Marrakech and subsahara villages - Morocco 2009

<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1&quot;/> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/> </v:formulas> <v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/> <o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="Afbeelding_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1028" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="http://chris-en-hils.smugmug.com/photos/465557324_cEcvJ-XL.jpg&quot; style='width:555.75pt; height:233.25pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\CHRIST~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg" o:title="465557324_cEcvJ-XL"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->
Map of the area. Below the mountain ridge (atlas) lies a stony desert. The sahara lies further down towards algaria.

Marrakech has one of the biggest intact medieval parts of the city in the world. The old city (medina) is surrounded by a huge wall to keep the sand and intruders out. because new buildings are being build outside the medina with its small streets and medieval infrastructure, the centre remains authentic.

<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Afbeelding_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_i1027" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="http://chris-en-hils.smugmug.com/photos/465057664_B5Ax9-XL.jpg&quot; style='width:388.5pt;height:8in;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\CHRIST~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image002.jpg" o:title="465057664_B5Ax9-XL"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->

Entrance to the old medina.

<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Afbeelding_x0020_3" o:spid="_x0000_i1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="http://chris-en-hils.smugmug.com/photos/465016654_df6dH-XL.jpg&quot; style='width:378pt;height:8in;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\CHRIST~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image003.jpg" o:title="465016654_df6dH-XL"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->

metalworker working on a new lantern or fence in the metalworking area in the medina.

<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Afbeelding_x0020_4" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="http://chris-en-hils.smugmug.com/photos/465542500_x4hNG-XL.jpg&quot; style='width:768pt;height:8in;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\CHRIST~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image004.jpg" o:title="465542500_x4hNG-XL"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->
The souks of Marrakech: narrow streets full of small shops and (sometimes too) enthousiastic salespersons. Improvised roofs are added to keep the temperature down.


Selling herbs: outside the touristic souks, moroccans lead a more simple life selling basic necessities at the street

The kotoubia: the largest mosque of marrakech

at dusk, the kotoubia towers out above the city, marking the centre of activity.

Leaving the city behind, we head towards the mountains and the desert villages that lie behind them.


Its hard to imagine a scenery so contrasting to the city just 1 hour driving.


In the valleys, the soil is fed by the mountain rivers and are green(ish) even in winter. Typical of the region, berber goatherders are seen walking their sheeps and goats.

driving around there is little besides dry bedrock and simple houses. Maybe it's the conditions in which they live that prevent any productivity but i've never seen that many men standing around doing nothing all day as i have in morocco. Makes you wonder what keeps the bread coming to the table.


littered throughout the landscape are these fortlike buildings called 'kasbahs'. they are made of stone, clay and straw but can be very high. We stopped our car alongside the road and walked into one of the nearby towns. Local boys toured us for a small fee and showed us around and inside the old kasbahs.

inside the kasbah, its dark and the floor bounces when you walk over it. In the foreground you can see the clay floor.


North of ourzazate lies the ancient 'ksour' (fortress) Aït ben haddou. It was the backdrop of the lawrence of arabia film.


While cleaning the rivermud from between our toes from the crossing of the river we saw the sun set on Aït ben haddou. It was crazy romantic


On the way back to Marrakech the weather changed dramatically in the mountains and it was unsure if we could clear the pass between the subsahara and marrakech. Luckily we managed to drive through the snow and fog with 3km/hour making it to lower parts.