Helen's observations from today

We were due to visit Peter in Sidi Ifni today but abandoned that plan in favour of another trip to the walled Souk in Tiznit. Unfortunately we were unable to contact Peter on the number he gave us, but we left him a message informing him of our change of plan. Sidi Ifni suffered quite badly in the recent floods and several people were killed and injured.

So, off to the Souk, where Bill & Ernie split away from us and went to walk the ramparts. Our 'friend' from our previous visit appeared out of nowhere and engaged Norma in conversation. Once again he accompanied us down the narrow streets, passing many small cobblers shops en route to the main market area.

We went to an Internet cafe where Helen's  boarding card was printed without any difficulties. They held up a bundle of boarding card photocopies to show us, so it must be a regular request.

Afterwards we paid a return visit to the traditional Berber medicine shop to have a further examination of the magical ingredients. This time the owner reached into a round woven straw basket and brought out the most beautiful little green chameleon which we were able to hold and admire. A chameleon brings good luck.

There were more items in his darkened room this time. A dead raven in full plumage, good for warding away the Devil. A dried fox, dried chameleons hanging from a string, a lizard with its ribs stretched open with a cut of wood. A hoopoe, seen above beside the shopkeepers hand and a sheet of newspaper on which he was preparing a potion for a waiting customer. This shop is one of the busiest on the street and it is mainly frequented by cloaked women.

Leaving there to make space for the waiting customers we moved on a few shops to the fishmongers where we bought a kilo of fresh sardines for 18 dirhams (£1.20) and then back to the potter to buy a clay barbecue and charcoal for 20 dirhams.

We just love the Souk at Tiznit with all its antiquity- the people in traditional dress, the colourful fruit and vegetable sellers, the tiny narrow alleyways with scuttling women and chattering schoolchildren, the men in their djellabas of many colours and the golden brown high turreted city walls.

Back home to sit by the pool whilst the sun shone and later to feast of sardines from the barbecue.

Bon appetite