Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou
by call_me_rhia
Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou - the perfect casbah... a sight of amazing beauty built mainly in mud on the slope of a steep rocky hill. It is made up of a maze of multi-storey ancient dwellings and was once a thriving community on the caravan route.
Very few families live in the village nowadays - most have moved to the adjoining modern town - mainly because the ksar doesn't have running water or electricity, though there are now plans to change this. It's difficult to pinpoint one or two sights that are better than others - it's the entire place that makes it so perfectly beautiful. Of course the mosque is the most eye-catching sight of all, but without its background of old little alleys and lanes it would lose quite a bit of its charm.
Sunset on the top of the Hill of Ben Haddou Ruins
by johnsakura
Thats me on the left, Emma and Henry. Henry was a bit sick due to some couscous with olives that i cooked. sorry man! :o)
now, this is a must while visiting the kasbah. That valley just looks amazing and its actually on my top list for most beautiful places where i saw the sun going down to sleep.
Kasbah decorated wall
by johnsakura
This is the view of the side of one kasbah. Its just amazing how this big mud building just stay there without fall down, well, they do have problems with erosion but that can be quickly fixed, just money is needed. The money part is held by UNESCO programe for saving and rebuild old houses and kasbahs inside the walls of the ancient village of Ait Ben Haddou.
Kasbah
by johnsakura
Another house inside the village. This one has a moroccan flag hung. This house is located on the west gate to the village, and since last year, people are asking for money for you to get in and visit the village. Before that you could just enter and enjoy. I somehow think this way is better to get money for the rebuilt of the village ruined houses, but somehow i also think someone is actually getting money without making any use to it, because UNESCO gives money for the reconstuctrion of the Kasbahs.
some thoughts about children working for tourists
by globetrott
Plenty of children are waiting for customers to guide them over the river, as there are only a few places and paths through the wide river, that may be used to get to the ancient town of Ait Ben Haddou.
Mostly their whole family depends on that kind of extra-income...
BUT just imagine, if these kids bring home more money that their father, who had to work hard in the fields or a factory...
These kids would certainly NOT want to learn a real profession, but simply think, life will always go on the more easy way with the "tourist-business"...
but one day he/she is not a cute child anymore, the business will be done by younger kids, and they never had learned a real job.
So simply do not be too generous with the kids, who are offering this kind of service !
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hmm, breakfast !!!
beds on the left, hangers on the right
the shady innercourts
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