Sunday, September 8th
Well, it’s morning in the desert, I finally got to sleep early this morning as it finally cooled off in our “tent”. I should explain that the tent was actually a small building with white canvass on a frame over top of it used to reflect the heat. It has a bedroom area and somewhat separate toilet and shower. There was a breeze when we went to bed, and in fact we were getting sand in our teeth and eyes as we sat out after our dinner and talked. But sadly the breeze disappeared and so we roasted just a little.
After breakfast our little caravan headed back to Zagora across the route we’d come the afternoon before. I think we were all feeling in need of a shower, even though we had showers because there was sand in everything. And I for one could use some more sleep. But the 4X4 ride was not the place we were going to get it. The river had dried up so the trip was not so challenging but it was still bumpy and swervy. Along the way we came across some camels packed with camping gear and some people who were hiking from one well to the next as more of an adventure than we’d been on. Can’t imagine thinking that was a good thing to do.
It was late morning by the time we made it back from the desert camp and we transferred back to our bus and headed back to Tamegroute to visit a pottery cooperative. This region is well known for it’s green pottery although they do use many different colours. The things of beauty they were able to produce in such primitive conditions is amazing.The firing kilns reach 800- 1000 degrees by fire formed in pits under the oven using palm fronds and some acacia wood. We watched one man throwing pots on a pottery wheel which was underground from the waste down (I’m not sure why?), then painting them, building the fires, placing the items in the kiln and then a show room of the final products. Yes, of course I bought a little red bowl as has become my tradition while travelling.
We arrived at our overnight stop in Zagora quite early and it was a beautiful Riad with a lovely garden and pool area and it was so nice to be able to take advantage of it. I swam and relaxed by the pool for a bit and then had a bit of a nap.
Abdul took us on an really interesting walk through the neighbourhood where the Riad was located before dinner. It is a farming community, and we walked along narrow pathways in between the plots of land the villagers use to grow their crops. Each of the plots is divided by mud walls which are “poured in place” and very cheap to make. They build forms from wood which can be reused, and put and straw which they get from their own plots into the forms and let it dry into large blocks. They were built several layers high to about 4 – 6 feet. Abdul explained the cooperative use of the rudimentary irrigation system. The water comes by canal into the area and then ditches distribute the water throughout. Each farmer had a designated time during which the water flows into his field and the change over is made simply by moving a wall of mud to either block or open the flow of water into his plot. Simple and effective. We saw alfalfa, corn, dates and cabbage all growing in various plots. The air was just delightful as we walked along in the mottled light coming through the foliage. Feel quite serene.
I had a simple supper of just soup tonight, as many of us did, because we all feel like we’ve been eating too much. The food has just been great so it’s hard to turn it down. It was early to bed tonight with the hugest pillows you’ve even seen in your life.
Lois' Adventures 