I spent today, getting to know this interesting town. Along the main street, I met shop owners and stepped into the local school to meet Jumila, the Director. I spent most of the day in the market area of the town.

I set off this morning in a minibus to the desert town of Tidjikja. The ticket was booked the night before for 1300Rp and I was joined by two young French travellers.

We set off at 08:00 in a shared minibus for Nouakchott. The buses leave from the main road and a ticket cost 700Rp. The place was bustling with sellers, travellers and locals walking about - a feast for the eyes in this new country.

I had booked a bus ticket last night from the Supra@tours office on the promenade. The bus was due to leave at 08:00 heading towards the Moroccan border town of Guerguerat

I am staying in a hotel in the administrative part of the city which feels safe and sedate. There are restaurants and other hotels along this stretch of the peninsula.

Today I travelled the 530km from Laayoune to Dakhla across the West Sahara desert, by CTM bus. An extraordinary journey on a very well maintained tarmacked road through kms of desert with little or no sighs of life.

During the journey yesterday, we went through several police check points. The driver had the passports of any passenger's from African countries other than Morocco. Mine was only required at the check point just before Laayoune.

The bus to Laayoune was scheduled to leave at 14:00 today so I had some more time to spend in Sidi Ifni. This morning there was a very thick sea fog hanging over the town so even walking on the beach was like walking in thick fog.

Today was market day at the interesting town of Sidi Ifni, just south of Mirhleft. The market was of the more traditional type with everything laid out on the ground; huge piles of fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, spices, pottery, plastics, home appliances, clothes and an extensive area put aside to the selling of belongings "car boot style'.

The time has come to start heading south and onwards to the Mauritanian border. I could have easily stayed longer in this part of Morocco, hiking every day and getting to know more of its people. It deserves another visit.

Today was another highlight on this trip. The weather was spectacular and climbing the mountain was incredible.

I wandered through the numerous settlements nestled into the mountainside where most houses are now empty and in various stages of decay.

Agadir is a city of contrasts and seems in a continual tension between the established old city life and the encroaching new developments.

I've made a quick return visit to Marrakesh to catch up with friends before making the journey further south.

I had time today to learn more about Casablanca's rich history as a port city.

I spent today roaming around Casablanca getting to know its layout, old town, sea front and incredible architecture, much of which is crumbling and shabby and tells a fascinating historical story.

Today was a day of contrasts. I left the guest house in Imlil in light rain with views of snow topped mountains.

Today I set off up the road leading to the pass at Tizi n'Tamatert experiencing the wonderful freedom of having no guide to show the way.

It was wonderful to return to the mountains and the village of Imlil. This time I stayed in a family run Gite Tizi Muzik on the outskirts of town.

I decided to do a return trip to Marrakesh to do some admin. and planning ahead of the next weeks. The city seemed very busy and hectic after the mountains.