We arrived in Ouarzazate around sunset. Hicham stopped in a parking area where we could see an overview of some of the town’s main sights… the Kasbah Taorirt (which we would tour the next day)…

…one of the film studios (yes, Ouarzazate is a thriving film center, and many of the desert scenes you’ve seen in a variety of films were made here)…

…some local residents…

…and a tantalizing glimpse into the medina.

Then it was off to our hotel, the brand new and very pleasant Dar Chamaa, where we had a nice view from our balcony, a great bed, and a photogenic and delicious vegetarian dinner. 

The next day, it was first a visit to a crafts center, the Labyrinthe du Sud. At first, it seemed to be an interesting exposition of historical and traditional crafts, utensils, jewelry, and so on of this desert region, but it quickly devolved into–I am not joking–a rug selling session. 

No, we did not buy a rug in Ouarzate.

Yes, we were probably rude to the salesman. I regret this now–but not terribly.

On to the Taorirt Kasbah, an amazingly well preserved palace. Everything, from the ornamentation of the adobe exterior to the ceilings to the tilework and painting on the walls, was a lovely feat of craftsmanship. And the views were also lovely. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.

The screens on the windows are so that the harem of women could look out without being seen from the outside.