RIDE TO QUARZAZATE

Out last night on the desert ended with the the cooks and tent staff bringing out their drums after dinner and entertaining us withN African music.  This was a such a simple stay compared to cities and gave us a glimpse of the serene and quiet life style that appeals to the Nomads and Berber tribes. They don’t use much, and they don’t do much but sustain a simple life by farming, herding, cooking each and everyday.  Cell phones have made inroads, but they really only seem to use them for communication with family.
We boarded our transport early and took off for long long ride to a desert Oasis town called QUARZAZATE It was an important meeting and trading stop for tribes and camel trains, and it is beautiful, and so clean....and has a small airport for the people who just want to fly in and stay a short time, and fly out. There is a lot of building going on and government assistance to help people start date farms and other businesses.  We stopped along the way to tour an Enclosed  Berber city. And we also went to a small Berber museum and also had lunch on the grounds. We finally had couscous! All the meals are slightly similar....starter salad, which is usually a group of cooked vegetables, and a small dish of lentils or rice, or such...and always olives, olive oils and fresh Moroccan bread.Then a main course,which is usually chicken or a Tangene  or sometimes mixed grill, or vegetarian dish. Desserts are almost always fruit..just a platter of whole fruits and a knife to cut it yourself.  Moroccan people are not overweight and their diet is mostly veggies, fruit, lots of bread, no alcohol and little sugar.
After a total of 8 hrs we drove up to our Oasis hotel for 2 nights. I loved the desert, but it sure was nice to have A/C, WiFi, laundry, and all the comforts. Haha. We went to dinner with people we have met and something funny happened. I ordered a Moroccan wine (alcohol is a available for tourists in the commercial hotels. )When the waiter brought it, it was a VERY dinky pour.....But things got worse...the lady next to ME decided to order the same wine, and her glass was GIGANTIC. I guess my face said it all and and the manager saw it! He came over to our table and without a word...just a smile....had the waiter take my glass away (I-had already taken a sip or two). And the waiter returned quickly with a HUGE glass for me.! It was pretty funny...and even the wait staff and manager were laughing with us. The Look did it!
Ok...tomorrow a “day” in the life of a typical Moroccan family, where we will shadow them in their daily routine....sounds interesting!