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Morocco 2010.

Shortly before I return to Canada from working for a year and a half in Saudi Arabia, both Donna and I flew to Casablanca, Morocco -- Donna from Edmonton, me from Jeddah -- for a 10 day holiday. Oh! the food! The panoramas! The variety of things to see in these trade-route cities! 8-)
Hotel Bellerive Casablanca. I arrive one day before Donna. This is day-break the day Donna lands. It is going to be a good day.
Hotel Bellerive Casablanca. I arrive one day before Donna. This is day-break the day Donna lands. It is going to be a good day.		 As this is the begining of Eid, the roads and walkways are not too busy.
As this is the begining of Eid, the roads and walkways are not too busy.		 Casablanca
Casablanca		 High tide brings out the fishermen along the corniche. Eid is about upon us at this time and the roads are quiet and many people
High tide brings out the fishermen along the corniche. Eid is about upon us at this time and the roads are quiet and many people
Fishing
Fishing		 Small fishing village on island (at high tide)
Small fishing village on island (at high tide)		 We visit King Hassan 2 mosque
We visit King Hassan 2 mosque		 Nice sunny morning for tourists to pose for photos.
Nice sunny morning for tourists to pose for photos.
I discovered this pool in the basement when I was looking for the WC.
I discovered this pool in the basement when I was looking for the WC.		 Casablanca is not a beautiful city -- very busy, congested and nothing much to see.
Casablanca is not a beautiful city -- very busy, congested and nothing much to see.		 Huge tracts of land under the plow.
Huge tracts of land under the plow.		 Our tour van -- owned by the driver so we had a safe trip.
Our tour van -- owned by the driver so we had a safe trip.
Our route through a small part of Morocco.
Our route through a small part of Morocco.		 Donna, following our trip in the Lonely Planet.
Donna, following our trip in the Lonely Planet.		 The petrol station name says a lot about the countries heritage.
The petrol station name says a lot about the countries heritage.		 At the end of a 'tunnel' of narrow back allies we reach our Riad in Marrakech -- what a hidden gem. 8-)
At the end of a 'tunnel' of narrow back allies we reach our Riad in Marrakech -- what a hidden gem. 8-)
Just around the corner from the last photo, this is another leg of the path to our Riad. We found Marrakech to be a very clean c
Just around the corner from the last photo, this is another leg of the path to our Riad. We found Marrakech to be a very clean c		 Riad (B&B) in Marrakech
Riad (B&B) in Marrakech		 Looking down from where Donna was standing
Looking down from where Donna was standing		 Breakfast on the terrace.
Breakfast on the terrace.
Busy narrow streets in the old city where we were.
Busy narrow streets in the old city where we were.		 Vegitable tagine! Yum. Overlooking the Souk
Vegitable tagine! Yum. Overlooking the Souk		 Vegetable couscous. Donna had two cooking lessons -- couscous, and tagine.
Vegetable couscous. Donna had two cooking lessons -- couscous, and tagine.		 All sorts of transportation here!
All sorts of transportation here!
Old man
Old man		 THOUSANDS of mopeds.
THOUSANDS of mopeds.		 This catacomb of shops in the old souk of Marrakech is filled with exhast smoke from the mopeds.
This catacomb of shops in the old souk of Marrakech is filled with exhast smoke from the mopeds.		 I cannot fathom owning a shop and breaking this air each day.
I cannot fathom owning a shop and breaking this air each day.
Some of the people shopping here -- this is a 'living' old city.
Some of the people shopping here -- this is a 'living' old city.		 Everyone helps in the busness of the day.
Everyone helps in the busness of the day.		 See the live chickens? See the tagines? Talk about fresh food!
See the live chickens? See the tagines? Talk about fresh food!		 A happy girl.
A happy girl.
Eid brings out all the washing!
Eid brings out all the washing!		 Monkeys for show. I found a district of the souk that had leopard skins and live hawks, lizards and chameleons for sale
Monkeys for show. I found a district of the souk that had leopard skins and live hawks, lizards and chameleons for sale		 Snake charmers too
Snake charmers too		 Although Marrakech does not have a tanning district like Fez, I wanted to go and see the dye-pots.
Although Marrakech does not have a tanning district like Fez, I wanted to go and see the dye-pots.
Today, being the day before Eid, many were closed up. Too bad there were no bright yellows or reds being dyed!
Today, being the day before Eid, many were closed up. Too bad there were no bright yellows or reds being dyed!		 We saw hourse and plow or 4X4 utility tractors with men hand-sowing seeds all along our trip.
We saw hourse and plow or 4X4 utility tractors with men hand-sowing seeds all along our trip.		 Color!
