Through the border, we are on our way to M'diq.  We arrive in time to experience the local street market.  This market is not like the others.  M'diq is the beach resort for Moroccans, not a tourist destination.  The market stalls are for the locals to buy and sell.  More like a swap meet then a market, everything from used shoes to wires from a toaster..... on sale here.  The streets are littered with people and their stuff.  The cafes surrounding the stalls are filled too.  Men sitting in long rows, backs against the wall, facing each other and the street at the same time. They stop talking and watch as Johanne and I walk past,  you can tell they are curious about us.  We don't fit the landscape of this North African village.

After a thorough investigation of the core of the town it is back to the hotel for dinner.  Looking forward to tomorrow's visit to Chefchaouen deep in the mountains of Northern Morocco.

A fantastic drive.  This part of Morocco is lush and green.  The agricultural epicentre of the country.  

The town of Chefchaouen is  built underneath the shadow of the Rif mountains.  This blue washed city is one of the most spectacular in all of Morocco.  It has long been known to backpackers as a place for easy access to Kif (marijuana).  There are no backpackers in our group so some of the street sellers will not be doing any business today.  LOL. Our local guide for the day is a crusty 80 year old local named Muhammed.  He has a voice that is rough and gravelly.  Sounding like he has spent a lifetime smoking the Hookah or the other local product.  Standing no more the 4'8", his presence was considerably bigger than his stature.  "I speak more then 5 languages" he says, today will be English, French and a little Arabic for our learning experience.  

We followed him through the narrow streets of the Medina.  Along the way he described the history of the area.  We toured a weaver's co-op where over 100 ladies from the surrounding area work together to fill the inventory requirements of the store.  Johanne was selected to model the hand made scarfs that were a plentiful example of the locals work.

Lunch that day was served in a centuries old former private home.  The walls and ceilings were adorned with magnificent carvings and hand painted tiles.  Lunch was delicious and local. Taking advantage of the many spice combinations available, we were treated to a dish of Moroccan Meatballs.  Tiny lamb meatballs, in a tomato sauce with poached eggs, the spice combination, called Ras el Hamout, was powerful. Found throughout North Africa, the merchants typically mixes up a batch using the best spices he has available in his supply.  As many as 30 can be found in the mix and no fewer than 12. Needless to say the sauce was every bit as good as the meatballs, mopped up with Moroccan bread.

After lunch, we headed back through the maze of blue streets for our bus ride to Tanger.  A quick tour of the city and a stop for a camel ride along the beach.  the confluence of the atlantic ocean and the mediterrenan sea as the back drop. Tomorrow's visit of Tetuoan will wrap up the three day exploration.