To avoid the heat of the day, we were up earlier today and had already had breakfast by the time the sun had risen. During the night I had got up and spent a while on the rooftop looking at the stars! So many of them! And the Milky Way was so bright, it looked almost like a cloud. Magic.

The day’s hike took us downhill in a shady trail through the villages Tonnerhourhine and Ikkiss. They are like something from hundreds of years ago. Basic square buildings, made from mud brick, with wooden lintels, small windows and dark interiors. Water pipes and wires are tangled overhead and along the ground where goats and chickens roam. Many of the houses have cows or mules living downstairs rooms, with a family above.

We crossed the Tizi a d descend down to Aguersiual, which is on the road to Imlil. We had lunch outside a cafe under the shade of a walnut tree and with the luxury of table and chairs! (Boots off as well!).

A final hot, uphill slog, took us past many cherry pickers as we made our way up to the Gite at Matat. A much bigger place, with a big group from Hong Kong staying. We are on the terrace, and rather than cram into a bedroom, we opted to sleep on the rooftop under the stars.