This wonderful drive from Marrakesch to Eassouise was full of wonderful sights. School children waiting for the bus, coffee shops in the trunks of cars, camels in the fields and goats in a tree to name a few. The first three easy to understand the goats in a tree not so much. Platforms are placed strategically in the tree branches and the goats climb up and spend their day on look out. They nibble on the leaves and make goat noises and pose for pictures for Americans that are dazzled by a goat. The highway has room for buses, cars, cycles of all kinds and donkey, mule, and horse drawn wagons. Farmers ride on the backs of these animals and have handmade wagons for them to pull. They move at a rapid clip totally unperturbed by the vehicles driving by. They are loaded with whatever they are taking to market and leave the animals near the market with feed bags tied to their noses. Occasionally we saw a tractor but they are rare. Most of the farming in this area is subsistence farming and the farmers pay no taxes on their income. They raise melons, strawberries, tomatoes, herbs and other vegetables. Some will have enough olive trees to supply their family. An olives grove of about 800 trees requires workers because they become labor intense then. These farmers are taxed. Argan trees help the women. They make cosmetics from the nuts, fuels from the shells and cooking oil as well. They women in these coops are single women in need to financial help.
The city of Essaouise was founded by the Portuguese and their influence in evident in the architecture and in the fishing industry. Hundreds of boats all painted blue ply the waters for sardines, shrimp and eel and what ever else they can catch. Two percent of their daily catch goes to feed the poor and women with small buckets are waiting for the fleet to come in and get their fish for the day. The city has also a host of cats. Vaccinated and neutered and spayed. They are fat and famously spoiled. Each one poses and waits to be petted.
The highlight of the day was when a beautiful little boy saw me and came running to my arms. HIs mother, grandmother and auntie were astonished when he fell into my arms and planted kisses on my check. Telling me in French that he loved me and wanted more kisses. It was a perfect ending to this day.
Tomorrow Casablanca but no Rick’s Bar.