On day 4 we left Marrakech by car to drive south to Ouarzazate. The owner at Riad el Az warned us about the narrow roads and the high mountains to cross but we still wanted to do it by car! Our taxi driver, SiMo (short for Sidi Mohammed!), and his old Mercedes came to pick us up in the morning and we started our mountain climbing fine until...smoke started billowing from the engine and we had to make our first stop in a little cafe overlooking two Ksars. 
After four hours or so driving across the mountains we arrived at an amazing site called Ait Benhaddou, not more than 45 minutes from Ouarzazate. Ait Benhaddou is an ancient town built around a Ksar where only 10 familis remain. All the other inhabitants moved across the river in the newer section of town. The Ksar often served as a backdrop for European and American movies.
We made a friend, Said, who showed us the Kasbah and he was so happy to tell his story when he was an extra in Gladiator and Russel Crow dragged him on the sand with his horse! Said said he had tons of pictures at home with all the actors and film crews who worked in his town. 
Micky, George's brother who joined us on this trip to Morocco, wanted to try the real head scarf worn by the nomads in the desert...it cost him 300dhrs (the equivalent of $35)
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