Morocco – On to Taroudant

After nearly two weeks we were sad to say goodbye to the campsite outside Taghazout – we will certainly miss the wonderful Paradise Valley, with its empty silence broken only by the occasional bird song, comical braying ass and Berber children shouting “bonjour” or “bon bon” while minding their small herds of goats and sheep.  We will also miss our friend M’hammed, who delivered fresh strawberries, raspberries, macaroons and sweet pastry delights to our tent each afternoon!

We left the Atlantic and paradise valley and set off this morning for the bustling town of Taroudant, in the fertile Souss valley region and at the foot of the Atlas mountains.  The road out east from Agadir was lined with date plantations, orange orchards and even trees!  Taroudant, once the capital (back in the 16th century), is a wonderful walled city with a laid back feel.  We got lost in the winding back streets and explored the two souks, the Souk Arab, filled with Tuareg and Berber jewellery, tajine pots and leather babouches (Moroccan slippers) and the Marche Berbere, filled with spices, vegetables, olives and clothing.

We later enjoyed soaking up the evening atmosphere, when the whole town descends on the two main squares and the streets become a whirlwind of bicycles, scooters, horse drawn carriages and pedestrians.