Mustapha's parents

Our guide Mustapha grew up in a small village near the town of Boumaine Dades. We were to be given the honour of meeting his parents and seeing their house.

Apartment buildings on the outskirts of Tinghir.

Sometimes you pass something on a bus or train and you wonder why something is as it is. Why have these multiple blue doors?

Somebody was truly inspired to come up with this colour scheme. 

We stopped briefly at an overlook of Boumaine Dades. Mustapha went to high school here but had to cycle 24 km each way every day. And of course it was uphill both ways. Actually there was quite a long steep hill he would have had to climb.

Google maps showing where we were.

The road to Mustapha's parents house was lined the whole way with houses and buildings. At 24 km, it is the longest street in Africa. 

Mustapha's primary school was just down the lane from his parent's house. 

Entrance to his parent's house. It was not where they lived when he was a child since they moved to this new house five years ago. However the old house was not far away.

 

We were invite inside and we were immediately intrigued by the ornate ceiling.

We gathered around a table.

And his father served mint tea.

The olive oil came from their own olive trees and was superb.

We were then invited to tour the house and also the new house for Mustapha's uncle that was being built next door.

They had some sheep in a small pen.

The big concrete object to the right holds water for irrigation.

Their orchard.

The house under construction had unusual ceilings. Somehow I had my camera on the wrong setting and the ceiling was not this fetching green colour.

Another ceiling.

View from the roof.

Ornate building a few hundred yards away. It's owned by somebody who lives in Europe.

Mustapha's dad. He is younger than me but has experienced a much harder life. We also met his wife but she did not want to have her photo taken. They were both very friendly.

Most Moroccan houses have flat roofs.

The lamb appeared. 

It was really a privilege to be invited into their home. We have driven past thousands of homes and would never know what they were like inside. Now we have an idea.