October 20, 2023

On the road again, we are headed the quaint village of Imlil. A small village in the gorgeous Atlas Mountains, North Africa’s greatest mountain range that includes Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa (4167m). In the southeast region of Marrakesh, Morocco, the Imlil valley is home to the Berbers with their distinguished style of life. The Berbers were known, in ancient times, to be courageous warriors and generous hosts.

As we drove in the 60 miles from Marrakesh to Imlil it was raining and the windows in the bus were fogged up so I was not able to get any good pictures of the winding narrow roads that we traversed though. Many times the road was filled with road slides that remain from the recent earthquake and tents that are the temporary homes to people whose homes are inhabitable dotted the landscape. The area will be covered in snow in just a few weeks making their situation even more precarious!!!

When we got to Imlil we exchanged our coach for donkeys for the final trek up a very steep hill to the home of the Berber family that hosted us for the day. The family is comprised of the parents and 4 adult sons and their wives and children all living under one roof. We were warmly greeted then washed our hand before heading into the kitchen for a cooking class on traditional Berber tagine. No pictures from the cooking class out of respect for the women who cover their faces and do not want pictures posted of them. The cooking class got all of us involved!!! If you can image 20 people in a 5X10 space all crowded together in joyful learning you have the picture. The father of the family is a chef of 40 years!! Yes, men participate in the preparation of food.

While the food cooked on the outdoor flames we were treated to henna tattoos! I love my bracelet tattoo, sadly it will disappear in a few days!!

Our next lesson was on the proper way to make mint tea as we sat on the terrace all bundled up because the fog had settled into the mountains. This tea is part of the Moroccan experience and is served as a welcome each time we check into a hotel. Understanding the effort to make it properly make me appreciate it even more. Looking forward to making it at home as I think I have become addicted.

It was time to share the rewards of our cooking class!!! The results were beautiful and so good! The best meal I have had in Morocco. I can’t wait to try this at home!!

Sadly it was time to leave so we walked down the steep hill that we had ridden up taking in the beautiful landscape and quaint village and reflecting on the experience with the loving family who was so welcoming to us!!

We made a quick stop at a kaftan designer to learn about how the intricate braiding is hand created then headed back to Marrakech to reunite with our original bus for the trip back to Casablanca.

In the hotel lobby there was a piano player and since we are in Casablanca I wanted to say “ Play it again Sam” but I restrained myself….lol!!

Another long day of adventuring!! Tomorrow we head home and although I have loved this trip it is time to get out of the region based on what is happening in the Middle East.

Yes, this was a “Best Day Ever”