Rural scenes in Morocco
Rural scene in mid-eastern Morocco
As we journeyed through mid-eastern Morocco I took what photographic opportunities I could manage through the window of our mini-bus. Sometimes this was not successful and occasionally I managed to get reflections from the glass, but most of the time I took reasonable shots of the rural landscape.
As we travelled in a generally south easterly direction from Fes we went through some mountainous areas as well as flat plateau farming areas. The further east we travelled the less that the land was actually cultivated. Instead we saw numerous examples of people living a semi-nomadic lifestyle, tending to their large flocks of goats and sheep.
Sometimes we saw farmhouses and shedding like those shown in the photo above. On other occasions we saw extensive dwellings which looked like tents. Frequently we saw people tending their animals like shepherds in centuries gone by. They seemed to wander far from their dwellings and certainly in some quite remote localities. Like shepherds have done for millennia, they have to wander from one food source to the next.
Rural scene in mid-eastern Morocco
Country scenes in eastern Morocco
Farming scene in mid-eastern Morocco
I come from a farming background. The first 15 or so years of my life were spent living on my father’s farm in the Murray Mallee district of South Australia. Although I spent most of my working life in a school classroom, I still have a close affinity with the land. Today in retirement I still own a small “farm”, albeit only 5 acres in size and I no longer keep any chickens, ducks and sheep like I used to some years ago.
Wherever we travel I take a keen interest in the countryside as we journey, keeping an eye out not only for birds (birding is a passion of mine) but also casting an eye over the farming countryside. So it was with great interest that I watched the passing farmland practices while journeying through Morocco. Previously I have commented on the similarities that the rural environment in Morocco has with parts of South Australia. There are, however, many contrasts too, as illustrated in today’s photos.
I don’t know what breed of sheep are shown in the photo above, but they are significantly different from the common Merino breed we have here in SA. We also saw many goats in Morocco, something you tend not to see in the cereal growing areas at home.
Farming scene in mid-eastern Morocco
A picture of patience in Fes, Morocco
A picture of patience in the medina of Fes, Morocco
During our meanderings in the medina of Fes in Morocco I photographed this very patient animal waiting for his owner. To me it does not look like a horse, and it is certainly too big to be one of the local donkeys which were common. It has to be a mule. It was just standing there patiently, totally ignoring the busy, noisy crowds milling around. It even ignored the patting of one of our tour group (the lady with the red head covering).
It was certainly a lot more docile than some of the local donkeys who tend to be quite lively and belligerent in their attempts to push their way through a crowded street. we had to be constantly alert for them, as well as the local motor bike riders.
Is that a camel hanging there?
Street vendor in Meknes, Morocco
Street vendors like the one above in Meknes are a common sight in many towns and cities in Morocco. The visitor – and locals – usually do not have far to walk far to find what they need to buy.
And just around the corner was a compact shop selling just threads. The colourful display (see photo below) means that almost any colour was available.
By way of amazing contrast, nearby was a butcher shop, shown in the third photo today (see below). Yes – that is a camel’s head hanging there. Not sure how one would cook that to eat it – perhaps it was merely a ploy to attract customers and wasn’t for sale. I wasn’t game to ask our guide for fear of making an almighty blunder and cause some kind of offence.
It was just one more fascinating sight in this wonderful place called Magical Morocco.
Shop selling threads in Meknes, Morocco
Butchershop in Meknes Morocco
The Royal Stables in Meknes, Morocco
No Comments »2nd March, 2013; Category: Africa, Animals, Exotic Destinations, Historic places, Holidays, Morocco
Royal stables in Meknes, Morocco
Yesterday I wrote about the Royal Stables in Meknes. Today I show several more photos taken during our visit. On our visit to Morocco we visited six of the nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites. While these stables are not separately listed, they do make up an important part of the historic city of Meknes with the whole city being on the list.
Below is a water wheel inside the stables. This was part of the extensive water supply system used throughout the stables and adjacent granaries.
Read more about the stables here.
Royal stables in Meknes, Morocco
Royal stables in Meknes, Morocco