Still in the High Atlas on our Journey from Marrakech to Erg Chebbi, we ripped pieces from round bread and dipped it in Argan Oil – mmm – nutty oily goodness. In the past, the nuts were picked and processed from goats’ droppings (urgh…). Luckily for us they are now most likely harvested directly from the bushy trees that grow wild, whose deep root systems hold the soil together and the desert at bay. Have you seen the photos of goats standing in trees in Morocco? Well those are Argan Trees. Today, the nuts continue to be cracked manually – the kernels destined to become culinary oil are toasted before grinding to make the oil extra tasty, while those heading for cosmetic pot are left al naturale.
Our driver was eager to pass on the fact that the argan oil industry in Morocco is mostly the domain of womens’ co-operatives.
In the 1.2 hours it took us to drive from the High Atlas to Ait Ben Haddou I managed to take 60 photographs from a moving vehicle, while B.H. managed 14. We can see who the compulsive one was/is – this is how the changing landscape looked from my very limiting seat in the back left of the Prado.
Our driver in an attempt to keep to schedule, had an allergy to photo stops unless they were of what he deemed to be a suitable subject, so when he pulled over voluntarily we knew we were in for something special. We walked to a rocky knoll and looked out across the green Ounila River Valley. In the distance was Ait Ben Haddou whose photo I captured through the window of a nearby abandoned building.
Soon we would be following in the footsteps of Jesus and Lawrence of Arabia, Ali Baba or Cleopatra, in a cinematic back drop kind of way. It does look vaguely biblical – don’t you agree?
Next week we will take a walk through the Unesco Heritage listed site of Ait Ben Haddou, an exotic 17th Century fortified village that clambers, higgledy piggledy up a dry pebbly hill.
Until then make sure you visit BUDGET TRAVELERS SANDBOX where Travel Photo Thursday reveals travel photos from near and far.
Be sure to join the BUDGET TRAVEL TALK COMMUNITY ON FACEBOOK.
Marrakech to the dunes of Erg Chebbi – Atlas Mountains (Part 1)
A visit to Ait Ben Haddou would be on my list when I’m lucky enough to visit. I especially like your first photos with the wild colour. That’s labour intensive work splitting those nuts.
I wish I had seen the goats in the Argan trees, but they must have been elsewhere!
Oh sigh, each one of your segments moves this a step higher on the bucket list. Loved this post!!
Your Comments move higher on my bucket list – glad you enjoyed.
Beautiful photos! I would love to go to Morocco!
Hope you and The Geoff get there soon Katie!
My aunt went to Erg Chebbi and raved about it for years afterwards. Love your landscape shots; it looks beautiful and otherwordly.
It definitely was otherworldly Sophie!
Amazing place 🙂
Thanks Muza-chan!
I’m loving the armchair ride with you through this part of Morocco. Thanks for the reminder of the goats in the trees which we saw just outside Essaouira.
Jenny I went to Essaouira as well – and no goats in trees along the way there either. And I absolutely love goats, my grandmother had a herd of milking goats. Although I admit to seeing lots of goats, just not in trees.
Great landscape pictures. I always forget to snap pictures from a moving car but rather opt to pull over way too often. Then when I get home, I am always sorry I didn’t take more pictures!
Thanks Jen, I dearly would have loved to stop, but I realize we had to keep on driving. With three passengers in the vehicle if we stopped every time one of us wanted to take a photo we would have got nowhere!
This is an area of the world that I know almost nothing about. I have really enjoyed your photojournalism!
Thanks Jessica, I really enjoy seeing other peoples’posts like this about places I have not been myself. You can get a real feel for whether you would like to go or not.
These are beautiful pictures and from a moving car too. Morocco is one of the places that has been llingering on my travel wish list.
Thanks Mary, It was on mine for SO long.
I love all the color. I know which photographer I would have been! I think I would have had to bribe the driver to stop more often. Morocco is creeping higher and higher on my list because of your posts 🙂
The colour decreases the closer you get toward the desert. A worthwhile trip though.
That last shot is very biblical looking. I have always wanted to visit this part of Morocco.
Thanks Suzy – I was so glad I did the trip – the contrasts were amazing.
Love the bright colours of Morocco! The transitioning landscape is also wonderful.
I agree Colleen. I wonder if the colourful clothes are a direct result of the brown landscape? Although the closer we got to the desert I noticed the women’s clothes became black. I asked our driver who said the colourful clothes are on Berber women and the black clothes on Arab women. If this is the case then I guess there are more Arab women closer to the desert.
Very interesting to learn about the argan oil industry being run by womens’ co-operatives. The oil and the bread does look quite tasty, too. Love the scenes of Morocco in your photos.
Thanks Cathy, Yes it is interesting that the industry is run by women. Argan oil products are for sale everywhere in Marrakech, but it is probably best to buy it from the source.
Would love to visit Morocco and your pictures, even if taken from the back of a car really tempt me to get there.
Thanks Jo, Morocco is challenging, but so worth it.