Day 39 - Quarzazate to Marrakech

Drive baby drive! And we did today - more than we expected with some interesting stops.
Not far out of Quarzazate I saw in the distance a massive vertical shimmering structure - almost like a space rocket - but clearly so much bigger. It’s actually the main structure of the world’s largest concentrated solar power plant. It’s an impressive and very important project for Morocco.
Our main stop today is at a very famous old city in the middle of nowhere called Ait Ben Haddou. Incredible old city with much history - but in more recent times has been the backdrop location for some memorable movies. And of course the most famous of all - Lawrence of Arabia. So I was an instant celebrity with the locals and tour group.
We walked around the city - watched an artist make a magic painting using sugar dissolved paints that when he made the painting just looked a wash of nothing on the paper. He then heated the paper over a flame and desert scene appeared like magic. I bought it from him for 150 MAD (about $20).
Next we drove to another village for our last lunch together. It was our best meal of the trip. Lots of food starting with bread and olives and spicy paste, chicken tangine, meat balls in a really nice sauce, pizzas, chips, the best chicken skewers. Then dessert was grapes and melon. Beautiful. The only thing missing was a beer or wine. Not allowed unless with special license.
Next was our drive across and through the Atlas Mountains - an incredibly long mountain range. I must say our passage across was interesting - but not as awesome as I was expecting.
We stopped at a couple of places for final photos because our next stop was Marrakesh.
I’m in the old Medina part of Marrakesh - it’s crazy crazy busy and full on. I had a bit of trouble finding my digs - but finally found the place. Was dead tired and hot as. So had a nice cold shower and then a rooftop meal before an early night. I needed sleep!!Read more