Beni Mellal & the mid-Atlas

My husband's parents and extended family live in Beni Mellal, an agricultural center at the base of the mid-Atlas mountains. You're never more than a stone's throw from olive and citrus groves here, and the air is heavy with the scent of olives. It's pretty quiet so we're keeping busy taking walks and today we visited the gold souk (market) with Idriss's mom. Because of a cold snap, the mountains are snow-capped which is unusual.



Olive groves are abundant:

A view of my in-law's neighborhood, which is mostly walled villas.

We were treated to homemade bastille for dinner.

View from a small hill at sunset:

My friends at Turner Duckworth will be happy to know that Coke signage is ubiquitous in Morocco!

We climbed the smaller mountain to see the Beni Mellal castle...

Which provides a lovely view of the region (so many trees!):

On our way back down, we followed a mountain stream. Women were washing clothes in the running water...

 

 And we passed a cute donkey. I wish I could have one!

Also on the agenda this week is to visit a big lake and cascade (waterfall) deeper in the mountains.