The next morning we retraced our steps, this time on paw rather than hoof. Everything looked different the other way round and also from a much lower vantage point.
Before we rejoined our bus, we stopped for refreshment and, guess what?, another glass of mint tea.
I think our cook thought we might fade away after an hour's walk with no food, so he prepared a lovely plate of dates, figs, nuts and, our favourite of all, some nutty/toffee balls - we never did get to find out their official name.
When I turned back from the plate, I discovered Yorkie had disappeared. I soon found him, or rather heard him. He had found a replica minaret in the restaurant and was practising at being a muezzin, calling the faithful to prayer.
Unfortunately though he was out with his timing, as it wasn't one of the hours of prayer, so I shut him up and called him down in case anyone thought we were being disrespectful. Fortunately no-one seemed to have noticed - there are some advantages to being small!
We travelled a sort distance in our bus before stopping to explore the ruins of an old palace which had belonged one of the Lords of the Atlas. This man, an Arab, had collaborated with the French and oppressed the Moroccans. He therefore had no local friends, so when he died his palace was left to fall into ruins.
It was all quite sad, especially as mud buildings don't last long. We had fun though clambering over the ruins, finding traces, such as this painting, of its former grandeur, and meeting the current inhabitants: donkeys and storks.
When it got a bit hot we took refuge under a very shady fruit tree. It was easy to doze off and we were very lucky that the bus didn't go without us - thank you minders!
Lots of love, George and Yorkie xxx
No comments:
Post a Comment