Just outside of Marrakech is the rocky desert area known as the Palmeraie. It is called the Palmeraie because amidst this rocky desert are about 100,000 date palm trees-a virtual palm tree oasis which stretches for 140 square kilometers. Legend has it that during the Almoravid berber dynasty (long after the Arabs brought the Islamic religion to the Maghreb (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia), the Sheikh’s troops were eating dates after battle. They spit the dates on the ground and eventually the seeds ended up in holes in the soil pierced by their lances. From this, the Palmeraie was born. Nowadays, many people ride quads and camels in the Palmeraie. I took a camel ride for a few hours through the area and my legs were hurting (and blistered) for 3 days. All in all, it was a good experience, the highlight of which was a mid-point stop in a small village (tiny is a better word) where the locals served us moroccan pancakes (like crepes) and delicious mint tea (aka “Moroccan whiskey”).
All in all, a great day!