Another Yummy breakfast with Moroccan crepes and we’re off again. Today is a drive through the high Atlas mountains and the Valley of Ouirgane. Driving in Morocco is an experience in itself. When going around a roundabout, the cars entering have the right of way. And in some places, there are traffic lights in the circle. Totally wacked. As Ahmed explains, “ Brits drive on the left, the rest of Europe drives on the right. Moroccans drive down the middle.” And he was so right! The only other place I have seen that is worse is Athens. I was praying there because we were in cabs. At least here we had Abdul and boy did that make a difference. An excellent driver can definitely take away a lot of stress. So, we negotiate the twists and turns up to Kasbah Tamadot, Sir Richard Branson’s Moroccan retreat. Time for a spot of tea and a snack. Can you say luxurious? Really over the top and peaceful, but not as colorful as the medina.
We continued for a nice ride through the High Atlas Mountains. We drove through fields of wheat being harvested by hand. We drove by camels walking in the road. We drove for an hour without seeing another car. After this lovely ride we went to a great little french place for lunch back in Marrakech. I wish I could remember the name or even where it was but it was very good. It has a really nice outside patio with chickens, and peahens roaming the grounds. After lunch was a stop a coop of artisans for a look at the antiquities. Their antique shops are more like museums! I saw a couple of rifles that I’m still kicking myself for not getting. I would have found a place to put them. Really I would. Then a quick stop at a spice shop to pick up some spices. Ahmed says the stuff you see while you walk around is more “flavorful” because it is exposed to all the car exhaust and passersby so he’d rather we buy from a shop that he frequents. By the time we get back to the Riad, we’re not only beat, we not really hungry. We ask Mustafa, the guy at the front desk if there is a good pizza place around. Not only does he produce a menu, he goes to pick it up for us. Sometime, there really is nothing better than a light dinner in.