To Mount Toubcal

Breakfast at 7.30 and setting off at 8.30 for 5 hour drive to the foot of Morocco's highest mountain. Here we are staying in a homestay and then walking tomorrow.
We saw the sun coming up over the village we walked to last night which was very pretty.
Breakfast was good, some fried bread but not as we know it, which was good with honey and hot boiled eggs.
We sat at the front as today's drive was to be very mountainous, with lots of hairpin bends and ups and downs. It was great in the first row as we had a clear view of the surroundings.
The colour of the hills changed several times throughout the long drive. From orangey red to sandy colour to greeny grey and many colours in between. The villages really were perched below steep and crumbling cliff's, and some had been affected by the earthquake two years ago.
We stopped at a view point with cafe etc and watched the workers in the valley below, like tiny matchstick people. Women were gathering greenery that had been drying and loading it into cloths to load onto the mules. Further along men were repairing a culvert at the side of the path.

Passing through the amazing Tizi n Tichka pass at 2260m the road was very narrow in places and steep and very windy, with sheer drops round nearly every bend.
Eventually reaching the village of Imlil where we left our main bags and carried an overnight bag or left it to be carried by the mules. We than set off up the village a busy working place with cars and vans everywhere and people milling round and going about their work. Children were happily playing in the streets and dogs going about there business.
The path soon left the village and followed a uneven path up the valley along the hillside climbing steadily. We watched life on the other side of the valley in the village as donkeys carrying large loads went up the hill and people came in from the fields.

Reaching our destination a gite or homestay we were surprised to find there was confusion over where we would all sleep. We sorted it in the end, me sharing with Kim and James with Wen. There was only one toilet between us all!! Then another group arrived.
It was already getting a lot cooler as we sat out on the terrace, we soon had to put our layers on. James went to get some wood and lit the fire and when we saw them setting the tables outside we requested to eat inside.

The meal was good similar to most we have eaten but better quality. Soup, meatballs and vermicelli pasta.
No drinks only our water.
After we had eaten James did some games , the matchstick one and picnic and then one with cards I hadn't seen before. Everyone seemed to enjoy them.
Early start in the morning so hope we all sleep well.
James has started coughing, a bit chest!
Gregg and Olav went to hospital in Marrakech last night where he was treated well. He had a CT scan, more bloods etc and now has antibiotics and meds for his asthma. They are staying in Marrakech until we get there.Meer informatie