Into 2009 and the Sahara

After a wonderfully busy, chaotic and fun-filled last week in Marrakesh with Haim's parents, we were very ready for the relative calm of the mountains. After many false starts on the 31st, we finally celebrated Anael's first birthday with sandwiches, cake, and champagne in the hotel lobby before leaving around dusk for a short drive into the mountains of Imlil...a trail head for many mountain climbers, but simply a convenient point for us to enjoy a night. We drove mostly in the dark, but the drive took only about 2 hours, we went quite slow on the winding mountain roads, and rarely encountered another car...on the way we stopped several times for basic supplies....oranges and bananas, yogurt, ect...the basic stuff that keeps me from turning into a monster! We also stopped for what we though was some mint tea at a road side stall, but ended up with a delicious chai instead...lots of ginger, pepper, and of course sugar...quite a pleasant treat, though we have not found it since!

We arrived to Imlil in complete darkness, and quickly located a hotel and some yummy tagine. Around 10:30 we settled in for a movie in bed, and about a minute before midnight thought to look at the clock and wish each other and (sleeping) Maya a happy new year.

The sun broke beautifully over the mountains and 2009. When we awoke, the town was a bustle of activity, with people organizing mule trains and guides to head into the mountains. We met one older Spanish couple who were getting ready for a week long mule trek, heading into the mountains on mule and skiing into base camps each evening!

We've passed rather rapidly though towns on our way to Merzouga, doing easy drives with plenty of stops during the day, but not delaying very long in towns. Maya is really beginning to enjoy our stops and nature walks, always stopping to investigate an ant trail or find a ladybug...

We've now crossed through the mountains and down into the beginning of the desert oases...tonight we should arrive to the dunes. We are looking forward to our drive today and hopefully a camel trek in the next several days!