Taghia

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Amsterdam

Amsterdam.

We left Portland at the tail end of a long and shitty spring. After a few hour layover in Amsterdam – with enough time for a quick brunch (doesn’t seem to quite measure up to the Portland brunch scene) and a stroll among the canals – we arrived in Marrakesh in the early evening. The only surprise here was that our mid-range, airport-side hotel did not include toilet paper and so we found ourselves hiking a couple of kilometers through suburban sprawl to a Carrefour supermarket for TP and some other basic supplies.

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Taghia

Zaouia Ahansal.

The following morning, our pre-arranged taxi showed up right on time and we were driven 4.5 hours to the village of Zaouia Ahansal in the Atlas Mountains. There, Said (the owner of the Gite in nearby Taghia) and his grandson were waiting for us with a donkey. The poor animal was loaded up with our bags and about 30 liters of bottled water and made to carry those on the two hour hike to the village of Taghia (no road). As we’d find out later, this was not the worst assignment that a Taghia donkey could expect. By the evening we were well settled in at Said’s comfortable “gite” (oldest one in the village, started some 20+ years ago). The only other people were four French climbers who gave us a first inkling into the sort of climbing we should expect in Taghia. In a word, “hard”. Considering the source (aren’t all French climbers specialists at limestone faces?), we did not doubt them.

Photos

Amsterdam

Welcome to Amsterdam (May 2017).

Amsterdam

Amsterdam (May 2017).

Amsterdam

Random sights of Amsterdam (May 2017).

Amsterdam

Amsterdam (May 2017).

Amsterdam

Amsterdam (May 2017).

Amsterdam

Taking in the sights in Amsterdam (May 2017).

Amsterdam

The Venice of the north (May 2017).

Amsterdam

Amsterdam (May 2017).

Amsterdam

Amsterdam (May 2017).

Amsterdam

I think that white socks with those black shoes are a bit much (May 2017).

Marrakesh

Landing in Marrakesh (May 2017).

Marrakesh

Welcome to Marrakesh (May 2017).

Marrakesh

After an early evening arrival in Marrakesh, we went out into suburbia in search of some TP (May 2017).

Marrakesh

Found it!

Marrakesh

First morning in Morocco – view out of our hotel window (no TP included but there is a pool).

Marrakesh

Marrakesh (May 2017).

Morocco

On the drive to Zaouia Ahansal (May 2017).

Morocco

More roadside sights (May 2017).

Morocco

A quick stop and our first tajine meal in the country (May 2017).

Morocco

Same place but this time some goat fat being boiled (May 2017).

Morocco

Views along the drive (May 2017).

Morocco

An unknown town along our drive into the mountains (May 2017).

Morocco

A donkey enjoying a good roll in the ditch (May 2017).

Taghia

First views of Zaouia Ahansal during the drive (May 2017).

Taghia

Village of Zaouia Ahansal and the end of the road. Loading up the donkey for the 2 hour hike to Taghia village. Said – the owner of the “gite” we’d stay at in Taghia – is at the center (May 2017).

Taghia

Shirley hiking through the village escorted by some kids (May 2017).

Taghia

The village of Zaouia Ahansal (May 2017).

Taghia

Ahmed and his donkey (ladened with our bags) on the way to Taghia (May 2017).

Taghia

Hiking through Zaouia Ahansal (May 2017).

Taghia

Village of Zaouia Ahansal (May 2017).

Taghia

Early on in the hike to Taghia (May 2017).

Taghia

Looking back on the charming little village (May 2017).

Taghia

Fully loaded?

Taghia

First views of the rock formation above Taghia village (May 2017).

Taghia

Arriving in Taghia (May 2017).

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