Ouarzazate – a Moroccan Hollywood

Its name comes from a Berber phrase meaning ”without noise” or ”without confusion”. Ouarzazate is also nicknamed The door of the desert, and the city is capital of Ouarzazate Province of south-central Morocko. To the south of the town is only desert.

The area is well known for its many prominent kasbahs, and nowadays a noted film-making location, with Morocco’s biggest film studios.

Many famous movies have at least some scenes shot here,  such as Lawrence of Arabia (1962),  Gladiator (2000) and Kingdom of Heaven (2005), as was part of the TV series Game of Thrones.

The arena in the movie Gladiator was right here in this open space, behind the people and their banner.

Ait Benhaddou was originally an old karavan station between Marrakesh and the Sahara Desert. Astonishingly beautiful, traditionally built of clay, straw and dirt.

Today, we can admire the old kasbah in the movies – only four families still live here permanently. The rest of the great kasbah is left to fall apart – but a first class tourist attraction.

CFFC: Single Flowers or Bud

In the header – Cattleya Ginny ”Prince”.

Don’t we all love flowers? Visit Cee or join in with a flower post here.

 

Cattleyas are my absolute favourite orchids. This one has a delicate scent…floating through my rooms when in flower. It is budding right now.

This beauty belongs to a very dear friend of mine. A truly grand Cattleya, and as you can see, the flower is bigger than everything else here, including stems and pot.

As usual, click to enlarge.

Today, May 9

Milles kungarike

Milles kungarike

This day, 14 year ago, a remarkable friendship started between me and one of my most beloved friends ever. Mille. He came to us on May 9 and will stay for ever in our memories even if he left us, May 9, two years ago.

These two pictures were among the first ones I posted on my blog. I am very grateful for all the happy memories.

SL-WEEK 43: Wedding

According to Chinese tradition, the bride always wears red on her wedding day. So, for Sylvain Landry, this week’s wedding pictures come from China. Old tradition in the beautiful water city of Suzhou, and in the header, a modern couple walking the Bond overlooking the Pudong area in Shanghai.

 

 

Cee’s B&W Photo Challenge:Heads or Facial Features Human or Animal

I was sitting in a van in Marrakesh, waiting for the driver, when I saw this gorgeous man relaxing with his friends. A long shot, through the window, I just had to…

For more facial features, click here.

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Thank you for being featured last week!

CEEB&W

WPC: Earth

 

The challenge this week from WordPress is to “…share your vision of our glorious Mother Earth”.

I feel…we are a tiny, gloriously beautiful, island out in the great blue – surrounded by stars and the heavens. Who is at the wheel? I wish we had better control …I fear we have lost the sextant and with it, our ability of navigation.

Mother Earth

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Thursday Thoughts-Along the Roads

In the header, something of the new Morocco…on its way? The man talking in his cell phone, standing in the house-to-be…if it is not abandoned.

The Moroccan roads are rather straight and dusty. And along them, life continues as it has always done. Or almost.

 

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In the  cities, the mix of cars and horse carts, donkeys, bikes and motorbikes radiates that special energy and feeling. Most animals are also very well kept, which adds to the friendly atmosphere.

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Either walking or going by van, we saw mostly men, of course, and nobody wanted to have their photo taken. I knew this from the start, so almost all photos of people are taken from the van. Sneakingly…

 

P1030028_copyWhen you have passed the High Atlas mountain range, there are endless, dusty, desert roads. But no matter how long or dusty the road, there are still people going about their daily chores – along the very same road.

P1030167_copyNomad tents rising or falling, and the women and men tending to their camels.

P1030189_copyMost people hardworking…

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…but some, standing and waiting – for something or somebody. In the middle of nowhere.

P1030242_copyA colourful country.

I wonder how they have managed to preserve their old ways of living? Our Berber guide told us they have so many ”tribes” that they are impossible to unite. They have a country of small units who manage to live together – just the way they are. I think that is just amazing.