10 "Khaleesi, the City of Yunkai is Yours!"

Game of Thrones Fans will recognize that quote; the city of "Yunkai" is actually Ait Benhaddou where we are staying tonight (Thursday.) We started off in Marrakech this morning and had our rental car delivered to us. Be sure and check out the video of Chris driving through the Medina! The beautiful mountain picture is a mere 20 minutes later!

Our route took us through the Tiz and Tiki pass, one of the highest points in the Atlas mountains. Kids were amazed that there is snow in AFRICA! We also stopped in Telouet to check out an abandoned Kasbah. At home this place would have been snapped up as a wedding location. Here it is abandoned and neighborhood kids and goats roam freely. Crazy.

We are now at Ait Benhaddou. This is a Ksar ( fortified village) that has been abandoned. As recently as 20 years ago it was still a lively village. The townspeople have slowly left and now there are only 6 families in the whole village. 2 of the families have turned their homes into B&B's. Very cool. You roam around this big stone village and feel like you are all alone.  It also happens to be the setting for many Hollywood movies and shows; GOT, the Mummy, Gladiator, Jack Ryan, Bourne movies, etc... We plan to get up early and hike to the top of the Kasbah and watch the sunrise. Wish me luck; stomping around in this boot for 200 steps is no small feat! 

Getting out of Marrakech

Kasbah at Telouet

Kasbah at Telouet

Scene from Game of Thones

Dinner Table at Ait Benhaddou

Driving through the Atlas Mountains

Getting to the Riad at Ait Benhaddou

09 A few more things...

Marrakech was absolutely crazy! Snake charmers, monkey handlers, hustlers, performers, henna tattooists... Everything we've heard about it and more! A few things that will be hard to forget:

- Both kids had monkeys just dropped on their heads, with a corresponding request for a tip for that privilege!

- Turtles being sold as pets, from tiny little ones to about handsized; but the same vendors are also COOKING turtles on their griddles! Disturbing.

- Don't think we adequately explained our lamb lunch. Each day the vendors in Mechoui Alley ( Lamb Alley) lower a couple dozen whole lambs down into a hole in the ground.  There is a clay oven down there. The lambs slow cook for hours. At lunch you order your lamb by the kilo. They haul it up, chop off an approximate weight, then serve it to you on a piece of wax paper with a chunk of fresh bread and some spices. Delicious!

- The poultry market has butchers displaying fresh chicken both hung up whole or prepared as breasts, legs, thighs, etc... With crates of LIVE chickens behind the counter! Definitely the freshest chicken ever!

- As a Muslim country, the faithful are called to prayers 5 times a day... everyday. It is startling at first but then you get used to it; was sleeping through the sunrise call by day 2!