Argan Tree Goats

Driving north along the West coast of Morocco, towards Essaouira, brings some amazing sights and views. 

Coffee break

It's nice to see that it has hardly been developed at all. That's a good thing and I for one, hope it stays that way. I would hate to see it end up looking like some of Spain's coastline.

Coastal Village

We stopped on more than once occasion to take in the views. Once we drove down to visit a quiet little village where, fishing was clearly the order of the day.

The beach was littered with fishing boats, probably waiting for the next mornings launch into what looked like some very choppy Atlantic waters.

We also stopped to take pictures of this house on the coast, just because it stood out, and looked lovely in it's coastal setting.

The best though, was saved for last. As we drove, mile after mile through Argan tree country, we kept a watchful eye out for the goats, famed for their climbing exploits, in pursuit of the trees fruit.

It seems that this practice is largely discouraged now, as the goats cause too much damage to the trees but, just as we had almost given up hope, I spotted one in a tree just off to our left.

'Throw a few down for me then!"

I yelled at Sue, almost giving her a heart attack and turned the van around. The goat was one of several and their female herder was in tow. We took a couple of small cakes and a few dinar and greeted her with a friendly 'bonjour'.

Two of the goats were in the tree attempting to strip it of it's treasure, and a third was desperately trying to join them.
We gestured to the lady herder with the camera and asked her if it was OK to take pictures.

'And what are you staring at?'

With that, she leaped on an unsuspecting kid, and before you could say cheese, draped it around Sues' neck! In for a penny, I thought, and snapped away.

That suits you my dear....

A few pictures later, we bade her farewell with a grateful 'merci'. We, with some priceless pictures, the lady herder with 40 dirham and a couple of cakes, by way of thanks for her hospitality.

You would think that I had just spotted the Yeti or the Loch Ness monster, I was absolutely delighted. 

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