Where the hell is Taroudant?

Okay.  Yesterday's estimated 4.5 hours of driving time, plus a couple of stops in between, turned into a 10 hour marathon!  Pictures and conversation soon turned into napping and boredom.  I think we took this route to see the copper, gold and coal mining areas in the mountains but the road was so horrendous we rarely went past 3rd gear.

We drove for 6 hours before our first stop which did double duty for lunch and shopping at a women's cooperative in Tazen where they make carpets.  Actually, the stop was a 3-parter...we ordered lunch at a small cafe, then drove to the cooperative for a demonstration and mint tea ( and opportunity to purchase), then back to the restaurant to eat.  I managed to buy a carpet with the help of the group - very exciting!  Although a man explained the process, it was very clear who the 'boss' is.  Picture attached.

A second afternoon stop took us to the home of Rashid's (our driver) fiancé where we met her entire family - grandfather, father, siblings, step-mom and step-siblings.........  The family seems to be very poor but so gracious!!! We were served the traditional mint tea, beautifully seasoned lamb brochettes, fresh baked bread and a selection of home baked cake and cookies.  

Rashid and Fatima are getting married next Friday, the day our tour ends in Marrakech.  He'll drive the 5 hours back to the village for the wedding.  He's 38 and she is 18 and absolutely gorgeous. His mother met Fatima and suggested her to Rashid.  He met Fatima and instant karma!  After the wedding they will live in Marrakech where she will finish high school and then take other training.  He will continue with tour company work.  We bought cones of sugar and pastries as gifts to be used at a rather large wedding.

So, after 1 breakfast and 2 lunches ( we didn't know about the family meal in advance), we arrived in Taroudant to stay at the most beautiful hotel we've seen so far - a 5 score winner with Trip Advisor for the past 3 years - where our guide made 8:00 arrangements for supper.  We were SO not hungry and the buffet meal was superb.  I was so disappointed.  

Missed the opportunity to swim but the group closed the restaurant down at 10:30.  We had a great time laughing at some old rock star videos on YouTube - and for some strange reason, David Hasselhof's 1989 concert in front of the Brandenberg Gates was on tap - what a hoot!

Not bad - my original blog was going to say: 'Got my rug.  The end!'. But you know me - never pass up an opportunity to add something!