Up early to tour and the guide leads us back through our now well known narrow passages between the riads to the main road. We pile into the van and so begin a 400 km journey. . With the guide doing his duty of imparting information and Susie asking every question in the world we cover off on the geography, sociology, economy, history, relationships, welfare and flora and fauna of North Africa. Out of the city and we speed (read between the lines - mad cr...

Its in the evening - we are on the riad roof top - all blue green tiles and iron work fencing contemplating the end of another day. Its 8.45pm, the sun just setting over the horizon and the calls to prayer coming from all parts of the city - echoing amongst the buildings. Swallows are circling, cheeping and diving in the balmy breeze. It was a false start to the morning - waiting for a "tour" that never turned up had us breathing a sigh of relief as we relaxe...

The airline control tower people went on strike. Of all people and all days to unite for a common cause. Of course all we cared about was catching our flight successfully and pondered who was filling in the the control tower people. The flight was delayed but after just a short while we boarded and over 3 hours flew over the cities that we just read about at home. The flight hit some turbulence as the heat rose from the brown earth finally we made a bouncy landin...