Mistifying, mountainous Morocco

We left Fes early this morning for the 350km drive through the Atlas mountains to the southern town of Er Rachidia. As we began the long climb up into the mountains we encountered a heavy mist that persisted for quite some time, then torrential rain that forced us, at one stage, to drive through some minor flash-flooding. (This resulted in a rock becoming firmly lodged between two of the back tyres, requiring John to provide umbrella shelter while Rashid, our driver and Tariq, our Moroccan guide spent fifteen minutes dislodging it with a tyre lever and a large rock – applause all round for our collective efforts). We stopped at the small towns of Ifrane, which is in the heart of the snow-fields and displays quaint, Swiss-style houses, and then Azrou, another mountain town with a small medina. We stopped for a “picnic” lunch of Moroccan rolls filled with tuna, tomato and cheese, prepared by host Richard, on the verandah of a lovely restaurant containing a mosaic fountain similar to those we saw being made in Fes (photo opportunity).

Then down the other side of the mountain and through the starkly beautiful landscape of granite mountains and plains, occasionally passing a Bedouin nomad family’s campsite, before arriving at our hotel on the outskirts of Er Rachidia. The Auberge Tinit is an expansive mud-brick building; we have a large room and a magnificent shower, and the hotel boasts a large swimming pool that we have already enjoyed. Dinner tonight in the hotel restaurant.

Tomorrow: continue south towards the Sahara and our camel ride!