A new adventure to Africa

[Helen Ariel]

So cute

Too cute. I nearly closed the van door.

 

[Gina M]

Too cute. I nearly closed the van door.

I know but like you have said before can you handle taking a gorgeous puppy then losing it at the border if you get caught

 

[Northernraider]

I know but like you have said before can you handle taking a gorgeous puppy then losing it at the border if you get caught

Wouldnt get caught.

In total I'm aware of 5 dogs that came out of Morocco with people I met there last year.

That's why the do all the paperwork and checks on dogs in Spain before you go to Morocco because no one pays the least bit interest on the way back in to Spain.

 

[Helen Ariel]

Wouldnt get caught.

In total I'm aware of 5 dogs that came out of Morocco with people I met there last year.

That's why the do all the paperwork and checks on dogs in Spain before you go to Morocco because no one pays the least bit interest on the way back in to Spain.

Don't tempt me!I have to tell myself I can help more individual dogs if I don't tie myself down with one right now. One day though...

 

[Helen Ariel]

Donate or Sponsor | SARA Morocco

Your donations fund everything from daily resources and facility improvements to projects that ensure the welfare of animals both in our care and on the streets.

www.saramorocco.com

In case anyone reading wants to help dogs like this. Please send a little to Sara Morocco.

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[jongood]

Donate or Sponsor | SARA Morocco

Your donations fund everything from daily resources and facility improvements to projects that ensure the welfare of animals both in our care and on the streets.

www.saramorocco.com

In case anyone reading wants to help dogs like this. Please send a little to Sara Morocco.

If you're still in Sidi Ifni, the Nomad Restaurant is excellent, and you can have a bottle of Wine with it.

You can also see the remnants of this by the port

Abandoned Sea Cable Car

The forgotten remnants of a land-to-sea cable car that was once unique in the world.

www.atlasobscura.com

 

[Helen Ariel]

So we’re leaving the coast after a fabulous 3 weeks of beach life plus Marrakesh. Heading to Tafraoute via the Marjane supermarket in Guelmin to resupply. Going to give Fort Boujeriffe a miss as we’ve only 2 weeks left and feel like there’s still lots we want to see inland.
Fair to say we’ve loved Sidi Ifni. It’s quite different from other Moroccan towns we’ve stayed in due to its Spanish influence.
The first campsite, El Barco, wasn’t for us but Camping Sidi Ifni has been great; brighter, better facilities & cheaper!

Great surf viewing spot from the campsite.

The surf has been consistent and quite big. Tide times have been a little bit against us as it works best on high tide which has been close to 6am and 6pm. Not to worry as we’ll be back next year.

I’d brought some spare surf kit to give away; wetsuit that’s too small now as well as some spare leashes.

And pics of the cute pup from another angle…

Cheers, Paul

 

[Helen Ariel]

If you're still in Sidi Ifni, the Nomad Restaurant is excellent, and you can have a bottle of Wine with it.

You can also see the remnants of this by the port

Abandoned Sea Cable Car

The forgotten remnants of a land-to-sea cable car that was once unique in the world.

www.atlasobscura.com

Had our eye on it but it was shut Monday night when we went for dinner and tried yesterday lunchtime when it was meant to be open but it wasn't. Restaurant opposite it is pretty good and was packed on the Monday. Next time!

 

[Helen Ariel]

Photos from the drive yesterday. Guelmim to Tafraoute. Was pretty epic scenery but we got a bit worried when the road turned into gravel and dirt at one point but a French motorhome coming the opposite way stopped and told us it's just a few sections of road works and it's all passable.
This is the best natural scenery we've seen in Morocco. Much more pristine. The air is a lot clearer here too.

We're on camping Tazka. We went for a walk round the town and also had a look at the other campsites and there are loads of vans not in campsites spread across the valley floor which is apparently guardian parking for 15dh so we might move there today for a more wilding it feeling and hopefully see the stars better away from campsite lights.

 

[CaptainPaul]

Ask the guys at reception to show you the lions head (not an English pub!)
And also the surf board behind you

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[CaptainPaul]

 

[Helen Ariel]

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Just got back from surfing what absolutely epic views and those boulders just enormous. Photos later.

