Rissani Favorites

Favorite thing: When I visited Rissani in 1975 I walked from the centre of Rissani a little bit away from the livily area in the direction of the desert. And there I found the donkey market, but also the 'parking lot' of donkeys.

There is a huge donkey trade in Rissani. Donkeys seemed to be the most important mean of transportation in the small villages in this area. Everywhere in the area where we travelled with our truck we saw many villagers with their donkeys along the roads and in the villages.

Favorite thing: When I came to Rissani the first time in 1975, I enjoyed the exploration of the Rissani market. It was for the first time I visited such a market. For every type of goods or animals was a separate place in the market area.

So I found a scenic place surrounded by collonades (see picture), a good shelter against sun. Most of the traders brought their own canvas for protection against the burning sun. Or maybe also against the blowing sand ? At this place the traders sold the wool of sheep, but maybe also of goats.

Fondest memory: In 1975 it was great to walk around in this fascainting world at the edge of the desert, being the only visitor from outside the area.

Favorite thing: wealthy people have their own palmtree in the garden

Fondest memory: In our countries in Europe, most people see a tree just as a decoration - but here in the desert a tree is a much more - it is like a treasure - spending shadow and offering dates all year long.
Therefore it is also NO good idea to eat some of these fruits from the trees, as they all belong to someone and make the income and food for a local family...

Favorite thing: Rissani is one of the last villages, before you will go into the Sahara, and somewhere a bit outside of the village we had a stop and saw this herd of camels.
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Fondest memory: and the Sahara will not always as sandy as you expect, and also not totally without any vegetation, BUT it is full of a big variety of simple and almost unvisible flowers, plants, bugs and other insects.

Favorite thing: This time I went to Rissani there was the anual biggest fair. This is the biggest selling place in all southern Morocco and many years ago it was the most imporatnt commrcial city from all north africa. people from mali, senegal and mauritanea used to come here with camels and buy goods to take south to their countries. commercial routes like that has disapeard but even tough its quite big the agitation you see.

Favorite thing: Click on the pic to see the fine ornaments

Fondest memory: Rissani was somehow the most surprising place for me in Maroc - as i never expected such rich ornaments inside a village, almost in the desert...

Favorite thing: I never expected to see such fine arts in a village like Rissani

Fondest memory: It was inside one of the shops, and was proudly shown to us - the roof is open for fresh air - and rain - if it ever happens a few times a year , was no problem at all, as it disappears into the ground within a very short time

Favorite thing: there is so much to explore - and some of the houses offer a path with covered arcades to be protected against the sun

Fondest memory: In the brochure of the tour-company I read, that they recommend to wear a warm jacket in the Sahara - it sounded so funny, but is absolutely the best you may do - I had my winter-jacket and was protected against the hot sun - and the steady wind, that would have dried out the skin within a short time.
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and also the locals had their warm Chellabahs...