Day 6: Erfoud via Kasbak Ait Kassi, Tinghir, and Todra Gorge.
Making our way east to the desert. A pit stop for bathrooms and to buy rose water.
A stop at Kasbah Ait Kassi to show the old courtesies.
"Ait" means "family of", so this property has been in the Kassi family for generations.
In the main room, we are being presented mint tea.
The service is set out on the main floor.
The wife prepares the tea over a small brazier.
Back on the road again, and passing several old buildings.
A quick stop along the way.
This time, Wade chooses to try a camel burger.
On to the Todra Gorge.
In the center are some people scaling the gorge, to give an idea of scale.
Looking upriver through the gorge.
At one time, there was a hotel running on the banks of this river.
Our next stop is to visit a historical aqueduct, or khettara.
These were built as underground aqueducts with an access tunnel every 10-20 meters.
Walking to an access tunnel...
...that has been created so we can take a look.
Down in the main shaft of the aqueduct (now dry).
A shot back up where scoops of silt are removed through the access ports.
Wade outside, on top of the access port.
The local guide shows how the basket of silt is raised using foot power on the spindle.
We are approaching areas where sand dunes occur.
Arriving at the Xaluca Hotel.
Our room is quite an eclectic mix of styles.
The first thing you see entering the room is this closed-off stairway.
The courtyard in front of our room. We are the farthest room, and got 2,000 steps just
going to breakfast and getting on the bus.
