0280. Mountain Town (Mor 113--new)

"Are you going to Zaouia?" another guy standing there waiting for the bus asked me.  No idea where Zaouia is, but the name has a nice ring to it, so I nodded yes.

Soon we were on a bus winding up the mountains, getting closer and closer to my magical objective:

Snow.

It didn't take up long to reach Zaouia, a town slapped against the steep mountainside with butchershops and restaurants squeezed against the highway.  Looks like a fun place to explore.  So I hop off the bus and followed the highway across a pretty little park and stream  to where the town abruptly ends. Looks like if I want to to explore this town I'll have to go down hill.

So I follow the dirt and gravel alleys down, down the hillside to the very bottom where there's a picturesque valley with orchards and wheat fields.

  I follow the path a little further to another nearby hamlet and then figure I'd better start heading back.  A crowd of young rascals who I tried to ignore on my way down, now would not be ignored.  The came after me telling me they'd could be my guides and/or rob me.  I told them neither and continued on--they followed me halfway up the mountain and finally gave up.  Kind of spoiled my chances for a couple of good photos--but provided some rathe bizarre entertainment.  Kids seems to be a bit on the wild side in these parts.

I reached the highway again, then decided to hike up the mountain a little ways. So I headed up a pleasant mountain path.  After about a mile or so, however, I figured I'd best turn around and continue on to Khenifra.

I'm sure there will be more opportunities for mountain hikes over these next few days...