No, I don't want to buy your carpet

A very wise Berber trader once said "you should never refuse an invitation for mint tea with a Berber ".

And like fools we don't.

Each time we are led to some chairs with a small table, then have  a nice chat with road and route advice. Someone appears with glasses and a tea pot, the ritual multi pouring of the mint tea and some small talk about the country. Then comes the line "I live in the mountains, where the people make things by hand. Can I show you some of them? "

We can now recite the mantra of "this is silk, of the cactus. This is camel wool, this is sheep wool. These are the tattoos of the married women and this is for good  luck ".

So far it has only cost us £50. Yes we now have a carpet stashed on the bikes.