Saturday 1 November: M’Goun Valley

A peaceful day around the gite/hotel today. After breakfast we took a gentle 3.5hr walk around the village and surrounding area with a local guide, Mohammed. It was sensationally beautiful. We’ve been absolutely blessed with the weather we’ve had all trip and today was no exception, perhaps a bit warm for those not used to heat though (23C/74F but felt warmer).

After a delicious lunch of Berber omelette and salads it was down time until the cooking class this evening. First, tajines with Hossain and then aghrom bread with Biya.

Over dinner, Youssef shared some more of his Muslim beliefs and we watched a scene from a movie called “The Message“ where Muslim refugees sought refuge in Abyssinia and the scene is where they appealed to the Christian ruler Al-Najashi for asylum based on their shared beliefs.

The terrace early this morning
Breakfast

Off on the walk with Mohammed around the town (population: ~2400)

The primary school
The lettering on the sign… Arabic, Berber then French
Door
Caper bush
Handmade adobe bricks, still used extensively
Huge scarab! About 3”/7cm long!
Rosemary
Adobe construction
Washing being done below
Bamboo fencing
Natural curved formations
Alfalfa is passage, drying for winter fodder for animals
Berber flag: blue sky, green land, yellow desert, free man symbol

Back at the hotel…

In the dining room/lounge
Lunch: Berber omelette and salads
Berber omelette (precursor to shakshuka)
Hossain making lamb and vegetable tajines for dinner
Helping hands… and a vege version
Making Aghrom bread with Biya
Afternoon tea with strong pennyroyal mint tea
Cooking the bread with Biya
The final product that was served with dinner (all six)
Dinner
With Chilean Alpaca wine
The moon tonight
PS After extensive research we have decided this is the best brand of Moroccan chocolate

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