Today started off with a long drive towards Ouarzazate, which is like a jumping off point for groups headed to the desert. We spent the morning traversing long, windy roads in the High Atlas mountains, which reach at least 10,000 feet in altitutde. We stopped for lunch in a small town and enjoyed another version of tagine; this time featuring lentils, kofta (meatballs), and an egg. This nourishment was in prepapration for climbing up to a famous kasbah, or fortress, which has been featured in movies such as Gladiator and Jewel of the Nile. We wound through a small village to get there, and saw that many Moroccans in the southern areas are living in similiar conditions to those as their ancestors. The house are made of mud and straw and we sw the equpiment that allows them to mold huge bricks for home construction. The walls are so thick that they block out the heat from the sun to some extent and keep it cool for those who live inside.
After enjoying a view from the top of the kasbah, we stopped to see a local artisan at work. He creates drawings with henna and saffron, then heats the painting over an open flame. The heat reacts with the dyes and changes their color, adding depth and shading to his work. I bought the picture he made in front of our group.
I would love to know more about how the people living in small towns like this make a living. Clearly some tourists stop there, but i would also doubt that enough is purchased to support everyone who sells their wares. There are clearly farmers, as there was a lush spurt of trees and other plants near a small river, and we are in a region famous for their figs.
We finally arrived at our hotel in Ouarzazate and took a pre-dinner dip in the pool. This was followed by a night of drinking and dancing at the hotel with some friends from the group.
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