More Morrocan Moments

When I was preparing for our trip to Morocco, I read the  trip notes that Intrepid Travel provided to get a sense of what to look forward to.  As detailed and comprehensive as the itinerary was on paper, the actual experience of participating in the activities was still something I wasn’t fully prepared for nor expected, in the best possible way.

Here’s more Morrocan moments (continued from part one):

8.    Spend a morning observing local farming life in the Todgha Gorge.

After the surreal and rugged experience of the Sahara desert overnight camp and trek, it was a welcome treat to have stay at a comfortable hotel in the Todgha Gorge valley.  A dog guide Bobby and his human assistant  (okay, maybe it was the other way around) took us for a lovely walk around the neighboring farms and villages situated in the canyon and straddling the Dades River.   We ended our walk in the dramatic, narrow part of the canyon where we bid our guides goodbye.

9.  Rock the kasbah at Ait Benhaddou

Ait Benhaddou is a UNESCO World Heritage site in the province of Ouarzazate, with the exact time of construction unknown.  It is a distinctly striking collection of earthen buildings characteristic of the region.  Unlike other ksars (fortified villages) of its era, this one has Hollywood pedigree.  It is a popular site for filming movies and TV shows, including the Game of Thrones.  While sometimes referred to as a kasbah, it is actually a composed of a several kasbahs or fortified homes for prominent families.

10.   See how a locally-run therapy and rehab foundation is helping the indigent disabled of the region.

As a physical therapist, the visit to the rehabilitation center of Horizon Association for People with Disabilities in the city of Ouarzazate was something I looked forward to.  Seeing familiar tools of the trade and interacting with the staff and patients gave me a sense of home.   It was particularly interesting to hear about the specific challenges of helping rehabilitate patients who live far away in desert communities.  If I thought teaching walking on stairs was a challenge, I can only imagine how challenging it was to train a patient to return to walking on loose sand after a stroke or amputation.

11.  Climb the High Atlas Mountains and stay with locals in the surrounding villages of Armed/Aroumd.

After hours of seeing the High Atlas Mountains from a distance, it finally came time to climb it.  It was an hour-long trek up from the village of  Imlil where we parked our van and left our big luggage at an inn, taking only small packs for staying overnight.  While most of our group hiked up the rocky and sometimes slippery path, I opted for a donkey ride and took in the peaceful beauty of the mountainside in relative comfort.  A light snowfall completed this experience.  It was magical to witness the farm lands and the surrounding grounds be gradually covered with snow.  I did make up for my easy trek up by joining the group in walking around the villages the following morning.

To be continued … again …