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Walking into the Main Square or Jemaa el-Fnaa of the old city you are hit with all kinds of sights, smells, and sounds. There are musicians, dancers, snake charmers, fortunetellers, fruit sellers, and henna painters.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7600/...7153b8d4_c.jpgmarrakesh 21 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7679/...42183eb0_c.jpgmarrakesh 43 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8814/...c2ef3cfb_c.jpgmarrakesh 44 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8737/...4b9f72f3_c.jpgmarrakesh 45 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7687/...32b17800_c.jpgmarrakesh 46 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8785/...4dce78c9_c.jpgmarrakesh 47 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
For the evening we did a totally touristy thing we went to a dinner show at the Palais Jad Mahal. The fire twirlers and belly dancers were entertaining, but like most of these places the food was mediocre.
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8730/...a3de4a5d_c.jpgmarrakesh 90 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8696/...eda35faa_c.jpgmarrakesh 91 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7585/...0cce68c4_c.jpgmarrakesh 92 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7710/...6b94ca6d_c.jpgmarrakesh 93 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7708/...aa2b1e23_c.jpgmarrakesh 95 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8731/...f221311e_c.jpgmarrakesh 97 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8763/...29c0b502_c.jpgmarrakesh 98 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7612/...8c3268d9_c.jpgmarrakesh 99 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
Oukaimeden road
The plan today had been to go 160 km north east to visit the d’Ozoud waterfalls and drive back. The forecast was for rain so instead we decided to just hang out and rest in the city. This gave the guys some time to work on the bikes also. For Dan this was to get the rocks stuck in my bash plate out. While he was doing this he found that 3 of the bolts were sheared off. Again this was from the hell road after bashing poor Lulu over the big rocks for 6 hours she is a bit busted up. Lucking he had 2 spares.
Today the sun is out again and we are headed south to Taroudant in 294 KM, but we will take the scenic route with a detour to Oukaimeden. https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5331/...37208783_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-04-20 at 8.43.30 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8791/...6878050c_c.jpgtaroudant 2 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8800/...8e3a1e4f_c.jpgtaroudant 3 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr This paved one lane road thru the mountains passes remote villages and offers stunning view of the Atlas Mountains. You access this from the N9. https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8697/...d13de788_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-04-20 at 8.43.47 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8690/...d7618e43_c.jpgtaroudant 4 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7618/...ce71125e_c.jpgtaroudant 5 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr The kids are all out of school this week and so for fun they hang out at the roadside to see who comes by. The love the “hi 5”! https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7674/...5cefc150_c.jpgtaroudant 7 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8743/...4c04b4bf_c.jpgtaroudant 8 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
Taroudant
There are a few easy water crossings and a few washed out sections.
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8712/...9f218508_c.jpgtaroudant 10 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7673/...266ac637_c.jpgtaroudant 12 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8793/...728aefdb_c.jpgtaroudant 13 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
The views are breathtaking!
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8807/...92a63952_c.jpgtaroudant 14 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7715/...9995722d_c.jpgtaroudant 16 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7638/...1db0d43c_c.jpgtaroudant 17 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8812/...2279a914_c.jpgtaroudant 18 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7711/...37f7ff8f_c.jpgtaroudant 20 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7705/...5d897a04_c.jpgtaroudant 27 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7608/...9302d023_c.jpgtaroudant 28 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7649/...331d0451_c.jpgtaroudant 31 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7678/...5923e88b_c.jpgtaroudant 33 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8690/...8cb5815e_c.jpgtaroudant 34 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7677/...068f9895_c.jpgtaroudant 36 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
Headed down from the hills you rejoin the N9 and snake along the river on a 1 lane paved road.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7599/...9bd17416_c.jpgtaroudant 39 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7656/...2f1bc6ed_c.jpgtaroudant 40 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7593/...5c396444_c.jpgtaroudant 43 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7673/...cb77fb5a_c.jpgtaroudant 47 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7716/...d3b78729_c.jpgtaroudant 54 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7604/...4e756673_c.jpgtaroudant 42 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
This then climbs up again to the summit of the Tizi n Test pass. This road is listed for some reason as unpaved and dangerous on the map, neither is true. From here you snake down the mountainside on the switchbacks.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7716/...8330e36e_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-04-20 at 8.44.04 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7699/...75a527ac_c.jpgtaroudant 62 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7632/...6a7e6c4e_c.jpgtaroudant 63 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8727/...038da69e_c.jpgtaroudant 64 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8732/...c946bc8f_c.jpgtaroudant 49 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8690/...b30567ac_c.jpgtaroudant 48 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7687/...f5f97f13_c.jpgtaroudant 66 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7627/...303db4ea_c.jpgtaroudant 67 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7633/...26d623cf_c.jpgtaroudant 69 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8735/...45e7a55b_c.jpgtaroudant 73 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7642/...1c38f5ea_c.jpgtaroudant 70 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7600/...f84f09f1_c.jpgtaroudant 72 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8775/...6eceb0cb_c.jpgtaroudant 80 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
Arriving in town we did not have anything booked. The first place we looked was in the Medina, but was a bit sketchy. We drove out to the main road and stopped at a fancy and expensive Kasbah and asked to borrow their wifi. From here we found a camping place that had nice tents right beside the 500-year-old city wall. The owners were nice enough to steer us thru the streets to the main square and it’s restaurants.
