Morocco Top Ten: Lights, Camera, Action...

Ait Benhaddou, Morocco

#3.  Learn to cook Moroccan foods (with Mr Action)

Our minibus ride took us through some spectacular desert scenery near the High Atlas Mountains.  Clearly, movie directors saw the potential of the area many years ago, so there is a thriving “Mollywood” industry in town. Once a French garrison town, Ouarzazate (war zazat) is now movie-land providing perfect scenery for movies set in far off countries such as Tibet, Egypt, ancient Rome and more. 

Ksar at Ait Benhaddou

Our hectic schedule allowed us time to visit to Handicapped Project Horizon, a most worthy charity; a herbalist to try out some of his youth giving lotions & potions and then the Atlas Film Studios.  (Sadly, the Cap’n was not “spotted” by a talent scout to appear as Gladiator’s  double.)  We missed walking the Taourirt Kasbah but managed to take in the imam’s evening call to pray echoing over Ait Benhaddou’s valley as we settled in to our dinner on Mr Action Houssain’s terrace. The Ksar at Ait Benhaddou is a stunning fortress castle in near perfect condition; Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator were both filmed here.

Photogenic Mr Action Houssain, film star & celebrity cook

Mr Action has indeed appeared in many films as an extra.  However for us, he became a most genial host (Maison d’Hote La Fibule) and a top cooking class demonstrator.   He later confessed that his sister and mother do most of the cooking.  Our couscous and tagines were delicious.  Though we were disappointed not to have Russell Crowe pop in to share some supper …  

See, we do so look alike...