Warning ! This blog contains over 200 photos - those with no time or stamina should just view the previous blog which gives a short summary of our memorable trip to the Ourazazate region of Morocco.
Rented a Dacia Logan car via Weekend Car Rental at 1800 hrs 16 November for 3 days (1290 Dhm).
Rented a Dacia Logan car via Weekend Car Rental at 1800 hrs 16 November for 3 days (1290 Dhm).
Left the marina before 0800hrs and headed east towards Ouarzazate, the gateway to the Sahara.
The first 2 hours was very boring through seemingly endless series of unattractive dusty townships and lots of traffic including precariously loaded lorries.
Around 1030hrs we arrived at the first town of interest - the walled town of Taroudant, sometimes described as the mini Marrakech.
Wandered around the town but did not find it too interesting
Irrigation is very important in this almost desert area, with water being piped/channeled from the neighbouring Atlas Mountains. This conduit has the usual 'U'-tube to allow cars to pass through
The Argan tree dominates the landscape - the trees have very extensive root systems which spread for many meters round the tree - a survival technique in this arid area. It means these trees are always planted wide apart.
The next largish town ship - Tazanakht - we had a basic lunch here around 1300hrs
A local lady caught our eye
This wadi has some water in it
Without irrigation the area is almost completely barren
The maximum speed allowed on normal open roads is 100 km/hr.
Throughout the trip one had to be very careful to notice the speed limit signs which, in quick succession, reduce the limit to 80 then 60 and sometimes 40 km/hr. We got caught out once when approaching a couple of buildings after miles of open road. We thought we were in an 80km/hr area but, as the polite traffic policeman told us, it was a 60 km/hr area and, proudly showed us the reading on his hi-tech handheld radar, we were doing 78km/hr - fine 300 Dhm (30 Euros).
In fact as soon as one approaches a slightly built-up area there are often traffic police with these radar speed detectors waiting for paying clients. The good thing about this is that, in general, everyone keeps to the speed limits
Another small town
Leaving the plains and starting to enter a hilly area
Our first view of a Kasr -ancient fortified town - El Makht ?
Interesting strata
Local village
Ait-Benhaddouvillage
On-site prepared building materials - Mud & straw bricks
The Ait-Benhaddou Kasr
camel
old irrigation channels
Entering Ouarzazate around 1730hrs, we passed these Film Studios
Ouarzazate is famous for being the location where many films have and are being produced including Lawrence of Arabia
Elegant Lampposts
The Ouarzazate Ibis Hotel where we stayed for 2 nights - very comfortable reasonable priced hotel chain with excellent good value breakfasts
The hotel is situated close to the old, renovated Kasr
Evening meal close to hotel - too cold to eat outside
morning 18 November we set off early (0800hrs) past the Ouarzazate lake
Heading NE direction Skoura and beyond
During the night we had - yes, lots of rain in the desert. The road passed over several normally dry wadis which were now rivers which we had to ford
Past interesting old buildings - mosque?
with views of the snow covered Middle Atlas Mountains
Boumaine Dades - the town at the start of the beautiful Dades Gorge - our destination.
more glimpses of the snow covered Atlas Mountains
local village
time for a break
good view from the terrace
Decided to take our coffee in the restaurant's office where a gas fire was burning
climbing further towards the gorge
more villages
interesting rock formations
Two Kasbahs - fortified mansions
Approaching the gorge proper
All the way up theDades valley, the sides of the stream are, where possible, heavily cultivated
Tabletop Mountain
We have seen walls with numbered boxes crudely drawn on them in many places in Morocco so far - we still do not know their purpose - if anyone knows their use, please let us know
Stopped for the view and were immediately surrounded by these pleasant but business minded boys
selling fossils which they had found in the mountains
so we played ball and bought a few
The wonderful scenery continues
could not resist this photo from inside the car
Msemrir market place - our turning point as we want to be back in the hotel before nightfall
The local baker
Returning via the same road is still a pleasure in this wonderful valley
Had to take this picture of the pointed hooded Jellabah - very practical garment in this climate
and another
Just find these neatly prepared fields irrisistable to photograph
more cloaked figures
Striking formations with the sun low in the sky
A real gorge
hairpin bends
Shortly after 0700hrs 19 November saw us back on the road for the return to Agadir.
This is a well used tourist route with many places selling local pottery on the roadside
Palm trees just north of Marrakech
Treated ourselves to a farewell meal at the stylish La Madrague restaurant just behind where Dutch Link was moored
If we did the trip again from Agadir, we would miss out the direct route to Ouarzazate and go via Marrakech to Ouarzazate and return via the southern route via Zagora and Tata.
We had a far more enjoyable time in Morocco than expected - with the Arab Spring issues , we were a bit apprehensive - however, we have seen no evidence of attitudes which might make one's stay here risky - on the contrary everywhere we went, the local people were very friendly
20 November we left Morocco and sailed to Lanzarote
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