The last few days have been very exciting. We experienced a lot and visited some very special places. It may have been the zenith of our current journey. This impression has only grown stronger since this post was prewritten, but unfortunately its publication was delayed until we had stable internet access. Or, at least, any access to it. Since our time in Morocco is limited by the car insurance, which could only be selected for two time frames, we will head back north from here. Our new German friends have similar plans, so we decided to spend some of the upcoming days together. It’s nice to not have a strict plan and be able to hang out with others if the vibe is good.
Ait Benhaddou, a village fortified since the 11th century with a surrounding wall, was our first stop. Such villages are typical Berber architecture. They call it “ighrem,” but “ksar” (from Arabic) is more common and printed on most signs. These villages are often found on hills and are usually built of adobe. Since this place is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is a famous tourist destination with mainly small restaurants and shops.
After our visit, the next step was to cross the Atlas towards the north. On our way, we met a psychology student who was reading Freud in French and selling vegetables during his vacation. Nice! We wish him all the best in his final semester! We decided to take the route through the Dades Valley because it has some popular sights. In fact, our Berber host recommended this before we decided to prioritize the south initially. The road with serpentines that led through a gap in the mountains was less spectacular than expected. Nevertheless, the nearby geology was impressive and worth the short hikes we took.
As we gained altitude, the temperature dropped. Due to the rainy forecast, we ran into snow at nearly 3,000 m at the pass. It was a long ride. The night was falling, and we had to spend it in the cold. Unfortunately. As we descended, the vegetation gradually became greener. Suddenly, we were in a blooming area. Life here appears less exhausting than on the rough mountainside. But we enjoyed the experience a lot.