Morocco - Ouzoud Falls

We didn't all go on this excursion, the group split up for a variety of activities. Heather and Tim, Mark, Dave and I, were down early for breakfast at 6:15 to leave by 7am. I don't have a lot of pictures of the ride to the falls as we were speeding along so here are some impressions.

Cloud cover off and on all day but a very comfortable temperature.

 It didn't take long to get out of Marrakech and we went through an area, full of cranes and heavy machinery as there is a massive construction push ahead of hosting the next FIFA World Cup. Then we were into agriculture - mostly open scrubby fields that seemed to be delineated by either piles of stones or a raised dirt border. Some crops in the ground and people in the fields tending or harvesting. Flocks of sheep, loose, with a shepherd. These were rather gangly looking sheep and did not have a lot of wool on them. Lots of stray dogs. Chickens around the homes. As we got closer to the Atlas Mountains, into the foothills there was less agriculture though one area is know for its bee hives due to the prevalence of a particular plant. 

We learned that there had been about 9 years of drought and Morocco had had to import grain from Canada (they eat a lot of bread here) then there was "a miracle" and they got substantial rain over the last couple of years and the agriculture rebounded. 

These large irrigation pipes were beside some of the roads with smaller pipes stretching off into the fields.

 There was the usual variety of vehicular and animal traffic and we saw a lot of donkeys and mules tethered. The kids were going to school, congregating at intersections to be picked up by bus or biking. Abdellah explained that half of the kids go to school in the morning and the other half in the afternoon. Public education is free up to and including University. Unemployment in the country is at about 8%. Some of the kids wore white lab coats, perhaps a form of uniform. There were lots of people about, walking, on bicycles, standing around in groups both in the communities and out in the countryside.

We stopped for a washroom break after about an hour and a half at a gas station and were able to also get a coffee.

The roads had been straight and up to 4 lanes in places but once we were in the hills, although still in good shape they were windyer, steeper and sometimes we got stuck behind slower vehicles.

 

Because we had left early we were just the second tourist van into the parking area and there were very few people around.

We were above the falls where the river makes its way around rocks and islands and where it powered grain grinding mills in the past.

It was very picturesque and refreshing, after nearly 3 hours in the van.

We all made our way, over little bridges to be able to see down into the gorge

and further along to be able to see the top of the falls

and across to the 5 star hotel. At this point Helen turned back, not sure she could manage the climb down or back up and she waited for us at the restaurant where we would eat lunch.

As we started down the trail there was a man feeding peanuts to a Macaque monkey. They live here in the olive and carob forests.

A family of them by the trail.

The man pushed peanuts into my hand and before I knew it, like it or not, I was feeding the monkey. Photo by Heather.

Not into peanuts another family group was eating berries.

Another just hanging out. Photo by Mark.

The trail down was mostly packed clay with steps formed using roots. You had to watch the, sometimes, uneven footing but overall it wasn't difficult.

Every now and then there were small stalls selling souvenirs or soft drinks. 

Supplies delivered by donkey. Donkey rides up were also on offer.

Mostly shaded we could catch glimpses, between the trees, of the falls,

the pools below and

the sides

of the canyon.

The last bit was steep and had a rather rickety railing. Photo by Mark.

Sand bag dams helped maintain the pool depth

for the boats that took tourists for a short ride up to the falls.

Off we went

with Dave opting to skip the excursion. Photo by Mark.

We were rowed up to the base of the falls and then

there were the photo opportunities.

Dave watching from the shore and offering a bribe to the pilot, to take us under the falls.

Only about 15 minutes but such fun.

We docked on the opposite shore

and by now the crowds were catching up

with 3 boats now jockeying for positions below the falls.

 Now it was the tough climb back up. The stairs were tile and pretty regular, weaving back and forth past souvenir stalls and restaurants. Periodically a donkey and owner waiting to offer a ride. I was glad I had my stick and stopped every so often to get my heart rate back down. A couple of stall keepers smiled and said "lentemente" (slowly, in French). 

We found Helen waiting at the restaurant where we then had lunch, starting with this cold salad of rice, potato, carrots, beets and cucumber.

 

Tim, Heather and I had couscous and veg. Mark, Dave and Helen had chicken skewers and fries. Heather insisted that the cats get some chicken and this one had Mark's number.

Dessert was a tray of cookies left at the table.

Tangine being cooked over individual charcoal coals and

the chicken on a grill.

A children's area on the way back to the car park, which was now full of vans and buses.

This is the Moroccan flag.  On the ride back Abdellah, who is Berber, showed us the Berber flag. Which has stripes, of blue (representing the surrounding seas), green (representing the northern area) and yellow (representing the dessert) with a symbol for peace in red over the 3.

We were tired and some of us napped on the way back.

We were stopped on 3 occasions at roadside police checks. The van had a machine above the front window that looked like a CD player. From it the driver would take a paper disk and hand it to the officer. It contained information related to the vehicle, the driver and from it the officer could tell if we had been speeding, which would have resulted in a fine or a suspension of the driver. Every vehicle for 8 passengers or more has one of these devices.

We were back at the Riad with time for a shower before heading out as a group for our last dinner together. 4 will be going home tomorrow and one, Joe, will join us for the coastal part of our tour.

Morocco, Marrakech - Tanjia lunch

But before picking up our Tanjia

 

we made our way

(I got yelled at by the shop keeper for taking pictures of these baklava type desserts)

to a traditional spice shop

where we learned about the various Moroccan spices, teas and lotions and what medicinal benefits they had.

We then had the opportunity to buy some.

We went down into the oven area to pick up our Tanjias

seeing the fire and

the other things they were cooking.

We carried the little pots through the streets

to the Riad where we had made them. They also served us Moroccan salad,

a slightly warm carrot salad (we thought it also had honey, cinnamon, walnuts and something to give it a very slight kick)

There was also a hot white been casserole

and fresh baked, warm, bread.

We shook the Tanjia pots to mix the contents and then tipped them out on the dishes.

Mine was OK....the garlic cooked like that was delicious but the lemon over powered the beans and there was too much oil in it. If you made it regularly you would get the proportions to your own taste.

A few stayed to get a Henna tattoo, Mark and Dave went looking for ice cream and I headed back to the Riad.

Might be Black Redstarts.

The driver yelled at me for taking this picture. I think he wanted money. I need to start carrying some small change for these eventualities.

Back at the Riad I lay down for a bit and then started in on the blog.

Cell towers "disguised" as palm trees. I had a glass of wine on the rooftop and then got back to blogging

while the others went out to dinner. I was still full from lunch.