From here to there

Friday 3rd January 2025

The Lion of Morocco, Ifrane

The region and township of Ifrane is located up in the mountains where the winter weather makes it an ideal skiing location – that is, before climate change has stopped the snow.  Maybe it will snow again, and the rich and famous of Morocco and Europe can play here again. 

We stopped to see the stone lion, which gives its name to the ‘Atlas Lions’ the Moroccan Soccer team that performed outstandingly in the last World Cup. 

We stopped for 20 minutes for coffeee and to photograph cats.

Tea with the Nomads

South of Ifrane and just north of the summit of Mount Habri our guide, Hicham, pointed out a nomadic encampment. He had grown up in a nomadic tribe so knew their way of life well.  We stopped for a closer look, and after talking to one of the women, we were invited in for tea and bread.

The nomads usually travel in groups of two to four families. The men shepherding the sheep and goats in the sparse vegitation, and the women working around the camps.  Earning a little bit of money for serving tea to guests is not uncommon. They also don’t have their children around as much as recent changes now mean children must attend boarding school for three years.

Life looked hard in the plastic covered tents, but inside they were clean and warm. Traditionally, the nomads move twice a year, but climate change has meant that they no longer need to move away for the winter, so they have been here since pre-covid. 

I wonder what the social impact of not moving, not having the labours and responsibilities of moving, and missing the traditional change of scene has on their mental health and social structure.

Walking in the Atlas Mountains

We arrived near Fillou Barrage and took an hour to walk up towards the Atlas Mountains.  The terraine, as you can see, is barren, just a few stunted shrubs dotted across the landscape.

The walk was easy-going, but cold if you didn’t stay in the sunbeams.  The sky really was azure, but the rest of the images don’t give the views their proper due.

The Crazy Australians

We spent the night in a flashy (think colourful lights not marble and champagne) Ksar Timnay Hotel with large rooms, airconditioner and a pool.  The outside temperature was about 9C and so five of us decided that it would be a grand idea to jump in. Stripped down to bras and knickers we all lasted about 20 seconds before leaping out.  But, point proven, Aussie women are tough.

Dinner was more vegetable and/or chicken tagine, bread, and fruit. Something about tagine still doesn’t agree with Olivia 😦

But buckle up because tomorrow we reach the Sahara and the camels.