in the Maghreb

Thank you Welshcakes for inviting me to guest blog for your fans in your absence.

I’m telling you up front on these posts of mine there will be not photographs of gorgeous cuisine, or yummy recipes. So you shall have to await the wonderful Welshcakes’ return for such as that.

A bit to the south and further west of Sicily is Morocco, my home at present. Now is the BEST time of year! The rain has come, the temperature has dropped, and the skies are a brilliant blue with mountains of fluffy white clouds. From now until June it will be a combination of the best of Spring and Fall. When the rains come, everything comes up green, the flowers bloom, the birds get chubby, the cool breezes blow off the Atlantic, and I begin to WALK. The Moroccans have already put on their heavier jackets and shoes, while I’m still in my sandals and skirts. The summer fruits have disappeared from the streets and the premier crop of dates are out. The Berbers have come to town with their wares, and many of the year’s best festivals are ahead.

This morning in the medina I saw the Berber rug merchants have come to town with their new wares. They were spreading the rugs down the middle of the roads of the medina to show off the colors and weaves. Many of the hannouts are splashing on a new coat of paint, in preparation for the increased number of tourists to come I imagine. It is the time of year when the dates are at their best. The big Date Festival is this month. I treated myself to a half-kg. of the “king’s dates” this morning to break my Ramadan fast tonight. Dates are considered the holy food, and I’m right on board with that. This magnificent festival is held annually in the Erfoud area where nearly a million date palms grow. They grow a wide range of types of dates. The majestic palm-trees, waving lazily in the warm breeze provide shade and a livelihood. The peasants who cultivate them rely on them for almost everything. The festival last for three days, and the region’s tribes and innkeepers come together, where they share tea and society. On the last day there is a camel race. I’m rather sad I will be out of the country during the festival, but I’m celebrating by eating as many dates as I can.