13 Feb 2019: Ouarzazate

Ouarzazate, Morocco

Mohammed was not impressed with my choice of accommodation in Ouarzazate, as it was situated right in the middle of some mud ruins on the outskirts of the town. On the other hand, it was within walking distance of the Mansou Dahbi Reservoir, which delivered some Great Crested Grebes, Water Pipits, White-crowned Wheatears and a Black-eared Wheatear. We had now left behind the mountainous habitat of the Atlas and was heading towards the Sahara desert near the Algerian border.

Black-eared Wheatear, Mansou Dahbi Reservoir, Morocco

I was beginning to enjoy the sweet minted tea of Morocco, which is offered on every possible occasion. Tea houses are quite common and it is deemed impolite not to drink three glasses of tea. Most strange is the Moroccan custom of ordering a bottle of water with every cup of coffee, although the small, expresso-like cups of coffee are strong enough to run a steam engine.