Marrakech airport is modern and smart but procedures for receiving passengers failed miserably on our arrival. The queues were several hours long. We pulled a stunt and got through quickly. Apologies but I shall not reveal our ploy because that will alert other passengers and staff and we may need to try the ruse on another occasion!
Not far from Jemaa el-Fnaa (the main square in Marrakech) and tucked away within a maze of alleyways we found the tranquil and comfortable Riad Abjou for our first night's stay. We were welcomed with mint tea and biscuits. I drank a lot of mint tea in 5 days in Morocco, although some of it was, unfortunately, laced with copious amounts of sugar.
A cobbler a few doors down.
I've got a full set of teeth thanks.
A drink at L'Addresse overlooking the main square.
On day two we drove for about 90 minutes into the foothills of the Atlas Mountains to the village of Imlil. There we met our excellent guides, Mohamed and Abjou. Mules took our overnight bags, the cooking equipment and our food for the trip. The weather was warm and I was comfortable in shorts and a t-shirt.
We passed Aroumd and crossed the floodplain before ascending the rocky path.
Lunch at the tiny settlement of Sidi Chamharouch, which has grown around a Muslim shrine. Lunch was typically salad with pasta and tuna. Simple but plentiful and nourishing.
I stopped for an orange juice. Fresh and cold.
We arrived at Les Mouflons refuge in the late afternoon and once the sun went behind the mountain tops the temperature dropped considerably. Trousers on! The common room was lovely and warm but be warned - you bed down in a dormitory - singles, couples, all nationalities - fun for some, not for others who don't like snoring and far*ing. I sneaked into an empty room on Night 1 and had a quiet rest. Colleague Frank slept on a couch outside the door. Incidentally, I must acknowledge the fact that some of the photos in this post were taken by Frank Morris - a successful professional photographer in Bristol and a top bloke!
We were up very early on Saturday morning. After a quick breakfast it was on with the crampons and away.
Does it look steep? It was!
The Atlas Mountains are truly beautiful and in the absence of any wind, gorgeously silent, apart from the occasional squawks of the choughs and crows.
Coming down was tough on the quadriceps. Living in Suffolk as I do, I don't get much training on steep terrain!
Sunday and we are on our way down. I slept in the dormitory last night - no trouble sleeping after going from the refuge at 3207m (10.5322ft) to over 4000m and back again.
Anyone for a water cooled drink?
We passed this Berber on the way up on Friday and he seemed to be in exactly the same place on Sunday.
Mohamed - a lovely man and an excellent guide.
There were eight in our group. Here's five of use on the way down. The other three decided to climb another peak for the day. These youngsters...
Aroumd on the way back to Imlil.
Thanks for carrying my bag Trigger, i.e. the one on the right!
