Storks

The White Stork is one of the largest birds in the area. I remember driving to the university last summer and seeing a huge bird soar over the van. I thought the nearly 24 hours of traveling had gotten to me and I was seeing things. But then I spotted another 40" (100 cm) bird atop a cedar tree, then another one on top of a rooftop nest. I was in awe.

The stork is well known in Morocco and has healthy populations unlike Europe where they have been decreasing. You can hear the storks clap their beaks rapidly and sometimes a hiss at intruders. Otherwise they are silent and majestic creatures. The nests usually hold 2-4 eggs between April and June. Storks will typically migrate out of Ifrane in winter months, returning in early March. They eat aquatic insects, frogs, small rodents, reptiles and small fish.

Ifrane Stork

Stork in Marrakech

Stork in Rabat Chellah, a medieval fortified necropolis of ancient Roman times. The storks are protected here and can not be moved from the site.

I still have yet to see a stork delivering babies.

The Ifrane storks have migrated down the mountain to warmer climate. I miss seeing them.

Green March

The Green March is a Moroccan holiday celebrated on November 6th. 40 years ago in 1975, a mass demonstration was organized by the Moroccan government (under Hassan II) to push Spain to hand over a disputed area of the Sahara.

It is said that over 350,000 unarmed Moroccans from all areas of Morocco were escorted several miles into the disputed Sahara territory. Upon signal, they proudly flew their Moroccan flags, sang and peacefully awaited results from the diplomatic discussions.

The outcome was complicated. Spain was in a political crisis. They decided to hand over the Spanish Sahara to Mauritania and Morocco. Other native populations also claim to have some rights to this land. This is still an unresolved dispute, however Morocco is the de facto ruler of this territory. The March symbolizes and represents this feat.

Students dressed up as different Berber (native North Africans) tribes from Morocco and people from the Sahara.

Students overloaded on the truck as they did during the Green March.

Large picture of current king (Mohammed VI). His father Hassan II was the king during the Green March.

Moroccan pride!!

Parades throughout Morocco 

Marching band where you will find many girls marching as well as boys.

Food given to the marchers.

Pictures from 40 years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5TDgPslbGU

Friouato (caves) in Taza

Drive through forest and mountain roads winding up to the entrance of the Friouato. Picnic tables sit on the mountainside with a peaceful view of the city of Taza and the surrounding forest. Suit up and tighten your helmet equipped with headlamp and walk through the entrance with your guide. A huge cavern awaits with more than 700 steps descending to the actual cave entrance.

With over 3 km of slippery clay, narrow paths and small openings to crawl through, we explored the cave for at least 2 hours. There was beautiful stalagmites and rock formations. We walked on planks of wood to pass small pools of water and climbed ladders to get through passages of the cave. Although it was cool in the cave your muscles work hard keeping your balance on the uneven and slippery ground in the dark. By the middle of the tour, I worked up a good sweat. There were many spaces in the cave that were not seen and surely one would be lost without an experienced guide.

The sound of silence is quite loud down below and it is hard to imagine being in darkness for more than the time you are exploring. I looked forward to light as we ascended the last few steps.

5th and 6th graders take this trip every year.

Highly recommend visiting this cave!

Happy Islamic New Year!

The first Islamic year began in 622 AD when Prophet Mohammed traveled from Mecca to Medina, also known as the Hijra. The new year is calculated according to the lunar cycle. Most Islamic countries determine the new year by observing the moon. 

We had New Year's Day off from school but we were not sure if it was October 14 or 15. After the new moon was observed on the night of the 13th, it was announced that the new year would officially be on the 15th. The first month of the year is Muharram.

While it is a national holiday, there were not many visible signs of celebration as seen other parts of the world. Some families had picnics and big meals. I'm sure individual families celebrate differently.  Happy New Year! Year 1437.

Saturday Hike

Saturday 8am we set out from the city center of Ifrane onto a path that led us to Ain Vittel, around the campus toward the Zarrouqa Lake. From there we entered the cedar forest. Large oak trees, and cedars greeted us. We walked along the border of the Royal Palace and waved to the guards. It was a beautiful fall day, bright sun but chilly wind.

We came out near Borj, where military families live, and walked further down the road to the dam. After we walked along the windy River (Oued) Tizguit until we entered town again. It was a beautiful 12 km hike. I posted many pictures so you can observe the diversity of such a small span of land. It went from green to rocky and dry, forest, grassy, hilly, forest, back to riverside mossy in 3 hours. I love the Middle Atlas Mountains!

Lake Zarrouqa

Rocky hills

Entering Forest

The hike was quite chilly with the wind. 

Majestic old cedar

Dam

Beautiful Fall Day

Ras Tarsha

Ras Tarsha - The high point of the deaf.  Battleground where French Soldiers and Berbers (Amazigh/native North Africans) fought in the 20s. Some say you can still find bullet holes in the cliffs.

The day after the Eid, we drove south of Azrou to Timahdte, Bakrit, Oum Rabia Falls. We stopped at Lake Ouiouane for a barbecue picnic and headed further north back to Azrou. The drive was gorgeous and it was a beautiful sunny day, except a quick rain storm right after we started cooking lunch. Overall the drive was 165 km.

Oum Rabia (mrbia in Darija) Springs

Clay oven for baking bread

 Picnic by the lake

Grilling sheep after the Eid

We made the loop starting in Azrou and heading southeast. Where the road is not connected on google maps was a rocky road partially washed away by rains. After the Oum Rbia springs we headed north back to Azrou. Right before Azrou is a beautiful place Kharzouza where the road winds around the mountain and you get a nice view of some cliffs.