26/04/14 - 01/05/14 Morocco (part 2)

                  A magnificent gate at the entrance to Midelt in the High Atlas Mountains

   

                            The oasis in Gorges du Ziz north of Merzouga

      Our early morning goat herder. She was riding the donkey which I’m sure weighed less than her!

                       The central mountain range in Morocco or High Atlas are the most rugged and highest of the three ranges rising to North Africa’s highest point, Jebel Toubkal at 4167m.

  This minor road that we took was in places only just …?…… enough to get through but the scenery was stunning and became one of our ‘memorable’ drives

          

1                     Women washing in a stream. They were always keen to get any old clothes that we could spare….

                   ……while kids would take anything going

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                               At 2200m we were just below the snow line and met these goat herders. The one on the left showed me his feet both of which were badly frostbitten – not surprising when you are only wearing plastic shoes in snow country. He would very soon need to have toe and partial feet amputations.  Not a good outcome for a goat herder

                  We drove through an extensive forest of giant cedar trees, a very impressive area so…..

                          ……we made camp amongst the giants for the night……

                   …….the next day down to a lower altitude after a memorable drive

                      Two locals one of whom was complaining of tooth ache. I offered to pull it out with my pliers but he        preferred the second option of some Panadol!

                The mausoleum in the Mecknes medina of Moulay Ismail who was one of Morocco’s greatest rulers. In the 17^th century he succeeded in consolidating many of the tribes and keeping foreign powers at bay

    

                               Our horse and carriage tour of the city with!….. English speaking guide…?

                   A typical sight in Morocco, tea houses full of men and not a woman in sight. Where are the women.........?






                    …….. all at work.  Maybe that’s why in many cases things haven’t changed in over 2000 years

                Volubilis just north of Meknes was one of the Roman Empires famous cities and its most remote.  Annexed by Rome in AD40 and used to produce grain and olives for Rome. It lies in one of Morocco’s most fertile and productive areas. At its peak it housed up to 20,000 people but now…..

                     …….is home to one stork and…….






                 ......two chicks

             One of 68 olive presses that have been uncovered in the area

1                     The site contains some of the best mosaics from ancient Rome

                    Not again! Another broken spring. This time a minor bottom leaf and we were able to repair it using a spare leaf

                              Found a spring repair works in Fes; four guys in the dirt, started at 4 and finished at 7; but all wanted to have their photo taken.  AUD180 later we drove off again. However we need to look at the technical issues of this as this is not the first spring to break and no it’s not the driver either

                             The lane ways of the medinas and souks are endless and can absorb you for hours

1                     The old Caravan Sarai (spelling?) or guest house going back to the days of the camel caravans is now a museum with beautiful cedar timber work

                                 You can’t escape coming to these countries and not have an encounter with the carpet sellers

                     Marina tried her hand at weaving but gave up after a couple of minutes. Not enough to make even a small carpet which takes around a month for 1m square

                             Some of the alleys are narrow.  Good enough reason to leave Roadee on the outside!

                    Fes is known for its ancient tanneries which date back around 2000 years. The process has not changed in all that time but produces some of the world’s best goat leather….

                            …..Looking down on the dyeing process is like looking back into medieval times. It’s said that the life expectancy in this process is 55. I’m not surprised!