Friday 8 March – Taroudant to Aourir

Taroudant to Aourir - 67 miles

Although it was quiet overnight, the city traffic started early so we were a little disturbed but rose around our normal time. Due to a miscalculation we didn't have much breakfast but managed before our friends turned up. Our plans had gone a little awry but in the end we decided to at least go have a look at the two souks and the two squares which our Rough Guide said were worth a visit.

June and Derek went on ahead whilst we finished off then set out to see the sights, leaving Jamie in a well-ventilated and shaded van. Being all within impressive walls, the town is actually not all that big but of course has many streets and alleys leading everywhere but with the help of friendly locals, wanting “to practice their English”, we found first the Berber then the Arab souk. Both were really much like any other souk we've visited but as today was Friday, the Muslim holy day, many of the stalls were closed. We did, however find a stall selling something we had been looking for and made a good purchase, although we admit our bargaining skills aren't really any match for the Arabs!

Decorated wooden gate to Kasbah

Walls close to Kasbah

Bab Al Kasbah

Olive Press

We then found our way to Place Assarag, said to be a (much) smaller copy of the more famous Jemmaa el Fna in Marrakesh, checking out the various cafes for our friends, passing several times through the smaller Place Talmoklate and fending off a very friendly but somewhat persistent guy trying, among other things, to sell us a trip by calleche, or horse-drawn trap. Some bread for lunch then back to the van. We also kept walking past the hospital morgue.............!

Having seen all that we wanted, we made tracks for Agadir, using a new fast dual carriageway road along the generally non-descript Souss valley, heading for the large Marjane hypermarket to stock up again. The traffic around Agadir was absolutely chaotic, given that today is supposed to be a holy day, like our Sunday, but thankfully Marjane, like most UK supermarkets, didn't conform to the religious pattern and was fully open.

Once finished there we consulted with our friends and decided to have a look for an apparent campsite they had spotted just north of the city. Unfortunately there was nothing there but our campsite information showed a place a few kilometres inland which we remembered from a much earlier trip so we headed there to find an excellent site, well organised with very good facilities although not the cheapest we've used. Less than half full we found a pleasant pitch which promised good sun so set up, after being conned by the shop owner to buy a big plateful of freshly made vanilla slices - “they'll last 5 days in your fridge”. Not in our fridge they won't.................

We'll stay a few days and get caught up with things, like washing and this blog.............