Friday 6th – Sunday 8 May, 2011

We left Chefchaouen in the morning and drove through the countryside heading south again. The countryside at the moment is very green and lush, with lots of wildflowers and many plantations of olives and eucalyptus trees. There are lots of small acreages planted with wheat and other crops and everywhere you look there are shepherds with sheep, goat or cattle.

As you drive along the road there are many donkeys laden with all sorts of goods and you have to be careful of the straying cattle and many dogs. People seem to be everywhere doing different things, children in the fields minding animals, farmers ploughing fields with donkeys or tractors, women hanging out their washing, children lining up to catch the bus or

We have found the people to be very open and friendly and as we drive past villages or open field they will wave and smile to us. The children are especially friendly calling out and waving and even when we pass them in the street they will say bonjour.

We are also amazed at the petit taxi’s, the larger taxi’s which are old Mercedes sedans and the buses of all sizes that are full to overflowing with people, sometimes with the doors at the back still open and people hanging out. They will sometimes stop suddenly in front of us and unload or load up their passengers causing us suddenly to brake or swerve. We also have to be aware of the trucks that amble along the roads dangerously overloaded and the pot holes that suddenly appear in the tarmac in front of us. Still it’s and enjoyable drive through the countryside with lots to look and wonder at.

We wild camped that night in a small park like area and had a bonfire. We were attended by the local shepherd who organized the fire and kept it going during the night. It was a peaceful spot though it seemed to be a local thoroughfare to the village up the hill so there were herds of sheep, goats, donkeys laden with grass, and people walking past.

The next morning we drove to the roman ruins close by, called Volubilis (or Morning Glory) after the creeper that grows around it. We had a pleasant walk around with a guide and were surprised about how big it was.