The Rissani Souk is located beneath palm-matted roofs and narrow alleyways. Stalls are set up to purchase fruits/vegetables/meat, clothing, household items, animals, carpets, baskets, pottery, leather goods and more. Perhaps the emotionally most unsettling aspect of this market was a goat whose legs were bound tight together bah-ing from pain and fright as it awaited its fate under a butcher's knife. Up to know I have not mentioned that Gypsy is keenly interested in supporting the health and welfare of animals. She would ask our driver Tehar to stop so that she might feed a stray and malnourished dog or cat some of our leftovers from lunch or dinner. Through her example, we all became more consciously aware. In the souk Jewel and Gypsy sought out teapots and I combed for interesting Touareg jewelry and leather traveling bags. Outside of the market Tehar and Gypsy negotiated with a young boy for his donkey — a good deal until his grandfather came out yelling agitatedly. He unfortunately did not see that it was in fun . . . and all we really wanted was to take a photograph!
The local fossil shop we visited is one of several that quarries these fossils and then cuts and polishes them into counter- and table tops and other decorative items that are for sale and are exported to stoneyards throughout the world. The slabs are amazing and I remember looking at very similar ones at a North Hollywood stoneyard with Rick when we were remodeling our kitchen in 2007.