Big Girls Blouse

Stayed in this Riad last night ( posh for B&B ). Very nice with pise walls and wild decoration. The windows are particularly mad. The only windows in the rooms with clear glass are in the loo so you get a very nice view of the street whilst on the throne or in the shower. What is that all about? I must be the biggest wuss in the world making such a fuss over yesterday's ride. At breakfast today, the only other guests in the place, a German couple, Heinz and Petra told me they went down and up the same cliff 2-up on a transalp. 'Ja, OK, shoen, ganz normal.....' was the comment. Yes, I am a big girls blouse.....

So we went for a ride together today to the place I was supposed to go to yesterday, Taroudant. We took the same road I came over on in the snow but this time I could see what I missed last time. Fab scenery (again...getting bored saying that) and cold. Most of the road is at about 1700m. Heinz & Petra are here for a flying holiday ( the paragliding variety ) and were taking a couple of days out to see the mountains by bike and so were well dressed for motorcycling at 3C in big one piece romper suits. We stopped a couple of times to stuff various pieces of spare clothing down Heinz's legs to keep the chill out.


Taroudant is surrounded by fairly well preserved mud walls and the centre is compact and busy. It is a proper Berber market town and has all the hustle & bustle you expect and more. We meandered into town being 'helped/shepherded/guided' by a guy on a scooter. These guys can be quite persistent and wait for tourists on the edge of town and try to bring you directly to a carpet shop/restaurant/cafe where they claim a cut on your bill. We were having none of it and went directly to the main square and lunched.

I got all brave and decided to check into the hotel where we were eating. This place was a new low for me. 70DH for a twin room is very cheap....about £4.70. From my room, I got a view of this. I'm not sure what it is....it could be a sheep hairdressing salon if the signs are to be believed but I dont think so. Soon I found that my sensitive nostrils were not up to it. The gasses coming from the communal loos down the hall were seeping under the door and I decided to bail out and go across the road to a £12 a night place. Big difference for that extra 90DH.

Passed by some kids jumping off the inner rampart of the walls. Cool! No annoying parents worrying about broken necks etc. Told them I would make them famous and put them on youtube. Seemed to get excited by the idea and do some more stunts so I left before I filmed an accident.