When I was preparing for our trip to Morocco, I read the trip notes that Intrepid Travel provided to get a sense of what to look forward to. As detailed and comprehensive as the itinerary was on paper, the actual experience of participating in the activities was still something I wasn’t fully prepared for nor expected, in the best possible way.
Here’s more Morrocan moments (continued from part one):
8. Spend a morning observing local farming life in the Todgha Gorge.
After the surreal and rugged experience of the Sahara desert overnight camp and trek, it was a welcome treat to have stay at a comfortable hotel in the Todgha Gorge valley. A dog guide Bobby and his human assistant (okay, maybe it was the other way around) took us for a lovely walk around the neighboring farms and villages situated in the canyon and straddling the Dades River. We ended our walk in the dramatic, narrow part of the canyon where we bid our guides goodbye.
Our group had a lovely morning walking around the farms and villages
Lush fertile valley
Some river crossing action is always a fun adventure
These may be the clothes we sent out to be washed
Our trusty guide Bobby
The narrow part of the Todgha Gorge
At Todgha Gorge, a canyon in the eastern part of the High Atlas Mountains
Saying thank you and goodbye to my buddy Bobby
9. Rock the kasbah at Ait Benhaddou
Ait Benhaddou is a UNESCO World Heritage site in the province of Ouarzazate, with the exact time of construction unknown. It is a distinctly striking collection of earthen buildings characteristic of the region. Unlike other ksars (fortified villages) of its era, this one has Hollywood pedigree. It is a popular site for filming movies and TV shows, including the Game of Thrones. While sometimes referred to as a kasbah, it is actually a composed of a several kasbahs or fortified homes for prominent families.
Ait Benhaddou
Jake Gyllenhaal jumped around these rooftops and columns in The Prince of Persia
UNESCO World Heritage Site
The remnants of the granary or agadir at the top of the village
Top view of a kasbah
Pretty impressive list of movie credentials
10. See how a locally-run therapy and rehab foundation is helping the indigent disabled of the region.
As a physical therapist, the visit to the rehabilitation center of Horizon Association for People with Disabilities in the city of Ouarzazate was something I looked forward to. Seeing familiar tools of the trade and interacting with the staff and patients gave me a sense of home. It was particularly interesting to hear about the specific challenges of helping rehabilitate patients who live far away in desert communities. If I thought teaching walking on stairs was a challenge, I can only imagine how challenging it was to train a patient to return to walking on loose sand after a stroke or amputation.
Horizon Association for People with Disabilities
With the wonderful and hardworking staff
Pediatric rehab clinic
The ubiquitous parallel bars – universal symbol of getting back to one’s feet
A new friend
11. Climb the High Atlas Mountains and stay with locals in the surrounding villages of Armed/Aroumd.
After hours of seeing the High Atlas Mountains from a distance, it finally came time to climb it. It was an hour-long trek up from the village of Imlil where we parked our van and left our big luggage at an inn, taking only small packs for staying overnight. While most of our group hiked up the rocky and sometimes slippery path, I opted for a donkey ride and took in the peaceful beauty of the mountainside in relative comfort. A light snowfall completed this experience. It was magical to witness the farm lands and the surrounding grounds be gradually covered with snow. I did make up for my easy trek up by joining the group in walking around the villages the following morning.
Into the woods
The village of Armed from a distance
Mount Toubkal is North Africa’s highest peak
Idyllic Saturday morning walk
View from the village of Imlil
To be continued … again …
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