Azrou days

So here we sit under the shade of the cherry trees, enjoying cherries from morning to night. The shade the trees provide is delightful. The summer sun is hot.

But this does not put us off from a visit to the Tuesday Souk. A Berber Fest ! Now as some of you might not know, Krysia is becoming a bit of a knitting enthusiast. So a main focus at the souk is wool and making sure we buy the 'right' stuff is crucial as synthetics lurk everywhere.

This brightly coloured one is obviously not passed the Krysia test. But the genuine article is here and a kilo of white and a kilo of black is purchased. That's a big bag of wool.

                                

The animal souk was next on the must see list ! As this is a big one and we are tourists after all.

All those sheep we see as we drive through the mountains and pastures, well this is where they bring them. In the heat of the day, each shepherd guards his stock, keeping the flock in neat order.

 Hard to tell whose back belongs to whose head !
They seem calm, even if their fate is inevitable.
Bit like ours really, perhaps we should take a lesson from them and not make such a fuss about our own inevitable conclusion. Live for the moment and be happy ! Is that what they are saying to us ?

The shepherd happily poses in front of his flock and takes a snap of us too, mixing it up with the locals. We eat with them too, in one of those tent affairs with smoke billowing out and bits of dead animal hanging from the rafters. We are treated well and have a sandwich of Kefta and a mint tea for a quid each.
As we leave, Krysia spots our next van perhaps ! A relic from our past. A Ford Transit from the eighties ! What a vehicle. Brings back so many happy memories of our days with Jon and Jaimie when they were just we sprouts. Have children, get a van. Enjoy them while you can.

No sooner back at cherry heaven, Krysia rolls the wool into balls and gets stuck into a new project.

                                                   



                                  Rather Tai Chi don't you think

       Very Zen.















Walking outside the orchard requires open ground before woodland can be found. So we brave the sun and head up into the trees to find a cooler experience.

Phew, that's better. Now what can we find in amongst this woodland of Holm Oaks.

 A deserted shepherds house. A possible holiday home ? What do you think Krysia?

I don't think so Ted. A bit on the spooky side for us. And anyway, the owners might come back !
Needs a lot of work too !






 What about these then. More HoltsField. More us ? But who used to use these wooden dwellings ?

Seems like a fate that could have befallen HoltsField. Luckily, we held our ground and managed to retain our right to live there.

It's hot, so an umbrella is perfect for keeping the sun off

Singing in the sun !

So back down to the orchard we head. It's a bit cloudy today and that makes it even warmer but no matter. We have plenty of water and hats etc. so it's not a problem. More to be remembered. Morocco in June. Warm. !

As is normal here, the old fella rides the donkey and his good woman walks happily alongside.  She'll probably out live him by far so who's better off? They both seem happy as we catch them up and pass pleasantries. Who's to judge  ?

Beautiful countryside and green pastures.

This is the Middle Atlas after all and not the desert.


But who'd have thought that Hawthorn would flourish here ! The smell is unmistakable.

                                                                   Mayflower.