This is one corner of the large square in the centre of Marrakesh.
At night the snake charmers are replaced by musicians, and half the square is filled with food stalls, resulting in a heady mixture of sights, sounds, and smells unchanged for hundreds of years.
Goats up a tree!
Yes, they actually climb those spiky argane trees to get at the nuts.
Road to Tafraoute
Valley on the edge of the Souss plains south-west of Taroudant.
Me and a Ksar
This is one of the (fortunately few) times I couldn’t help behaving like a tourist.
The Ksar in the background is a small, ancient, fortified village, one of the earliest forms of Berber architecture.
Tagoudicht
The first village in the Anti-Atlas we stayed at.
Friendly Wildlife
On our first evening in Tagoudicht we had a close encounter with a local resident. And what was our first reaction in the face of such danger?
Run… for your cameras!
Jebel Lekst, the ‘Amethyst Mountain’
This was one of the easier moments on our eight-hour “walk” to the top of Jebel Lekst and back (it was more like an eight-hour step class).
The walk to Timertmat
This was in the middle of our epic walk to our second village, Timertmat, on the far side of that mountain on the right.
Timertmat
This was the second village we stayed at. We slept in (or on the roof of) that little building at the bottom of the picture, just right of centre.
One night, on the other side of the dry river bed that runs through the middle of the village, some of us discovered a small gathering of Berber shepherds playing drums and a flute. After a few Salaams (greetings) we were welcomed into the group and were soon dancing and singing with them. A magical experience.
Obligatory Group Shot
From left to right:
(Back) Clare, Sue, Jeremy, Chris, English Jane, Aussie Jane, Nicky, Irish Jane.
(Front) James, Jamie our tour leader, me, Marisa, Darren.
The Three Janes
Affectionately know as Aussie Jane, Irish Jane, and English Jane.
Goodnight Marrakesh
The last night was spent back in Marrakesh.