We continued this morning through the “Valley of the Thousand Kasbahs,” stony desert landscapes with many villages and Kasbahs. This area us called the Hollywood of Africa because many movies are filmed there. Jay and Christian, you would get a huge kick out of this area. Apparently they bring in crews for 6 months to make a movie. Our first stop was at one of the most exotic and best-preserved Kasbahs in the whole Atlas region, Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou. UNESCO has designated this as a World Heritage. It has been used for scenes in films such as Lawrence of Arabia and Jewels of the Nile. Driving after lunch towards Marrakech, we crossed the High Atlas Mountains at 7,000 feet, with panoramic views of arid mountains and lush oases shadowing the rivers far below. After arriving in Marrakech and regrouping at 4 pm, we had our first introduction to the famous Djemaa el-Fna Square, perhaps the greatest open-air spectacle in the world, where I could see the colors and feel the pulse of Morocco. I drifted with the smells and sounds of the souks. Marrakech follows the beat of an African drum. This imperial city has been almost continually occupied since Neolithic times, and was once the Berber capital. Traveling back in time 2,000 years, I saw snake charmers, magicians, acrobats, and dancers, delighting children and adults alike. I have never seen a more bustling and lively area. It was a truly amazing experience. After a lovely dinner around the pool at the hotel, we stayed overnight for the next two nights at Hotel Tichka in Marrakech. It got very cool tonight outside.
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