After the conference I hired a cab for a day trip to the Ourika Valley in the Atlas mountains. This is a popular destination to escape the summer heat for the locals, and the seven waterfalls have also made it part of the tourist circuit. That line in the middle of the image is a big crack in the windshield. I made sure that my seatbelt was buckled.
We stopped at various places along the way, including a women's cooperative that makes products based on the oil of the argan nut. You may have seen pictures of goats in argan trees, eating the outer fleshy part of the argan fruit. The nuts are then cracked and the oil is extracted from the crushed kernels. Argan oil is alleged to have all sorts of healthy and healing properties.
Some camels we saw along the way.
Scenic countryside.
Going native.
Setti Fatma, the little village by the waterfalls.
The hike is not easy, despite the popularity of the destination. This bridge was representative of the Moroccan transportation infrastructure.
The most spectacular waterfall and its pool. Perhaps small in comparison to others I have seen, but this was the most fresh running water I had seen in my whole trip.
The view from near the top.
With a boost from some of the locals, I scaled further up the mountain to see the upper waterfalls.
Back in the village, I met up with the driver in a café. This little kitten found my bag to be a comfy resting place.
This café back on the road is typical of the local scenery. There is a tiny little bridge that leads across the river from the road. The painted red sign is the Arabic version logo for Coca-Cola.
The guy from the Led Zeppelin album cover.
Driving back into town, with the Koutoubia in the distance.
Here are some new housing developments on the outskirts of town that seem to be built for ex-pats.
What looks to be a palm tree is really a cell phone tower.
My loot.
The Koutoubia at dusk.