About 19 miles north of Ouarzazte, the ksar (fortified city) of Ait Benhaddou backs up to a large hill. This location has been used for many films, including Gladiator. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. And, yes, we climbed all the way to the top.
The kasbah's crenallated towers are decorated with blind arches and geometric designs in negative relief. Today there are only 10 families living here.
Like the kasbah in Ouarzazte, it is also made of mud bricks.
On the way down there was a guy painting and selling watercolors using only saffron, henna, tea and indigo. Here he has painted on the paper with tea, and in order to get it to show up, he has to warm/ slightly burn the back of the paper. Pretty cool, huh?
We stopped at an Amazighen Women's Weaving Co-op also that day. Here, a lady is hand knotting a rug. Lots of work, and very much worth it's expensive price tag.
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