This is the first part of a photo documentary about a trip to Morocco in 2018. I arrived early morning in Marrakech, after an early flight from Geneva, with a pastel-de-nata-fuelled layover in Lisboa, Portugal. My family, except for Crumble the cat and Cajou the Golden Retriever, were arriving later that day. At their arrival, we hoped into the car and drove to Imlil, a small town in the Atlas mountain range. As we drove into Imlil, the streets were empty and unusually quiet. It was Ramadan and while the sun was setting and the last prayer heard, the people of Imlil were filling their stomachs after a full-day fast. What follows is a set of pictures taken throughout this trip, in an attempt at immersing you into the wonderful colours, pungent odours, and rich culture that Morocco fosters.
On our first full day, with the hope of catch a glimpse of Jbel Toubkal, the tallest mountain in Morocco standing 4167m tall, we left early from Imlil and walked towards the higher mountains. The village you see on the right of the picture is Aremd,
Unfortunately, during our two night stay in Imlil, the clouds continuously enveloped the Toubkal.
Throughout our short walk, herds of goats could be seen moving over the rocky landscape. Each herd is guided by a shepherd, most of whom have weathered skin and hop over the mountain as seamlessly as the animals.
After two nights in Imlil, we left towards Skoura. We were hoping to catch a bit of sun and see the Atlas on what is supposed to be one of the most scenic roads in the country. Unfortunately, the weather was once again mediocre at best. Diving through the countryside, we saw acres of cut wheat piled in small bundles waiting to be collected.
After a few hours of driving, we arrived at the 2260m high Tizi N'Tichka Pass, where dozens of tourist vehicles had stopped to take in the view.
A few kilometers later the landscape becomes much more arid and plants only grow on the edges of the Oueds (a moroccan term denoting a river of irregular intensity) around which irrigation channels have been created.
After taking a dirt road for a few dozen kilometers, we arrived at Telouet, a small Berber town that was once a commercial hub. In this town, there is a Kasbah, basically like a small castle or palace for the Pacha (noble man), built in the early 20th century with the money made from the taxes taken on caravans passing in the area. This privilege all but ended a few years later, with the first construction of the road two pictures up.
This is the Telouet Kasbah, and the next 4 pictures are from its interior. The buildings in this region deteriorate very quickly due to their construction materials which often is simply packed dirt, which is what gives them a red tint.
We continued along the road, coming across a multitude of small villages over oases. Towns are almost always built after the irrigation-line (the line in the valley above which no irrigation passes), as to maximize the plantation area.
Morocco Part Two will shortly follow.