Mhaireth

2 november 202

Today I accompanied a group of French film makers to another valley. I travelled with them by pickup to the village in the next valley and whilst they were filming was able to explore the smaller settlements in the area and the oasis further into the escarpment.

The small settlements were mainly deserted as families have been slowly moving towards the towns and cities of Mauritania. Nevertheless, there are families staying to tend goats and live within the landscape of their traditions. I was interested in the range of buildings used by the families at different times of the year, the water supplies and irrigation, the date palm gardens and the items that the local women want to sell.

I was also able to see the importance of the melon to these families. The fruit is opened, the juice used as food, the seeds dried and ground for flour, the skins used for animal fodder.

The film crew spent the day interviewing the women in the village about their life, skills and how plants are used for their medicinal strengths. The film will be released in French in the new year.

I spent the end of the day swimming lone in an amazingly green and beautiful lake within the lagoon at the far end of this valley - a fantastic and memorable way to end the day.