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8714/...32ea5191_c.jpgDSC09802 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8695/...8f758b5b_c.jpgtaroudant 83 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8734/...763cfc40_c.jpgtaroudant 86 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7725/...9e0c4b79_c.jpgDSC09799 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
Tafraoute
Leaving Taroudant we decided to go 179 Km to Tafraoute, a town which was recommended by a couple we had met on the road yesterday.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7683/...e985ccac_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-04-26 at 7.41.22 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr The drive there is all on the paved road, though still with amazing views and no traffic. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7691/...cf125cc3_c.jpgtafraoute 2 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8739/...492920b0_c.jpgtafraoute 3 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8749/...46e8a2ce_c.jpgtafraoute 5 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8819/...5f46a1ca_c.jpgtafraoute 9 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8726/...4cb6538d_c.jpgtafraoute 12 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7714/...a3e984c5_c.jpgIMG_0027 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7613/...62a6e30a_c.jpgIMG_0026 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
We took a small detour into one of the villages to see what there was to see….not much. These people have nothing. They have wells for water and they have electricity, but there are no services at all.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7621/...cc2d31c9_c.jpgicht 15 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7604/...37ed609e_c.jpgIMG_0038 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8697/...a28268f4_c.jpgIMG_0032 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7611/...67d6359c_c.jpgtafraoute 13 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7678/...9b11e27e_c.jpgtafraoute 14 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr From here the road continued to wind thru the hills. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7600/...660fe590_c.jpgIMG_0007 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7712/...8ed78225_c.jpgtafraoute 17 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8798/...a12cb940_c.jpgIMG_0020 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
Tafraoute is a nice Berber town and there are few tourists. This was market day so many people from surrounding towns were here shopping.
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8698/...536f29b7_c.jpgtafraoute 20 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7661/...297cf843_c.jpgIMG_0049 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr The first restaurant we found in town actually had some of the best food we have had so far. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7604/...f22249b0_c.jpgtafraoute 18 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7625/...0fd01516_c.jpgtafraoute 19 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr The local dress for the women is western clothes, but over top the wear a black sari like covering with elaborate embroidered hems. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7790/...84e5e38d_c.jpgIMG_4459 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr We found a very nice and very cheap hotel off the main square. https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8808/...2bfdd71c_c.jpgIMG_4453 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
Icht
Still headed south we made for Icht in 111 KM. This was initially on the paved 1 lane R 107. It looks a lot like Sedona here.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7670/...de0e438d_o.pngScreen Shot 2015-04-26 at 7.45.19 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8815/...17f9390c_c.jpgicht 1 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8790/...59a9326f_c.jpgIMG_0054 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
We took a detour on the “ track to the painted rocks” to see said rocks. Belgian artist Jean Verame, painted giant rocks in 1984 in glowing blue colours. They say he used 18 tons of blue colour.
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8781/...700495c7_c.jpgicht 3 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7626/...658bb3f1_c.jpgicht 4 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8756/...55f76695_c.jpgicht 5 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8813/...2b69f463_c.jpgicht 6 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8705/...b4238037_c.jpgicht 7 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8744/...b96fc2c2_c.jpgicht 9 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7711/...c16a1cfb_c.jpgIMG_0078 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7683/...ac82ce46_c.jpgIMG_0072 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
The paved road continues south from Tafraoute thru the rock formations.
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8827/...638d49ef_c.jpgicht 13 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7709/...897a1fcc_c.jpgicht 16 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8826/...fefa31ab_c.jpgicht 18 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr From about 20 km out of town the 107 becomes a very good dirt road. https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8714/...c9163351_c.jpgicht 20 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7713/...54249307_c.jpgicht 32 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7698/...0ced0519_c.jpgicht 33 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7646/...2392142b_c.jpgIMG_0091 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on FlickrFlickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7600/...fd657a3b_c.jpgIMG_0093 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
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