Ait Ben Haddou Local Customs

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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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Hopefully You will not get any problems with your teeth while travelling through Marocco !
Real Dentists are rare & too expensive for most people in Morocco.
Mostly this kind of business is done on the markets by special people without a real medical education.
Soemtimes You will be able to watch them tearing out the teeth of the customers, who will need artificial teeth afterwards.

Click on the pictures to enlarge them, and choose one of the many samples: my favorite is the one on top on the right with the heart on it !

This is one of the the most photographed and painted donkeys in Morocco. It stands near the beginning of the ascent every visitor makes through the town. And nearly everybody who passes it, takes a photo. I noticed that it was also featured in many of the paintings in the souvenir shops. It is quite a character too. We tried to coax it into a more photogenic position. Just before it got to where we wanted it, it spotted a shirt hanging out to dry, tried to eat it, then when it found it was inedible, it shook it around, trampled it underfoot, then returned to its former position in the shade.

maison d'hote