Dades and the Gorges

The drive is long between Ouarzazte and Merzouga, so we stopped in Dades. This country is amazingly diverse, so you can see the dry red sand but then we toured an oasis. It seems that families each have their own plot to grow and cultivate whatever they wish, and there's a pretty extensive irrigation system (from the Dades River).

Amazing what they can and do grow there: beets, rutabaga, corn, squash, tomatoes, alfalfa, almond trees, date palm trees, pomegrante, figs, and more!

PICS

At one point, Youness (our guide) and I were at the back of the line and a little old man stopped us and begins talking to Youness. He wanted us to see his garden, so we followed him a few steps and he led us behind the mud walls and there was his beautful garden, full of all the wonderful things growing. Next thing I know though, this sprite tosses off his sandals and scurries up the nearest date palm to the top!!

Turns out, Youness asks him how old he was... He said proudly 75! To give perspective, Youness is alittle over 6 ft tall.

So after about an hour in the oasis, we head to the Gorges. A really neat place where families gather to swim, picnic, relax etc. We had a nice lunch there.

Love the water wings on this kid!