Old Moroccan Architecture at the Edge of Desert

I took these pictures while visiting Morocco with Alison & Zachary in 2006. I love the simplicity and the practicality of this architecture and above all its beauty. The Very thick walls and very small windows are to insulate the houses from the cold of snowy mountains during winters as well as from the heat during the very hot summers.

Animals in everyday life of Morocco

Donkeys, monkeys, horses... are just part of everyday life in Morocco. You see them just about everywhere. In the centre of cities as well as in the remote villages.

These animals are not only good companions but great hard workers... They are highly respected and looked after, since they participate significantly in generating money for their owners.


The Monkeys, working... and Zachary


I took the picture while I was sitting in a very unstable position on... a working Camel.


A horse, resting in the shadow


A donkey resting and eating, after long trips transporting containers of water



A farmer and his working donkey...


A refreshing drink after a long day of hard work...

Traditional Moroccan Tajine Making

I took these pictures while visiting probably the oldest wood fire kiln in Morocco, where traditional Tajines are still made. The Tajine is the oldest Moroccan dish used for cooking.

Today and while most of Tajine makers in Morocco are using electric and gas kilns, you can still find places where the wood fire kilns are the only medium to bisque as well as to glaze Tajines...


Old Wood Fire Kiln


Lids of Tajines drying in the sun, before being fired in the wood fire kiln


The man is working and preparing the clay with his feets


Two chicken, green olives and preserved Moroccan lemon Tajines...mmmmm


Long days perfecting the shape of Tajine...


and long days glazing them....

MOROCCAN SNAPSHOTS #1

Small camera in my shirt pocket... Ready to snap moments...



Un cheval avec des yeux d'un etre humain!!!



La rue est a nous, les chats...




Les oiseaux se nourissent... C'est selfservice et c'est gratuit!!!

MOROCCAN SNAPSHOTS #2

Holding the Old Fez Together...



Two Cats & One Boy...


Anybody Home!!!

Moroccan Snapshots

Coca Cola written in arabic... with the best fish & chips in Casablanca...



Traditional Oven in the country side... for baking bread (Khobz)...


Snakes without Charmer...



Our view while eating a chicken tajine in Marrakech...


Moroccan Sleepers (Balghats) with hundreds of colours....

The Best Brochettes I ate in Morocco... or I should say second best behind my mother's brochettes

It was a pure chance.... Indeed, the tenderest and most delicious brochettes I ate during my last trip to Morocco were in a restaurant in the middle of the High Atlas Mountains.

I was driving back from Ouerzezate on a windy, steep and narrow road that traced a straight line in the middle of an arid environment. Then the road became dangerously steep with frightening turns, we were in the High Atlas Mountains. Zachary started to feel sick in the back of the car. Stopping became unavoidable.

After seeing this tiny, so called, restaurant with all the Coca Cola and Fanta signs exhibited outside I stopped the car....

A very pale Zachary got out to have some fresh air and get his colour back. I was greeted by a young man wearing a very gentle smile on his face and a blue Rezza around his head (Turban), he was the cook and the owner. I asked him in Moroccan what were the specials for lunch. With big eyes and a bigger smile, he went straight to the kitchen and came back with a huge steak in his hand. We were the only customers in the restaurant. The restaurant had two small rooms and a kitchen with a large window from where I took the picture of the man preparing our lunch (see picture above). The photo says it all about this minimalist kitchen. In no time, the man diced the meat, cut the chips, tomatoes, onions and made the dressing. The brochettes were barbecued over wood charcoal on a Mejmer (Moroccan braizier). The meal was served to us accompanied with fresh mint tea. We took all our time savouring the brochettes. Zachary looked and felt much better and we hit the road, heading back to Marrakech.

Until now, I never told my mother about those brochettes, not because she makes better ones and she might be offended, but because we were always banned from eating out. She always said to us: " In a restaurant, you never know what you are really served!!!". I admit, in some cases she is right, but not today...