Yikes, there's snow!

Trip Start Feb 07, 2009
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Trip End Mar 19, 2009


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Flag of Morocco  ,
Thursday, March 5, 2009

I woke really early (still pitch dark outside) and couldn't get back to sleep. I decided to get up and have a shower, so I stripped off and turned the shower on, forgetting it would take 20 mins to heat up. I balanced the shower head and crawled back into bed to stay warm. The shower head slipped and water sprayed all over the bathroom and I had to stick my head in the cold water to turn off the tap. So now I was cold and wet and Mike was awake! Thank goodness for the hair dryer - Mike used it not only to dry my hair but to warm me up under the covers.

We had breakfast and left in the bus - still freezing and raining as well. We drove about an hour to a little town called Imlil (the Moroccan version of Switzerland) for coffee. Our first glimpse of snow as well on the ground around the town, then plenty of snow all around right up to the road. We had a toilet stop for the boys who found a ditch a short way away from the road (girls had to hang on) Snow and rain outside the cafe
Snow and rain outside the cafe
 .

Left the snow behind us (but not the cold) and headed into more desert type of terrain. Stopped at an enormous petrol station restaurant for lunch, then back on the road for another hour or so. The rain stopped and the sun actually came out for a little while.
We started driving next to the High Atlas mountains, magnificent and covered with snow. We drove to a hostel for women and girls run by the Franciscan nuns where the women do beautiful embroidery. Mike chatted away to some of the ladies, and they even told me to look after him! Some of us bought bookmarks - their work was lovely and seeing them working made it even more special.

We arrived at our accommodation (Auberge) for the night which was only a short drive out of Midelt. When we put our bags in our rooms, we met up again to take a short walk to the nearby village and gorge. Amazing views of the snow covered mountains, fruit trees and village buildings. Freezing cold but thanks to Denise's thermals, 2 pairs of socks, beanie, gloves, scarf, and my jacket, I was only cold on my face. We had dinner in the small room with an open fire and sat around chatting afterwards.
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