This trip to Morocco came without any context through an invitation of a friend of mine to take advantage of two holidays sticked to a weekend. This friend called Pedro Pina, like me, loves to travel. Then we and Pedro’s sister (Patricia Pina) departed for an adventure in North Africa. The initial trip plan has included just Marrakech, but being in Morocco, woke up the desire of going a bit farther. So, we decide to go until the Sahara desert doors! The itinerary consisted depart from Marrakech to Zagora, crossing the Atlas Mountains by the largest canyons in the country for a journey of 354Km and more than six hours by car.
Although we like the idea of renting our own car, the time was short and for this reason, we decided to join a tour already organized. The road is relatively good, but there are some sections with a twisting design that require a careful driving, and for that we had Rashid, our driver, who has an unorthodox driving and talking on the mobil phone, he was carrying us on a mix of charm for the landscapes where we were going through and adrenaline for the possibility of crashing into another car or falling down from a scarp.
But let’s talk about Marrakech. This city is an oasis in every sense and was in the past (XI century) a beacon for the Almoravids (monk-soldiers discharged from nomadic groups from the Sahara) in the trade caravans traveling through the dry desert and the Atlas Mountains covered by snow. Marrakesh may be the third most important city in Morocco following the Casablanca and Rabat, but their palaces, luxury riads and palm trees throughout the city exert a powerful fascination.
This marketable city was always a meeting point between (sub-Saharan Africa) and Arabic’s North Africa and it still persist a place very attractive where the king is the trade! Everything converges to the Jemaa el Fna square where you can find musicians, dancers, healers, storytellers, and so on... Still inside the medina there are the Souks, which are nothing less than a maze of shadows and lights, colors and flavors, sounds and smells that invite us to join into the frenetic rhythm of the crowd. In order of truly participate in the life of the souks, it's crucial following a ritual: HAGGLE!! Haggle the price is almost an obligation, the discussion often ends on a cordial or even friendly conversation and should be done with a smile on the face. Although of being something that I don't enjoy to do, this adds some value to the acquisition. In terms of criminality, I don’t think this was a dangerous city. The danger consist of not being rammed by any person, motorcycle, car, bike, donkey or any other animal, because they all move simultaneously in a common area in all directions. Marrakech is a frenetic city that is not ideal to relax, but perfect to escape from the routine.
On the road N9, in the way to the desert there is a mandatory stop, Ait Ben Haddou, a small fortified village with Kashahs ( type of medina normally placed near the entrance of harbors where the local leader lived and an defense when the city was under attack). This village is the best preserved of all, thanks to its popularity between the film directors. It has already done several films including Lawrence of Arabia, The Last Temptation of Christ, the Mummy, Gladiator, Prince of Persia etc. .. Part of the attraction of this village lies in its location on the descent of a slope beside the river Ouarzazate and for still being inhabited by 10 families.
Finally arrive at the destination, Zagora, where you can taste a little of the Sahara desert. Being in the desert was obligatory ride a camel, dancing around a bonfire, dinner in a Tuareg's tent and served by them. However I could not fail to accomplish one of the things on my list of things to do before you die: sleeping outdoors overlooking the starriest sky I've ever seen or imagined.
Throughout this journey, it's funny to see the change of climate. Until the Atlas Mountains the weather was mild, although not common for this time of year, it was raining. Crossing the Atlas is possible to see snow next to us, and after the mountain the climate becomes drier and hotter. It is these mountains that provide existence to the Sahara desert.
23.05.2011 - 26.05.2011
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