Color!		 Fruit stand
Fruit stand
Kasbah of Pasha Glaoui
Kasbah of Pasha Glaoui		 Absolutely the best meal ever! Chicken tagine with raisins, dates and assorted vegetables.
Absolutely the best meal ever! Chicken tagine with raisins, dates and assorted vegetables.		 Children playing
Children playing		 Looking out the a window of the Kasbah (mud constructed palace) of Pasha Glaoui.
Looking out the a window of the Kasbah (mud constructed palace) of Pasha Glaoui.
The last Pasha of this Kasbah was known for being exceptionally bloody in his authority to tax the traders that passed through.
The last Pasha of this Kasbah was known for being exceptionally bloody in his authority to tax the traders that passed through.		 The small town of Telouet
The small town of Telouet		 I believe we had one of these cars in Kenya when we lived there in the 70s.
I believe we had one of these cars in Kenya when we lived there in the 70s.		 Town-scape
Town-scape
For hundreds (thousands) of years, Morocco has been a source of food export for Europe and North/West Africa,
For hundreds (thousands) of years, Morocco has been a source of food export for Europe and North/West Africa,		 Donna
Donna		 Ait Ben Haddou, a reconstructed town often used for a movie set. One of the most recent popular movies shot here was Gladiator.
Ait Ben Haddou, a reconstructed town often used for a movie set. One of the most recent popular movies shot here was Gladiator.		 We waked across stepping stones to get to the town. The current town is on 'our' side now.
We waked across stepping stones to get to the town. The current town is on 'our' side now.
We asked where the coliseum was that figured so largely in the movie Gladiator, the pit is what is left.
We asked where the coliseum was that figured so largely in the movie Gladiator, the pit is what is left.		 Fabric colors
Fabric colors		 I walked out by mistake on the roof of this house and was told to GET off! I could have fallen through. Tourists!!!
I walked out by mistake on the roof of this house and was told to GET off! I could have fallen through. Tourists!!!		 Get'n the van running before they head home for Eid -- with dinner on the roof.
Get'n the van running before they head home for Eid -- with dinner on the roof.
Argon trees are becoming an economic treasure as the oil from seeds has positive health properties.
Argon trees are becoming an economic treasure as the oil from seeds has positive health properties.		 Riad Hida an old palace/residence turned into a B&B in a small village close to the city of Tarouddant
Riad Hida an old palace/residence turned into a B&B in a small village close to the city of Tarouddant		 Flavors of the aristocra
Flavors of the aristocra		 Tea anyone?
Tea anyone?
Orange plantation.
Orange plantation.		 Largest stooks I have ever seen!
Largest stooks I have ever seen!		 This grass is used for structural roofing material as it is strong like bamboo.
This grass is used for structural roofing material as it is strong like bamboo.		 The road over the High Atlas and one of the tea shops along the road.
The road over the High Atlas and one of the tea shops along the road.
Tea house.
Tea house.		 Lunch at the top of the world -- crossing the High Atlas, this time through the Tizi N Test pass (6900 ft)
Lunch at the top of the world -- crossing the High Atlas, this time through the Tizi N Test pass (6900 ft)		 Our driver and guide
Our driver and guide		 The road to Tizi N Test pass
The road to Tizi N Test pass
Going down the other side, fall is evident in the color of the trees.
Going down the other side, fall is evident in the color of the trees.		 I did not know that aspen grew in Africa.
I did not know that aspen grew in Africa.		 At the B&B, Ksar Les Sel Dailleurs. Nice place but the owner had no provision for our driver and guide.
At the B&B, Ksar Les Sel Dailleurs. Nice place but the owner had no provision for our driver and guide.		 Olive tree
Olive tree
Farming practice for irrigation.
Farming practice for irrigation.		 Our driver dressed in his Eid best.
Our driver dressed in his Eid best.		 Feeding chickens seen from way above at the B&B.
Feeding chickens seen from way above at the B&B.		 We rest after a 10 km walk through berber towns.
We rest after a 10 km walk through berber towns.
Walk through Berber village
Walk through Berber village		 Tea
Tea		 Salt mining -- I think $ 0.23 kg from the mine.
Salt mining -- I think $ 0.23 kg from the mine.		 Shrimp in the wells where they draw the water from before dehydrating in the shallow salt pools
Shrimp in the wells where they draw the water from before dehydrating in the shallow salt pools
Salt crystal before sinking to the bottom.
Salt crystal before sinking to the bottom.		 Driver and guide
Driver and guide		 Road over Tizi N Test
Road over Tizi N Test		 Pickled anything!
Pickled anything!
Souk
Souk		 Shoes
Shoes		 Feeling bereft... my turn now to return to KSA.
Feeling bereft... my turn now to return to KSA.

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