Taroudant

Vikings have a thing about axes. They have no choice. It is genetically encoded through thousands of years of evolution. To a Viking an axe is how you settle disputes, gain land, gain wealth, get a wife, chop wood and shave in the morning. In a culture with a long history of pillaging, an axe is at the heart of it. So, when we met up with Lars and Inge again to visit the souk in Taroudant, first thing Lars needed to do was buy an axe. Plundering, or the modern equivalent, shopping, would be unthinkable without a good axe.

We spent a day and an evening in the souk. First job was to negotiate for a suitable axe. Health and safety considerations meant we wrapped the head up with a plastic bag. Just after a tagine lunch with couscous, Diane found a snake charmer and man with a pigeon on his head. Later we bought some essential things. First up was an extra shovel in case we managed to get Baloo stuck, again. Also some saffron. Much of the world’s saffron is grown not too far from here. Unfortunately, the cheap sample I found was not a good example. I did however get some excellent desert slippers with tough soles that would be proof against all the spikey things on the sandy floor. Lars and I both bough djellabas – traditional North African woollen garments. Very warm and ideal for the desert at night. Finally, to round off an enjoyable and successful shopping trip, Lars bought a second, smaller axe.

We headed to the hills. In the evening, we found a delightful spot by a reservoir with views of the snowy High Atlas Mountains. Next morning the goats arrived. We fed them with left overs and vegetable peelings. We crossed north along some smaller roads and encountered some of the first snow of the year. A score miles south of Marrakesh, we finally said goodbye to Lars and Inge for the last time. They needed to head back to Denmark and we want to go further south. We were quite sad to see them go and really hope we can travel with them again somewhere further down the road.