Climbing goats and ancient walls

Herd of goats tackles an Argan tree

The road from Morocco’s coastal city of Agadir to Taroudant winds across a sparsely vegetated landscape with the Atlas Mountains looming in the distance. 

Taroudant is a gem, relatively unspoiled and sometimes referred to as the grandmother of Marrakech.

Goat perches high in an Argan tree

One of the few things that seems to flourish in this region are the Argan trees.  The tree produces a kernel that is harvested and processed into various products including cooking oil and cosmetics.  

Moroccan goats love these kernels too and, amazingly, have adapted themselves as climbers, scaling the trees with remarkable dexterity to reach the prize. 

Walled city of Taroudant

Taroudant is a compact, walled city and quite charming because most of its ancient ramparts are intact. Stretching for six kilometers, the well preserved wall is set with bastions and city gates.

Strolling through the narrow souks we crossed the main square, a gathering place for the local population.  Snake charmers played their shrill wind instruments tunelessly, supposedly to entice their slithering companions into action.  This was followed with angry gesticulations when pictures were taken and no reward for the show offered. 

No photos for us though.  We remembered a similar experience years ago in Marrakech. You could end up wearing the snake for non-payment if an exit strategy had not been well planned.

Colourful spices in the Berber souk

Spices, fruit, vegetables, pottery, silverware, exotic slippers and ornate lanterns provided the colour as we walked through the Berber and Arab souks - two distinctly different markets.  

Local women brought their unleavened bread dough to a communal bakery and bakers were hard at work weighing and shaping the loaves in preparation for the oven.

Argan kernels - yummy

A stop for an education on the merits of Argan oil followed, although we were reminded before seriously considering purchase of the origins of the unprocessed kernel.  

Such is the value of Argan oil every kernel is collected, included those that have passed undigested through the goat …… yikes!