The Berbers called out from their tent shortly after 5am:  dawn was breaking over the desert.  We crawled out of our stuffy tent, bleary-eyed and relieved, to see the early rays kissing the dunes around us.  The sight was lovely to behold.  Dust and clouds on the horizon weakened the glare of the sun enough to permit us to watch the disc rise above the horizon.  Around us the sand turned from grey to tan to deep, rich orange. 

Half an hour later, we were back on the camels, wending our way back to the auberge, where we would have breakfast and a shower.