Morocco.

Morocco

Morocco is the destination of choice for Europeans after an in the wilds experience (if they are the campers) or the experience of a culture different to what Europe or even Turkey can offer.

We headed to Assilah on the Atlantic coast as soon as we landed in Morocco. It has a lovely Medina (old walled town centre) which we enjoyed exploring. 

A maze of narrow streets and ally ways.

Evidence of Spanish influence in these northern regions.

Next stop down the coast was the fishing village of Moulay Bousselham. We met a Dutch couple here who had been touring with a group of 20 (yes, 20) European motorhomes until a flash flood rushed through their campground depositing mud all through their campers ending their trip. A downpour had occurred miles away in the mountains, a timely warning for us before we head into the Atlas mountains.

The coastline was very rugged in parts.

Sometimes I pinch myself when I see road signs like this one, and say " Wow! Look where we are today by golly" 

Hard working donkeys are the most common beast of burden in cities and the countryside. 

Well what can I say!

OMG. Imagine seeing that coming down the Tulla Freeway.

There are cows in the back of this ute coming home from the market.

There were four guys clinging to the roof of this van.

We continued up Dades Gorge and found out why tourists don't come up this far.

The van with the guys on the roof drove up this mountain which we had just driven down. The road was really hairy, narrow, rutted, crumbling edges and downright scary around the top. They must have had one hell of a ride.

Contrasting to this road which is a 'tick the box' must do for most visitors to Dades Gorge. They turn around at the top and head back down. As a consequence they miss views.

And the road didn't get any better the further we went.

The rugged Atlas Mountains.

We were surprised that most valleys in the Atlas were fertile and populated.

Vast valleys scattered with small villages each with a Mosque.

Almost like the Grand Canyon in places.

A Kasbah built with a commanding view of the valley. 

Valleys full of date palms.

Ait Ben Haddou they filmed Romancing the Stone, Gladiator and Game of Thrones here. An impressive Kasbah.

         

Spotted a storks nest built high on one of the Kasbah's mud walls. 

So excited to be in such a stunning place.

Being a tourist mecca you have to run the gauntlet of the stalls. 

Being built of mud maintenance is ongoing for such an attraction.

Moroccans have great flair for design.

Hotels are usually built to impress.

This is what happens to a Kasbah that isn't maintained. The mud just melts away.

A lighthouse on the coast. Classic Moroccan.

A small village Kasbah. Usually built by a local leader often with high walls without windows in the past for defense from attack.

This impressive old Kasbah was built in the Atlas Mountains not far from the one that Richard Branson owns that he converted into a hotel.

Another Kasbah in the mountains a bit worse for wear.

We were lucky to spy a herd of these rare Barbary sheep in the Atlas Mountains. What a magnificent old ram.

A younger ram but still with that unusual fringed chest and front legs.

Saw this structure in the distant desert.

As we got closer we discovered that it was a solar tower. Mirrors focus the suns rays up to a top of the tower which is used to generate electricity. We saw earlier versions of these in Spain eight years ago. They use a brine to store the heat over night.

Relaxing in the Sahara dunes. Drove deep into the dunes to find this magic spot.

Great wild camp. Doesn't get any better than this.

This was our first camp until a Berber tout turned up. They appear out of nowhere.

You gotta give him "A" for effort. He had me wrapped up in that thing before I knew it.

Camels all over the place. 

Found our own little oasis.

Berber camp, they roam the deserts with herds of goats and sheep. We came across them way up in the mountains. Tough life.

Our favorite places to camp were high in the mountains. This one off an unused washed out track.

Your guess is as good as mine.

Common sight in the mornings. Women lugging huge bundles of greenery cut from the river flats and carried back to feed their animals at home.