Outside Fezzou, don't look for this village on the map, we make a visit to a farm
to see the manner in which the irrigation system works.
This farmer had a cow and a couple of goats.
Two children stand in front of a blooming almond tree. After taking their picture
they wanted us to give them ball point pens - a favorate gift to give children and
even adults. We are shown the pumping station which draws water from a well
12 meters deep. The family consisting of the father and his two adult sons and
their wives and children are able to draw water for their personal consumption.
The taking of water is strictly regulated - everyone has his scheduled day and
amount to be drawn.
We stopped for lunch in Alnif. As you can see, this town depends
upon fossel hunters for its existance.
The craftsmen are up early and working at their trade.
Carrying produce on your head is easier than in the hands.
This appears to be a group of young women. As they
approached us their male escort told them to cover their faces.
Working men take a break for lunch over a
large bowl of couscous filled with meat and vegitables.
Blue men serve us mint tea while they display
their rugs. Bellows are used to heat the coals to heat the water
as the tea ceremony is explained by our host.
The Blue Men, Touareg, nomadic Bedouin traders,
describe the intricacies of hand woven rugs. Berber rugs are woven, not tied,
and the colors are more earth tones and come in many sizes
Ed is shown that for the price of one he
actually gets two carpets. They are so finely woven that you can show one side in
the summer and then turn them over and have a different carpet in the winter.
But he makes it clear he is definately not interested in buying a carpet.
As our bus drives into the mountains we have
a view of the oasis created by the river flowing from the mountains.
The homes are build on the side of the bluffs,
or into the desert so all tillable land can be cultivated.
Incongurity of cultures: Woman coming home with a donkey
laiden with firewood talking on a cell phone.
Our guide riding a donkey at the Gorges Tudra
The decorated doors of our restaurant at
the head of the Gorges of Turdra
The river just springs from under ground to form the river gorge.
When we drive out of the mountains and return to Tinerhir
we follow the river and can clearly see how it creates oasis Tudra
The river provides life giving water to thousands
before it disappears beneath the sands of the Sahara
Women decorate their hands with Henna
Henna made from a vegitable dye which lasts about a week.
After the decoration is drawn it is necessary to dry the design over hot coals
Henna decorations take many forms
Being decorated with Henna is the Moroccan equivilent
to having your nails done before dinner.
No bridges here, just drive through the raging river.
We stop and get out in the rain for a photo of the valley.
Everyone is huddling against the rain.
As we drive through the small mountain villages I
notice that neither the rain nor cold stop the men
from their morning social over mint tea. This is when a
hooded jallaba comes in real handy.
The river flows out of the mountains. See the layers
of sedimentary rock turned on their sides as the mountains are being pushed up?
It is raining and cold in the mountains and I get
out of the jeep just long enough at the headwaters of the Gorges du Dades to take a picture.
As we wait for the pizza we are treated to hot mint tea
as we sit covered in blankets in our host's living room.
Whether we are in a castle, or shop in the souk, or the
humble home in a small village, a guest is always served mint tea.
It is a symbol of hospitality and considered very ill-mannered to refuse it.
The Kasba Amerhidil at the Skoura oasis was built in
the 11th century.
In the Sahara the term "Kasbah means "house".
In the north and west it is a fortification. The Kasba [name for "home" in Sahara Morocco] is made
of pressed mud and decorated with symbols of the Berber tribe to which it belongs
The iman's brother, also studying to become an iman, pours mint tea
Our host, the iman, is most gracious
We are treated to a demonstration of a Berber wedding
The marriages are frequently arranged and the bride
and groom do not meet each other until after the ceremony
The iman's wife blushed with embarrassment when the bride
and groom, as is an American custom, kissed after the wedding
let me know.
Belli at the Grand Titons, June 2015