It looks a lot greener when you were there!

 

[Helen Ariel]

Pics from yesterday when we arrived. Great views from the site, clean loos, poor WiFi.

You can see the surf board rock in this one.

Treated ourselves to a mini roast chicken dinner with chips bought from the campsite kitchen to dip in the gravy.

Beautiful temperature and stunning light in the evening. It dropped to about 9 degrees overnight but warms up by 10am.

We set off earlyish in the morning as we wanted to climb up to the surfboard rock whilst it was in shade. Glad we did. It was quite a steep climb up with absolutely glorious views across the valley. The rocks are pink granite and really grippy.

At one point on the way up I realised there was not a breath of wind so got Paul to stop moving or talking and sat still for a moment to see if we could hear anything. It was one of those really rare moments where you can be outside and see for miles around but not hear a single sound. No birds, insects wind nothing. Very magical.

You have to climb up through this hole to get to the surf board

Don't try this with vertigo!

Going down a different way was a proper scramble and my legs aren't used to steep at the moment as all the walking we've done has been very flat. So we earned a restaurant lunch. Really nice kefta tagines with almonds and prunes.

Getting the bikes out tomorrow and then planning on spending a night semi wilding it just down the road. It's actually 15dh we think but no facilities and parking in nature.

 

[Nirvanauk]

helen, are you left handed? Just asking like.

 

[Helen Ariel]

helen, are you left handed? Just asking like.

Nope! Is this re cutlery? I have always used my fork in my right hand as to me it always made more sense as I use my fork much more often than my knife and actually most of the meals we enjoy don't even need a knife (pasta, curry, stir-fry) Never understood why people would switch their fork from left to right depending on what you're eating.

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[Helen Ariel]

Well we're really loving Tafraoute. Wish we had a bit more time here but we only have 10 days left so need to make tracks if we're going to fit the desert in.

The town is only small but much smarter than most we've seen in Morocco. It's a really quiet and peaceful place generally and the countryside is lovely and far less rubbish.

Today we got out for a good long bike ride, 27 miles, 2100ft ascent. A nice big loop out to the blue rocks.

"The Painted Rocks are one of the most memorable parts of the granite landscape of Tafraout. They were painted in 1984 by the Belgian artist Jean Verame as poetic artwork embodies attributed to his late wife, assisted with the help of the Tafraout fire department, 18 tons of blue, pink, red, and black paint were used to create this remarkable work of art, which today constitutes an open-air museum, with its sheer magnitude and unequaled artistic curiosity, which draws numerous tourists to the region."

Met a local guy who told us it takes 50 people 30 days to repaint them every 10 years.

This afternoon we got packed up and drove 5 minutes to enjoy a bit of semi 'wilding'

It's actually guardian parking but doesn't look like it and reminds me of something like burning man festival or the documentaries I've seen of American snowbirds parked up in the desert (slab city?)

Amazing surroundings and dozens of vans dotted about but loads of space between vans

Hopefully see some good stars tonight.

 

[lorger]

How was the cycling was it off road or on quiet roads?

 

[Drexxer]

The Atlas Mountain Race will be passing through Tafraoute in a week or so's time

 

[Helen Ariel]

How was the cycling was it off road or on quiet roads?

Mostly deserted roads (passed by a couple of cars in 3 hrs!) a bit of dirt track and a couple of fun rocky bits around the painted rocks.

 

[Helen Ariel]

The Atlas Mountain Race will be passing through Tafraoute in a week or so's time

Our friend in Marrakesh is doing neutral support for it but unfortunately we’ll be the wrong end of the High Atlas to see any of it. Not that there’s much to see in an unsupported endurance bike race!

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[Gina M]

Well we're really loving Tafraoute. Wish we had a bit more time here but we only have 10 days left so need to make tracks if we're going to fit the desert in.

The town is only small but much smarter than most we've seen in Morocco. It's a really quiet and peaceful place generally and the countryside is lovely and far less rubbish.

Today we got out for a good long bike ride, 27 miles, 2100ft ascent. A nice big loop out to the blue rocks.

