October 17, 2023

After breakfast, we headed out for our journey to Marrakesh, a 300-mile trek though the High Atlas Mountains and the spectacular Tichka Pass. This route took us to the city of Ouarzazat.

Morocco’s film industry is based in Ouarzazate, which has been labeled as “Africa’s Hollywood,” and is home to the Atlas Film Studio.

Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site is located in Quarzazate. Aït Benhaddou is a historic ighrem or ksar along the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakesh in Morocco. It is considered a great example of Moroccan earthen clay architecture and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987

The city has a frozen-in-time feeling as it still strongly resembles its 11th century design thanks to some Hollywood-led restoration. The red brick Kasbah served as the backdrop for such films as The Mummy, Lawrence of Arabia and Jesus of Nazarareth (for which much of the Kasbah was rebuilt).  It provided the perfect location for Ridley Scotts Gladiator (the arena is still there), and the filming of Season 3 of Game of Thrones.

The hike up the ighrem was a steep climb but the view and visiting the family home was worth it. We got to visit the home of our guide who is one of eight families that currently live in in the ighrem. It is a simple life and the goats have their pen within the home. Interesting fact if you feed goats salt they do not smell.

As we continued on the windy road we began to see some of the deviation that was caused by the earthquake last month. The road was recently cleared of the boulders that fell down the mountain and the hillsides are covered with destroyed homes and even a mosque. Blue tents provided by the government dot the landscape.   We could not stop so the pictures are taken from the bus but hopefully they will provide a visual of the impact of the earthquake.

As the sun was setting we arrived in Marrakesh and checked into Jaal Riad Resort! Thirty minutes later we headed out to a super club where we were treated to a show that included fire dancers and belly dancers.   It was a 21-hour day of adventuring so I was really tired by the time we got back to the hotel at 1 am!!

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