Morocco- Taroudant, Agadir and Taghazout

It was then onwards to Taroudant.  A bustling walled town about an hour inland from Agadir.  We again had some fantastic scenery and passed many fields of mandarin trees.  Our spot for the next two nights was the Hotel Palais Salam car park.  The car park was quiet when we arrived and we were yet to see any of the influx of motorhomes that arrive into Morocco in the new year.

We spent a solid day walking around Taroudant.  It appears to be a good example of a Moroccan town- there are people, cars, scooters, bikes and animals everywhere, mosques, housing and shops all bundled together.  There is also a Berber souk and an Arab souk.  As for the latter, we found ourselves lost at the end of the afternoon after going the opposite direction out of the souk than we needed to.  Halfway back to the van the heavens opened, lightning and thunder.  It was our second day of rain here in 40 days so we can't complain.

Our guidebook said there is 5km worth of walls, parts of which can be walked along.  We only found one set of stairs up to them at the Bab el Kasbah gate nearest the car park.  Once we reached the top you could only turn right, walk about 20 metres, round the corner before there was a massive gap in the path, too large to even jump over.  And what would be the point of jumping over when the wall ended metres after that again.

A stall in the Arab souk

At the top of the walls

We left Taroudant after 2 nights and drove to Agadir.  On approach to the roundabouts here in Morocco there are speed limit signs.  First a 60km/h and then a 40km/h closer to the roundabout.  Too late did we notice the two motorcycle cops with a radar gun and we were pulled over.  The Police officer explained that at the 60km/h sign we were doing 70km/h.  Then he said it would be a 300 dirham (about 25 euro) fine.  At no stage did he want to check licenses or the van registration.  We asked for proof of this photo and also said we would pay at the station (thinking the officers would be wanting to pocket the money themselves).  He returned with the photo, which was taken 250 metres from the roundabout, just as we came round the corner. Dale could see the corner in the photo so was trying to saying to say he felt the photo was before the 60km zone.  So we were dubious that the photo was taken in the right place, but also thought that it was ridiculous that they were wanting to fine us on such a technicality.  Especially when most Moroccans drive like crazy people, speeding and overtaking.  We really didn't want to pay this fine so Nicky explained that we were safe drivers and never speed, in a somewhat pleading voice.  The lack of a common language seemed to help, and they must have thought it was going to be too hard as soon enough the officer put up his hands and told us we could go.

It was then time for some sightseeing in Agadir.  We first went to find an English bookshop we had seen on the internet.  It took us some time and when we did finally find it we were told by Abdellah at the cafe next door that it had been closed for a year.  We struck up conversation with him and ended up having a drink with him.  He lives in Agadir and works at a Moroccan insurance company connected to Axa Insurance.  We don't get a lot of opportunity to have in depth conversations with locals and asked him about his life including his wife and two young sons.  He also pointed us in the direction of another bookshop where we bought a book on Morocco and 2 novels.
On the way back to the van we walked through the Valley of the birds, a small zoo of various birds, wallabies, goats, gazelles and peacocks.

Dale and Abdellah

Nicky at the Valley of the birds

We then drove to Taghazout and met up with English friends of ours.  Sue and Graham who had arrived the day before were our bosses from the campsite at Hadrians wall, and also Roley and Anne both of whom it was fantastic to see again.

There is about a dozen GB registered motorhomes here now, mostly set up where we are.  It is great to be socialising again and we have even seen Ray and Joan who we met at Khenifiss National park two weeks ago.  We were here in Taghazout a month ago, and the number of motorhomes has increased, possibly to 150-200 in total now.

Sue and Graham have had a lovely Moroccan scene painted on their motorhome and there have been many locals around selling fruit.  We even had a man ask us if we had anything to sell.  We said we didn't and he then inquired about buying our motor and giving us his.  Mmm I don't think so.

Buying honey and peanut spread

A local painter working on Sue and Graham's motorhome

Hassan, a local man who is friends with some of the Brits who come here year after year, kindly took us to the mechanic he knows in a local village.  He would be able to get us a fair quote- not as low as one for a Moroccan but not tourist prices either.  The quote was about 200 euros less than the one in Tafraoute.  We can stay in the locked area behind the workshop overnight.  We are getting rust repaired and a new paint job- hopefully we cope with staying in the van with the paint work being done.  It will take a week in all- it could be a bit boring for us, but will be worth it in the end!

The day before we left for the mechanic we had breakfast with Sue, Roley and Anne overlooking the sea in Taghazout.  It was a beautiful morning and we enjoyed our omelettes, baguettes, hot chocolate and freshly squeezed orange juice.  A memorable breakfast with lovely friends.