It was warm last night, more like home, hot in the sun and cooler in the shade but the nights are warmer.
9.30am saw us all beginning what turned out to be a two and a half hour guided tour around the village. We were the first to realise that the standing stones at the back of the village were marking graves and that it was the cemetery. The guide seemed reluctant to enlighten us about it.
Unfortunately, it was a feast day, public holiday in honour of a prophet and the school was closed. Disappointing as most of us had brought writing paper & pens & pencils as gifts and were looking forward to seeing the children.
The children are walking around with home made windmills made from the Arundo donax that grows along the water side. A bamboo look-alike-plant with feathery pampas-grass-like plumes in summer.
The tour ended at the tour guide's house. The guide, Beni has good standing in the village. He is wealthy, probably because of 'Desert Detours' and is building a fine, large house for himself.
'Beni' - Africa!
We were given, peanuts followed by delicious home baked bread with virgin olive oil and then, mint tea. The oil was fragrant and very expensive at 100 dirhams (10 euros) a bottle. The village dates were also expensive at 150 dirhams p. kilo. Tourist prices.
The village houses from the outside look just like solid dusty grey/ brown blocks but inside is another world. With the cool, green, garden in the center and surrounded by the rooms, they are a haven from the heat of the sun.
2.30 pm saw us on yet another guided tour which turned out to be a two hour trek, to the ruined Kasbah. It was definitely siesta time and not at all the time of day for what was in store but, not wanting to miss out........we had to do what we had to do.
We walked through the oasis and crossed the stream via two palms tied very loosely together. That was scary and I hung onto himself.
Through the oasis and suddenly we were out and towering above us, built on the rock was the old Kasbah. We viewed a Gate house which was still very picturesque.
The climb up was quite hazardous with fallen rocks and the eyes glued to the feet and once up we walked narrow passages between the rooms and houses. Saw the mosque and Beni stood exactly where the prayers would have been said. Came across a 65 metre deep well.
Returning through the oasis, my legs were too wobbly to attempt the so called bridge and
I opted to wade through the stream instead, soaking my leather shoes.Back at camp a hot shower and a cold drink left us feeling felt a lot better. Beni came around to see us later and had a coke with us. Was this perhaps because we had omitted to tip him for the tour?
7.0 pm A couscous meal at the 'cafe soleil'. Not especially good, a little bland.
Afterwards, an African band, 'Mama Africa'. We bought 2 c.d's. Had to leave early as the leisure battery that we had ordered, arrived by taxi. 125 euros.
The camp was heaving having filled up with old cars & tents. A charity run from Amsterdam to Dakar!
