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The walls of Taroudant

Names of all types are inseperable from local lore and culture. As with Gaelic, many names translate interestingly, while others are so murdered in translation as to be beyond recognition. Having our regular guide Ali along, we often gain fascinating background information. As one wanders more extensively other aspects catch the imagination. People’s clothing, for instance, has local and tribal variations, and the architecture, always impressive, can also have noticeable differences.

Village girls in the Western Atlas

But, if nothing else, it is the people who will lure me back (as long as possible), for they are hardy, brave, ingenious, friendly and openly hospitable. Family life is strong, their culture and traditions are maintained, and values are held which we have lost in the greedy West, whose polluting ways will yet contaminate this bastion of free people.

Health and safety

The Atlas is one of the healthiest of mountain ranges. There aren’t as many microscopic or creepy-crawly nasties as in some other ranges. Take elementary precautions and you’d be unlucky to pick up anything really bad. At habitation level don’t drink stream water; giardia is possible. In the south avoid contact with still waters; bilharzia is possible. High sources (springs) are clean, and in habited areas you can buy bottled water or consume drinks made with boiling water. Over the years we’ve all drunk mint teas offered, sometimes in pretty unhygienic places, without coming to harm – and the food offered, such as tagine, is long cooked and usually safe.