The Secret Garden and Popping Out for Lunch

8th and 9^th March

The Secret Garden

Thursday was another day at the farm day, with Mum having her breakfast by the pool followed by long sessions of reading. It's another beautiful day with a cooling wind in the afternoon. A calm day after yesterdays adventures in the High Atlas.

For an afternoons stroll, we walk out of the garden a new way, just another path and find a little secret garden with cushions and banana plants, papaya and lemon, palm and Argan. All growing within the confines of the sweetest little area, tended by our lovely gardener Mohammed.

 It's just the sort of place you could imagine George Harrison having in his country mansion. We expected him to walk in any minute along with Eric and John! A shady area for when the heat really kicks in, in summertime.

Krysia skips out with joy

We even find a Bedouin tent in amongst the fields!

Friday 9^th March

Popping out for lunch!

Today's adventure was a fine one. We booked a tajine via our farm hosts, in an Argan farm in the Anti Atlas, owned by a Frenchman, in a village called Tazrilit, high up in the mountains 50 kms from Taroudant. I had been given verbal directions but nothing could have prepared us for our journey to come.

 A beautiful winding road led us up through a valley full of Argan trees, to a plateau, scattered with villages and local Berbers, smiling and waving with colourful women and cheerful shepherds seemingly delighted just to see us here in this biblical landscape. In a land that time and tourism seems to have forgotten.

We arrive at the junction where the road turns to dirt and a 4 km track leads us to the village.

 The school is the gateway to Tazrilit, full of children who all come running to say hello. Smiling at us like they haven't seen a foreigner before. The narrow track gets even narrower as we enter the village and start winding our way through a one way, no turning back alley, passing sitting folk so closely, roofs and doors with hardly an inch to spare!

 Everybody is so friendly. We are speechless and committed. There is no where to turn, forward is the only choice. Were we meant to come this far? As I drag the the tow hitch along the ground over a rather large bump, our host Alban arrives in his 4*4 to help us up to his house. No need, as the van takes everything in its stride and we arrive safely at the top of the hill overlooking the village. What a relief and will we ever get out again? We have wait until later to answer that question, for now it is time to relax and enjoy the hospitality of Alban and his friend and worker Fatima.

This really is the most exciting place to have a tajine. The mountains are all around us, the sun is hot. We are being fed fine food on a terrace, followed by interesting information about this place, Alban and the local people.

 A tour of the Argan process is given by Fatima, who speaks English and is utterly charming, while Alban is distracted by the town Mayor who is making an unexpected visit. He even makes us a mint tea! We could see that Alban would rather have been chatting with us but the mayor makes his whole project possible and needs full attention! As soon as he can, he joins us and is delighted to contribute to the guided tour. 

We buy Argan oil of course, best prices and oil in Morocco. Fair Trade and Eco cert. 

Although sad to leave, we do and make the winding journey through the village without a problem. Alban sees us out to make sure we are safe. We smoothly drive the 50 kms back to the farm a bit in a daze after are most exciting day out. Just Popping out for some lunch, what an understatement. As good as it gets and safely back to base, makes a fine day to remember on Mum's holiday.

What a day.

Leila Saida

 The Beynon's on tour xxxxxxxxx