Azrou is where we find ourselves. It is the end of May and the weather is gorgeous. Not too hot as we are in the middle Atlas Mountains. Think soft and rolling rather than hard and craggy. High and cool. Lovely. It's also very cherry !
Mmmm, would you like one ? But more of this later as there is some catching up to be done.
We said our goodbyes to Assilah four days ago now, it seems like longer. ! We saw the sea to say our farewells, for a while and breathed in that salty air.
The onshore breezes have kept us cool. Will we miss them ? We shall find out.
Then there is the piece of wood we are having made for the back of the van. To stop us falling out when the doors are open. Not just any old piece of wood, a special piece ! Mustapha is our man and a fine chap he is. At first he is goint to Tanger to get the chosen piece but no luck there, so he, without us knowing, makes us one by hand ! It took two days longer but the wait was worthwhile.
We proudly carried our 'art de bois' through the dusk of Assilah and left the following day. Destination? Sefrou, nestled in the foothills of the Middle Atlas.
We drove through the afternoon so as to be going away from the sun, East. Past Meknes and Fes and on to Sefrou, arriving quite unexpectantly to a festival !! As you do. The town was heaving, mini fest, bands and loudspeakers, police and donkeys ! Absolute chaos! Through the crowds we crawled, everyone smiling, police included. We stopped to chat to one friendly gendarme and asked directions to the campsite. He guided us and off we set up the steep hill to find ??? It closed ! Well the gates were locked and with town heaving and night time coming on, I went in and looked for help.
I found Hamamouch and his family 'guarding' the closed campsite. He's been there four years now ! A lovely man, and we are welcome to stay as long as we don't want any facilities ! Suits us fine.
As the night draws in, we sit and 'relax' as the town booms with music and chanting. It is the annual Sefrou Cherry festival, a big deal in these parts. We fall asleep to the sounds of Morocco.
The following day is eventful as is usual for us.
We start the day with another welding job to be done on the exhaust ! I must get a new one when I get home !!! Hamamouch leads us to a local mechanic who does the job on the spot and leaves us free to carry on with our day. Van problems just seem to be part of our trips so we seem to be getting better at enjoying them. ! We always meet lovely people and get home. So on with the day.
We head for the ongoing festival and pose, as everyone does, in front of the towns main sculpture. Which is odd, because there is no sign of any cherries !! Apparently it's a bit early !
Mmmm, cherry festival without cherries, the mystery continues.
We follow the crowds, fitting in as best we can ! We are the only europeans we see in town. This is a very local affair.
Everyone is so pleasant towards us. Hello's and handshakes, gifts of sweets even ! , we are treated very well and join the masses lining the streets waiting ? waiting ? for ? we don't really know but we wait anyway. For ages, wondering ?
And at last the procession arrives. It's a carnival procession with the Cherry Queen at the centre.
Musicians and schoolchildren take part alongside farmers and Wild Boar ! The locals displaying all that is good in the region.
The Cherry Queen is the star attraction for the crowd.
For us, it is getting home through the crowds who are now, en masse, heading in the opposite direction to the campsite. We are totally swamped by the sea of people. Think football crowds. Yet there is nothing but smiles and welcome to Morroco's as we get closer to Moroccan people than we have ever been before ! A bit overwhelming to say the least but that is why we love coming here.
Onward tomorrow but that will be another chapter.
To be continued..........
Mmmm, would you like one ? But more of this later as there is some catching up to be done.
We said our goodbyes to Assilah four days ago now, it seems like longer. ! We saw the sea to say our farewells, for a while and breathed in that salty air.
The onshore breezes have kept us cool. Will we miss them ? We shall find out.
Then there is the piece of wood we are having made for the back of the van. To stop us falling out when the doors are open. Not just any old piece of wood, a special piece ! Mustapha is our man and a fine chap he is. At first he is goint to Tanger to get the chosen piece but no luck there, so he, without us knowing, makes us one by hand ! It took two days longer but the wait was worthwhile.
We proudly carried our 'art de bois' through the dusk of Assilah and left the following day. Destination? Sefrou, nestled in the foothills of the Middle Atlas.
We drove through the afternoon so as to be going away from the sun, East. Past Meknes and Fes and on to Sefrou, arriving quite unexpectantly to a festival !! As you do. The town was heaving, mini fest, bands and loudspeakers, police and donkeys ! Absolute chaos! Through the crowds we crawled, everyone smiling, police included. We stopped to chat to one friendly gendarme and asked directions to the campsite. He guided us and off we set up the steep hill to find ??? It closed ! Well the gates were locked and with town heaving and night time coming on, I went in and looked for help.
I found Hamamouch and his family 'guarding' the closed campsite. He's been there four years now ! A lovely man, and we are welcome to stay as long as we don't want any facilities ! Suits us fine.
As the night draws in, we sit and 'relax' as the town booms with music and chanting. It is the annual Sefrou Cherry festival, a big deal in these parts. We fall asleep to the sounds of Morocco.
The following day is eventful as is usual for us.
We start the day with another welding job to be done on the exhaust ! I must get a new one when I get home !!! Hamamouch leads us to a local mechanic who does the job on the spot and leaves us free to carry on with our day. Van problems just seem to be part of our trips so we seem to be getting better at enjoying them. ! We always meet lovely people and get home. So on with the day.
We head for the ongoing festival and pose, as everyone does, in front of the towns main sculpture. Which is odd, because there is no sign of any cherries !! Apparently it's a bit early !
Mmmm, cherry festival without cherries, the mystery continues.
We follow the crowds, fitting in as best we can ! We are the only europeans we see in town. This is a very local affair.
Everyone is so pleasant towards us. Hello's and handshakes, gifts of sweets even ! , we are treated very well and join the masses lining the streets waiting ? waiting ? for ? we don't really know but we wait anyway. For ages, wondering ?
And at last the procession arrives. It's a carnival procession with the Cherry Queen at the centre.
Musicians and schoolchildren take part alongside farmers and Wild Boar ! The locals displaying all that is good in the region.
The Cherry Queen is the star attraction for the crowd.
For us, it is getting home through the crowds who are now, en masse, heading in the opposite direction to the campsite. We are totally swamped by the sea of people. Think football crowds. Yet there is nothing but smiles and welcome to Morroco's as we get closer to Moroccan people than we have ever been before ! A bit overwhelming to say the least but that is why we love coming here.
Onward tomorrow but that will be another chapter.
To be continued..........
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