Rissani
We next visited a Berber rug store, the Maison Berbere.
Rissani
Rissani
Inside the rug store.
Rissani
Rissani
This Berber squirted our hands with magic water that would rid us of wrinkles.
Rissani
Rissani
He also squirted the magic water on bald heads. Guaranteed to grow back hair. The Berbers here had a very good sense of humor.
Rissani
Rissani
First, mint tea. Photo: Blowing air into the heater to increase the heat.
Rissani
Rissani
The Berbers made the tea similar to that made at tea ceremonies in Japan. First, rinse the teapot out with hot water to clean it, then put in the tea to brew, and next pour it. I think the mint went into the tea pot as well.
Rissani
Rissani
Clumps of sugar are in the front container––it is carried in clumps into the desert.
Rissani
Rissani
A cute couple––actually, they were two of our tour group who were “kidnapped” by the Berbers and who came back as a bride and groom. Note the metal chain on the side of her dress. When she is married, the chain will attach across her dress. “She” is “Beth,” a fellow American, but I don’t remember the man’s name––horrible to say since he was a jokester himself who provided us with many enjoyable laughs.
Rissani
Rissani
The embroidered back of Beth’s dress.
Rissani
Rissani
These Berbers travel in caravans (camel ones) across the desert five times a year. They trade with other tribes. Moroccan nomads can no longer cross the border into Algeria as its border is closed due to a border dispute. Photo: Bag used to carry things on the camels.
Rissani
Rissani
A Berber rug––quite beautiful. The Berber women weave these rugs on looms while in the desert. If the caravan moves, they just move the looms with it.
Rissani
Rissani
More Berber carpets. If you are a good bargainer, you will get an excellent price for a rug. Rugs can be shipped to your home.
Rissani
Rissani
Next stop: The Mausoleum of Moulay Ali Cherif, the father of Moulay er–Rachid (1664–72), founder of the Alaouite dynasty. The mausoleum was rebuilt in 1955 after it was damaged by flooding.
Rissani
Rissani
Garden inside the monastery.
Rissani
Rissani
A date palm.
Rissani
Rissani
Ali is holding up the Berber alphabet.
Rissani
Rissani
I took a photo of Ali’s shoes which I forgot to include above. They are made from goat skin.
Rissani
Rissani
The corridor. The woman would be a Berber.
Rissani
Rissani
A door.
Rissani
Rissani
Inside the mausoleum.
Rissani
Rissani
Young school children outside the mausoleum.
Rissani
Erfoud
In the late afternoon, most of our group went on an optional trip to the Erg Chebbi sand dunes in the Sahara Desert. After piling into six sturdy SUVs, we first drove up this very bumpy unpaved road up a hill.
Erfoud
Erfoud
Two of our drivers.
Erfoud
Erfoud
View of the valley below.
Erfoud
Erfoud
View of the oasis.
Erfoud
Erfoud
A closer–up view.
Erfoud
Erfoud
One more view: The Sahara Desert is to the left of the photo.
Erfoud
On the Road in the Desert
I’m not sure where the Sahara Desert officially begins, but I think we are in it.
On the Road in the Desert
Sahara Desert
Adobe buildings in the desert.
Sahara Desert
Sahara Desert
A Berber encampment.
Sahara Desert
On the Road in the Desert
Close–up of the tent.
On the Road in the Desert
Sahara Desert
Inside the tent.
Sahara Desert
Sahara Desert
Berber women washing clothes.
Sahara Desert
On the Road in the Desert
A Berber woman weaving.
On the Road in the Desert
Sahara Desert
The adobe house.
Sahara Desert
Sahara Desert
Inside the house.
Sahara Desert
On the Road in the Desert
Hanging on the side of the house.
On the Road in the Desert
Sahara Desert
Back on the road––actually, not a road, just desert floor: quite rocky. All the SUVs went in the same direction but each SUV could make its own path through the desert. One blew a tire and we had to wait for it to be fixed.
Sahara Desert
Sahara Desert
Onward.
Sahara Desert
Sahara Desert
Wild goats.
Sahara Desert
Sahara Desert
A kasbah in the desert. This and other kasbahs here serve as hotels for people climbing up or traveling on camels through the dunes. We were looking for the camel drivers––you have to find them, they don’t find you and they could be in different places. They weren’t at this kasbah.
Sahara Desert
Sahara Desert
Onward.
Sahara Desert
Sahara Desert
We trekked to the next kasbah. We were traveling for about 1 hour by now.
Sahara Desert
Sahara Desert
Here they are. These are the Erg Chebbi Dunes.
Sahara Desert
Sahara Desert
Camels are so cute.
Sahara Desert
Sahara Desert
These are also.
Sahara Desert
Sahara Desert
That’s my camel driver deciding on what camel I would ride on. I think I paid 200 Dhs (about $24) for the ride.
Sahara Desert
Sahara Desert
This one would be mine.
Sahara Desert
Sahara Desert
That’s me waving! I am on a camel! The camel throws you forward when it is getting up. I think it throws you backward when it sits down but I’m not sure although that makes sense. One additional camel was attached to the front camel for another rider. Explanation of my head scarf: A Berber was selling these scarves in our hotel. I saw one woman in our tour group buy one and the Berber tied it on her. I thought this was really neat and I did the same. The scarf was very comfortable, so comfortable that I didn’t take it off until, on the return to our hotel, people starting looking at me strangely.
Sahara Desert
Sahara Desert
That’s Rose with the red head scarf. She only made it a few yards into the ride when she decided that was enough for her.
Sahara Desert
Sahara Desert
That’s Geoff on the camel. He looks like a pro at this––he had previously ridden a camel in Egypt.
Sahara Desert
Sahara Desert
More of our group of camel riders. I think only 7 of us went on the camel ride. The rest of our group had coffee at the kasbah and awaited our return––about an hour later.
Sahara Desert
Sahara Desert
Saying good–bye to “civilization.”
Sahara Desert
Sahara Desert
Through the dunes. I held on with my left hand and took photos with my right hand. Was I nervous? Yes, throughout the entire ride. Riding a camel is bumpy and my camel didn’t want to go out on another ride and had to be put in its place by my camel driver. You also fear how far the ground is from the top of a camel in case you take a fall from it.
Sahara Desert
Sahara Desert
Onward. The dunes were beautiful. I’m glad now that I took the ride.
Sahara Desert
Sahara Desert
We got off the camels at the bottom of this huge sand dune. You’re kidding––you expect me to climb up that thing. Yes, but my driver took my hand and helped pull me up.
Sahara Desert
Sahara Desert
My camel driver. One reason they tie their scarves as they do around their heads is so they can easily put them over their faces when the sand starts blowing.
Sahara Desert
Sahara Desert
On top of the big sand dune. This is where we are supposed to view a spectacular Sahara sunset, except that it was overcast––an unusual thing in the Sahara. My driver had carried a rug for me to sit on.
Sahara Desert
Sahara Desert
Some of the camels waiting for us to come back down. Going back down the big dune: my driver grabbed the ends of the blanket and rapidly whisked me down––this was the fun part. I called it “a magic carpet.” But before we were put back on our camels, the drivers took out things they wished to sell to us. I bought a fossilized fish dish, I think for at least 100 Dhs (about $12). I wanted to make sure that my driver took me back from where we started and I wouldn’t be spending the night in the Sahara among its dunes.
Sahara Desert
Sahara Desert
On our way back to “civilization.” We didn’t arrive back at the kasbah until it was already dark. I think some of my tour group were getting worried about us. I’m really glad that I took the camel ride––a memory I will have forever.
