We left behind chaotic Fez and travelled south to Midelt. I didn’t realise how green Morocco would be, with valleys of rich green fields where they grow dates, figs, apples, pomegranates, alfalfa, and of course olives! Lots of families on the roadside having picnics. We climbed the Middle Atlas Mountains where we saw monkeys, and over the other side it was rocky and dry ( similar to the west coast and east coast of South Island) and very hot – at least 30 deg which is hot for me! The Moroccans have a simple and effective irrigation systems which feeds into beautiful oases – we stopped at one for a picnic lunch with food bought from a local market. Eventually we reached our destination – an old farm house turned into a hotel next to a sweet Berber town (Berbers are the original Moroccan people who lived in Morocco before the Arabs invaded, mainly live in rural areas but also cities). The hotel was basically a decorated farmhouse with a homely feel to it and not flash but comfortable. We took a two hour walk visiting a small canyon and a local mud-brick village called Berram where the local kids were very curious and sweet. It’s great having a Berber guide who can help us interact with them! Their orchards were beautiful as the apple trees were all in blossom,and we zigzagged back to our hotel by following the irrigation which looks like small creeks. That evening Monoploy Deal was pulled out and all the girls won! Sahara safari tomorrow -Yahooo!