Sahara tour day 1

 Although some people explored the Sahara with public transport, I am too lazy to do so at the end of my 2-month trip. I paid for a 3-day desert tour and spent most of the time in the mini van with 12 tourists today. The most important site was Unesco Ksar of Ait ben Haddou, a historic ighrem or ksar along the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech in Morocco. It is considered a great example of Moroccan earthen clay architecture. This mostly abandoned village remains an impressive sight and has been the decor for a range of movies, including Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator.  We saw a local artisan making beautiful paintings of the desert and mountain landscape using only natural pigments. For the yellow of the sand, he mixed saffron threads in water. For the blue of the sky, he used indigo in water. For the brown/black skin color, he mixed green tea and sugar in water, and then burn with fire to melt the sugar like creme brulee.  We also stoped by the Todra gorge near Tinghir.

Our dinner started with a warming bowl of harira (French: soupe marocaine), a delicious soup made from lentils, chick peas, lamb stock, tomatoes and vegetables. Then came my 1st Tagine (or tajine), a spicy stew of meat and vegetables that has been simmered for many hours in a conical clay pot (from which the dish derives its name). Some fruits were served as dessert.