View attachment 861812View attachment 861813View attachment 861814

"The Painted Rocks are one of the most memorable parts of the granite landscape of Tafraout. They were painted in 1984 by the Belgian artist Jean Verame as poetic artwork embodies attributed to his late wife, assisted with the help of the Tafraout fire department, 18 tons of blue, pink, red, and black paint were used to create this remarkable work of art, which today constitutes an open-air museum, with its sheer magnitude and unequaled artistic curiosity, which draws numerous tourists to the region."
View attachment 861815View attachment 861817View attachment 861819View attachment 861820View attachment 861821
Met a local guy who told us it takes 50 people 30 days to repaint them every 10 years.
View attachment 861822View attachment 861823View attachment 861824
This afternoon we got packed up and drove 5 minutes to enjoy a bit of semi 'wilding'

It's actually guardian parking but doesn't look like it and reminds me of something like burning man festival or the documentaries I've seen of American snowbirds parked up in the desert (slab city?)

Amazing surroundings and dozens of vans dotted about but loads of space between vans
View attachment 861825View attachment 861826

Hopefully see some good stars tonight.

I am loving following you Helen and Paul. Photos please of the stars

 

[Drexxer]

Our friend in Marrakesh is doing neutral support for it but unfortunately we’ll be the wrong end of the High Atlas to see any of it. Not that there’s much to see in an unsupported endurance bike race!

My friends doing it, he's a bit of a masochist but is looking forward to the challenge

 

[Helen Ariel]

I am loving following you Helen and Paul. Photos please of the stars

They were brilliant but still too many lights from the town and road nearby so will try to get some pictures when we're in the dessert.

 

[Northernraider]

Nope! Is this re cutlery? I have always used my fork in my right hand as to me it always made more sense as I use my fork much more often than my knife and actually most of the meals we enjoy don't even need a knife (pasta, curry, stir-fry) Never understood why people would switch their fork from left to right depending on what you're eating.

It's not so much switching the fork it's somehow more needing the Dominant hand to work the knife.

If no knife I use fork in my right hand but if using a knife I need my right hand to use it , can't work it in my left lol

 

[jongood]

Not sure what your route is now but the road from Zagora to Ouazarzate is very scenic without being quite as dangerous as the high atlas pass.

Btw, even though the weather is probably good where you are if you are desert side I would recommend keeping an eye on it because you can get heavy snow on both the high atlas and the Rif mountains. Its quite a long drive round.

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[Helen Ariel]

Not sure what your route is now but the road from Zagora to Ouazarzate is very scenic without being quite as dangerous as the high atlas pass.

Btw, even though the weather is probably good where you are if you are desert side I would recommend keeping an eye on it because you can get heavy snow on both the high atlas and the Rif mountains. Its quite a long drive round.

We’re driving to Merzouga via Zagora rather than Ouarzazate and keeping an eye on the weather further north. Rain on the horizon later this week!

We’re leaving early this morning after a fabulous park up just on the outskirts of Tafraoute. We’ll definitely be back here for longer next trip. It’s been ace.

Pic from yesterday late afternoon

And sunrise

 

[CaptainPaul]

We’re driving to Merzouga via Zagora rather than Ouarzazate and keeping an eye on the weather further north. Rain on the horizon later this week!

We’re leaving early this morning after a fabulous park up just on the outskirts of Tafraoute. We’ll definitely be back here for longer next trip. It’s been ace.

Pic from yesterday late afternoon

View attachment 861897

I can recommend camping Les Pyramides in Merzouga
Ali is a great host and his campsite is one of the very few that's actually in the desert as opposed to a walled area, he also does nice food there too, his Berber omelette is great
(Oh and great star gazing too )

 

[Helen Ariel]

I can recommend camping Les Pyramides in Merzouga
Ali is a great host and his campsite is one of the very few that's actually in the desert as opposed to a walled area, he also does nice food there too, his Berber omelette is great
(Oh and great star gazing too )

That’s the one we’re planning on staying on after reading about it in your thread!

 

[CaptainPaul]

 

[CaptainPaul]

View from our van at Ali's around this time last year (pity about the clothes line spoiling it lol)

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