Had to start today’s blog with these pics of beautiful Moroccan lanterns in the Riad Madu and in the Sahara desert, taken a few days ago.

Now we are in a little village, 6 km north of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Aït Benhaddou, location for many a movie, such as Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator and more recently Game of Thrones. 

We left Les Jardins de Skoura this morning for a scary ride through a dry river bed before rejoining the highway to Ouarzazate and eventually to our riad in Tamedaght.

Pam and I have stayed at Kasbah Ellouze before and love the place.  Surrounded by pisé (mud brick and straw) buildings, it overlooks an oasis of palm trees and the most stunning bare mountains.  It also helps that we have a clear, pollution free, blue sky as well as the hospitality of French couple Michel and Colette who own and run the riad.

The artists got to work after lunch while the others walked and enjoyed the sunshine around the pool.

Settling in now for a gin & tonic on the terrace while the evening call to prayer streams from the nearby mosque.  Peace!

Marrakech tomorrow and a change of pace.