Saharan Sun
We are in Midelt scrubbed and scoured after our recent foray into the very sandy desert, who would have thought. It was absolutely amazing. We headed out at dusk on the first day and after galumphing into the dunes for a bit we scrabbled up the side of a big dune to watch the sun set behind the distant plateaus. The craziest part was driving to the hotel. We were zooming past a flat, rocky and gray landscape when suddenly there were these massive dunes. I dont know what i expected, but it was much too sudden for anything I could have imagined. Once we rode into the dunes it was pretty much exactly how i imagined it. In fact most of the time we were out there I couldnt help thinking I was simply on a movie set and not in a reality. We each named our camels, Paco, Topher Dobby, Henry, Babaganush, and Chandler. Although their back hump was very large and rather bruising when they sauntered, we formed deep bonds with the camels. After watching the sun set we headed to our camp of berber tents and got to see the most fantastic, bright, large, and enchanting moon rise. It was absolutely captivating watching this moon gracefully rise above all of the darkened sand dunes and illuminate the sleeping camels. After some yummy berber whiskey (tea with sugar) we drummed a bit, wolfed down a tagine and crawled into our very warm blankets.
The next morning we opted out of watching the sun rise, we wanted our sleep desperately, and instead we went our for a midmorning camel back tour of the near dunes. Here we also scrambled up a massive dune and looked into the distance at Algeria and the surrounding hills of sand. It was such a restfull place. In most getaways in the states there is background noise. It may not be people, it could be the twitter of birds or wind through the trees or a nearby stream. But in the desert, pas what the people around you are saying, there is no underlaying chatter. The emptiness and silence is complete outside your direct sphere of influence. It was pretty amazing to actually hear silence.
After a gorgeous sunrise the next day we headed out for the hotel. It was sad to part with our camel friends and our crazy dreamlike adventure, but a hot shower was calling as well as sleep in a bed. After running into the kings entourage and security forces, though not the king, our trip to Midelt is completed and we head off to another little village for some couscous making!