Fes to the desert

Today is a travel day.  We are covering a tremendous amount of ground as we travel across both the middle atlas and the high atlas ranges towards the desert.  7 hours is the anticipated trip length.  The view out the window is interesting. The Berber people who live in these mountains live a life that is little changed from thousands of years ago.  Basically nomads with their livestock.  Though I did spot one of these picturesque shepherds talking on a cell phone.

No great photo ops... Lots of arid landscape with the ubiquitous plastic bag garbage near the roadside.  Serious poverty. Rugged mountains.  Arid badlands.  You get the picture.

We did make a stop in the middle Atlas Mountains to look at the "Berber monkeys" on the side of the road.  We are pretty sure they are macaques.  They are there because people feed them.  Have a look:

Several of our party are suffering from "la tourista" today.  (Of course! Seven hour drive day...) but otherwise all is well.

More pics as we decend from the mountains into the valley that is studded with oases, Palm trees etc.

He are a few more from the afternoon.  We are in erfoud now, safe and sound. (Are you ever really safe and sound in the desert?)

Ruth is feeling wel enough to eat a date.  This is where they come from!

These are some rugged looking mountains!

Until next time!

Greg & ruth