Paradise valley

18^th April. Monday

Paradise Valley

So named by a German couple who came here in the sixties who arrived here both unwell. After spending 6 months here, swimming and bathing in the river, they returned to Germany completely recovered from their ailments. They wrote back to the locals that they had found Paradise here in Aseef Lzhunt. That's how the story goes according to Housein who has lived here all his life and his father before him, in a tiny house under the palms in the valley.

We visited here ourselves in 1978 and I again the following year with Tunky and Vince. We are camped, as I'm sure you'll remember Tunky, in a small palm car park, next to the road where a delightful Moroccan played a joke on us with a matchbox. There was a scorpion inside and he let it out to our horror onto the table!! we thought maybe he wanted to sell us some hash but no, a scorpion emerged from from the matchbox like something out of a horror movie! Happy memories.

Earlier today, we walked into Paradise and followed a new path, safely up the valley to waterfalls and pools where we swam and dived for hours. Indeed Paradise. There was no path when we came here long ago and the climb to get to the pools was treacherous. We were glad today of a well constructed

chemin which made the journey easy and safe, allowing us access without terror to the most beautiful place we know of, to swim. We are thinking of you Tunky&Gene, in the pools and in the campsite, you are in our thoughts and prayers, may life be gentle.

All our love

Ted and Krysia