Ah souk day. We do love a souk. There is no better way of getting to know the locals than a stroll around stalls full of everything you've never wanted. Well, apart from vegetables and tables ? Can we have one of these Ted? Mmmm, now where to put it.
We've driven the couple of kilometers on the motorbike as we do. It does leave us a bit overdressed but the freedom to come and go as we please is our thing.
It's a big souk with many folk taking delight in our attempts to parlez en Arabic, which needless to say is very rusty and oh so basic. Still, my numbers are up to scratch and gives great amusement when I know the answer to the total before it's been added up. 3 times 6 plus 3 = 21 right. wahad u ashrin. !! alright !! Not exactly quantum physics but a good start.
As we enter the red light district ? an array of multicoloured olives greets Krysia with, wow, which one?
So begins the task of tasting and they are all good. So this is where the 3 times 6 comes in. 3 half kilos of this one and this one and that one, mmm, oh and some harrisa, hot sauce for 3 dirhams.
21 dirhams,
Onions anyone? How many kilos would you would like?
Just 2 please, like not a lot.
Where is this all going Ted, I hear you mutter. Bloody shopping and now a dodgy foreign geezer. Well we met him in the fish restaurant, I mean cafe, on the side of the road. Kilo of grilled sardines and a life story ! Still, it leads us smoothly to the highlight of the day
You never know whats going to happen next!!!
The Acrobat.
A tale with a happy ending, just !
So we wend our way back to the bike, without a table and no foreign geezer ! Paid our dues to the car park chappie who had taken care of our trusty stallion and packed up our wares. In the hustle and bustle of it all, I ready myself for Krysia to mount the bike behind me only to hear her cry and then ........ thump ! I look around to see Krysia flat on her face, helmet on, hands out in front of her, gloves on and knees in the dust, bike jeans on. ! Which adds up to always wear your bike kit even if its only for a tumble, or should I say cartwheel, off the footrest, while at rest !!
Time stands still, as do the watching crowd. No one moves except me. All are astonished at the acrobat. Is she trying to make some money ?? Is she hurt ? Help me up, she says. Get me out of here.
Are you hurt I ask again. Get me out of here she says again. So we try for a second time to leave and successfully whiz back to the campsite to find out what's the damage. I mean, is this serious?
The rest of the day is spent trying to assess the damage. Ice packs on knees, arnica and magnesium rubbed on lots of places and the damaged pride. Perhaps the most bruised of all, which is easily dealt with by a good hearty laugh at the whole event. Miraculously, dear Krysia is not hurt. A miracle considering the tumble. Even a strange bruise that appears on one knee turns out, with a wipe, to be rasberry juice from the ice pack !
Accidents do happen wherever you are and by their nature are very difficult to predict. Krysia will from now on, mount the bike very consciously. Of that I am sure.
So it's a happy goodnight, thankfully.
More "careful" adventures to come.
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