Morocco

Only 3 hours away from Paris, Morocco looked like the easiest way of setting foot into Africa for the first time. I had 16 days and decided for the South, hoping for milder weather.

I arrived in Marrakech on a flight full with French families going to spend the festivities in their holiday homes or resorts, and found a half-empty medina: most artisans had returned to their villages to slaughter sheep for Aid el-Kébir.

I had an uneventful and relaxing Xmas in the coastal town of Essaouira and then returned to Marrakech in order to meet with Isabelle. We rented a car and left for the East, over the Atlas to Ouarzazate and the road of the kasbahs...

We were very lucky with the weather and enjoyed the wonderful colors of the High Atlas, the palmeries and the desert. At night, though, it was quite cold!

From Ouarzazate, we went to the Dadès Valley, taking an improvised route through the Vallée des Roses at sunset and then on to Tinerhir and the Todra Gorge.

Morocco’s tourism industry is very developed and heading to the sand dunes in Merzouga, we were assaulted by kids trying to sell us fossils, cameleers looking for paying photographers and guides selling their services. People would ask for lifts just to be able to steer you to a particular guesthouse.

Apart from the hassle in the markets and touristic spots, I was very fond of Morocco. I was struck especially by the colors, the friendliness of the people, the variety of landscapes and the beauty of islamic architecture.

Click on the different sections below for the pictures