After lunch the group split; the more energetic left for a small hike up to the shrine of Sidi Chamarouch (approx. 8 kms, with an elevation gain of around 300 to 350 meters), while the others had a look around Aroumd and then chilled on the gite’s patio.

I felt energetic, so I joined for the hike. The landscape during the hike was spectacular (check the photos); the destination of our hike – the shrine – felt somewhat anti-climatic though: a) it was not more than a huge piece of rock painted white, b) it was off-limit for non-Muslims and c) no one of us was in the mood to convert to Islam …

The walk back to Aroumd somewhat turned out a race with the sun – which started to set just as we got back. With the sun set, temperatures dropped dramatically (don’t forget – we were at 2000 meters above sea level) – and with very limited heating inside, we had a freezing evening and night ahead of us (we had an estimated 12 degrees Celsius in the one room with a fireplace and maybe 5 in the other rooms – including sleeping rooms) … going to bed early was a popular option – but only after some serious construction work (towers, walls, castles, bridges … all from playing cards and dominos).