Morocco – Day 3

I have to preface this day by saying this was our most memorable day of the trip (good/bad)!  We were truly in the desert, having to take jeeps, rather than our bus.

The first stop was in the ‘countryside’ (it still seems weird to use that word for the desert) to listen to a musical presentation.

Outside ‘Concert Hall’

With it being off-season for tourism, we were the only people attending this performance.  The men quietly filtered in and collected their instruments – drums, guitar, castanets.

Castanet Players/Dancers

The main singer was amazing and fun to watch.  He is actually the cover man for their CDs . . . very photogenic.

After a few songs, displaying their talents, the singers/dancers started pulling up kids to dance with them.  Only Dallin and Hannah were brave enough.  They had a lot of fun!

Group Dancing

Each family bought one of their CD’s as we left.  The kids have listened to ours since we’ve been home and it brings back some fun memories.

CD’s

We drove more into the hills/dunes.  We thought our final destination was the sand dunes for running and jumping.  It took us a bit to get anywhere as the ever-changing desert terrain was difficult to navigate, even with the 4-wheel drive jeeps.

Nourdinne Surveying the Stuck Jeep

At one point, we had to stop while our driver got out to assist the other jeep navigate up a hill.

Finding the Best Route Over the Hill

Onward and upward we went, thinking we had come to the dunes that we were playing on (or so we thought – so much is lost in translation and delivery).  As we drove, Nourdinne pointed out this deserted-looking village in the ‘countryside’.  He said the military uses it.  We didn’t see anyone and the buildings seemed to be just walls.  We were able to pick out the school and church buildings, which were the nicer and more sturdy of the buildings.  But, where was everyone?

The Village

We got out of the car and the boys gravitated to the dunes, only to find that’s not what we were there for.

Boys on the Dune

We looked over the village and saw where some people were working in a ‘mascara factory,’ in the hills.  It didn’t look much like a factory so I’m wondering if that is where they get the ingredients for the mascara.  We saw one boy, probably 11-12 years old who had feet stained black from working in the hills.  (I didn’t feel brave enough to take his picture.)

Kids Overlooking Village

We drove some more and saw a nomad’s camp.  It was neat to see from afar and hear about their lives, but then Nourdinne had the drivers stop and told us to get out.  What?!  I still feel weird about this tiny portion of the trip.  It was awkward as they used this as a ‘tourist stop.’  We felt very invasive.

Driving up to the Nomad’s Camp

It was eye-opening for the kids to see how the nomads live, using what they have to make shelters.

Hannah in front of a Shelter

Shelter Made from Grass and Clothes

We were encouraged to walk around and take pictures.  The whole while the nomad family watched us from their tent.  Nourdinne did talk to them at first, but I’m not sure what he said.  As we left, they accepted some money.

Nomad Children in Tent

Nomad’s Donkey Tied Up at a Distance

The mood was definitely different as we drove on.

Camels in the Distance

The next stop was a fossil field.  Not knowing what to expect at this point with little explanation, we were more hesitant to get out of the jeeps.  A few of us got out to explore this field.

Hannah at the Fossil Field

The driver put water on a rock so we could see the fossils more distinctly.

Fossils in Rock

At this point, we were just feeling out of sorts and not too much into fossils so Nourdinne started to demonstrate how to use the headscarves as a turban.

Step 1

It was interesting to see how it gets fitted to your head in this beginning process, as the back knot does get taken out later on.

Step 2

Then the long end in the front gets wrapped around the head and tucked in so it fits the head perfectly tight.

Step 3

The back part gets unknotted and brought around the lower part of the face and tucked into the rest of it during sand storms.

Caleb – Finished Product

Emma opted not to have hers put into a turban, but got the same use out of it, looking more feminine.

Emma

We drove even further to the middle of nowhere and came to a hotel.  This was going to be our base camp as we geared up for camping in the desert that night.  First on the agenda was, of course, swimming!

Cooling off in the Pool

Again, the pool was not heated and definitely cooled you off, enough that you had to get out to warm up before going back in.

Boys Wrestling

The dads felt hot and sandy enough that they even joined the kids in the pool.

Scott, Hannah, Madeleine

Chris & Caleb’s Acrobatic Tricks

Cami’s Acrobatic Trick

It was great fun for everyone, using up their energy pent up in the jeeps and being able to cool off before we really went out in the desert.

The ‘Teens’

We were allowed to bring one backpack on our excursion in the desert, leaving all our other luggage and belongings at the hotel for the night, where we would come back and shower in the morning before taking off again.

Hotel Host & Cami

The kids all got ‘turban-ed’ up . . .

Hannah (red eyes from swimming)

Chris & Becca Ready to Leave

The Whole Group – Prepared!

As we left the hotel, we were guided to our camels, already tied together and saddled.

Camels at ‘The Ready’

Having never been so close to a camel, let alone ridden one, we were all very excited and a little anxious.

Our Camel Guide

Once we were all assigned a camel, we were off.

Group #1

Cami and Trevon weren’t old enough to ride a camel on their own so they each rode with one of us.  We also had another guy on the end of our caravan, who wasn’t with our tour.  Funny enough, he was a British guy living in America while the rest of us were Americans living in Britain.

Group #2

As we got further away from the hotel, it was amazing how remote we felt.  It really did seem like we were in the Sahara – like what you see in movies.

Group #1 on the Ridge

We rode for 1 – 1 1/2 hours on the camels.  It definitely gave a different meaning to ‘saddle sore.’  Ouch!

Shadows in the Sand

Before we got to the camp, our guide (Hassan) had us get off the camels and walk up the sand dunes.

Cami After our Ride into the Sahara

Walking up the sand dunes was harder than it looked.  It really was a workout!

Trying to get up the Dune

But, on top of the dune, it was an amazing view.  It was definitely windy with sand getting in your eyes, but it was so surreal.

Our Group in the Sahara

Ashton’s & Us

We have been to some pretty amazing places and seen places that I thought I would never see in my lifetime, but this has topped everything.

Shannon’s Picture of Our Family in the Sahara

We sat on that ridge and watched the sun set in the Sahara.  Again, so surreal!

Sahara Sunset

That night we enjoyed an amazing dinner prepared in the bedouin camp.  Because it was so hot, they had us sleep out under the stars instead of in the tents.  It was AMAZING!  The sky was so clear and the stars so distinct; you could pick out the constellations with ease.  It was the perfect way to fall asleep!

Shannon’s Picture of the Big Dipper