Little known fact: Morocco is a prominent filming location for Hollywood and international movies. This afternoon we’ll tour Atlas Studios and scope out behind-the-scenes locations in the area.
But first let me bore you with these landscape shots on our morning drive from Todra Gorge to Ouarzazate.
We check out a local market that is borderline uncomfortable because our group — caucasians carrying big cameras — sticks out like a sore thumb. We’re not unwelcome here, but we get a lot of stares and it’s hard to judge when it’s appropriate to take photos. For the most part we’re sneaky about it and use our zoom lenses from a distance, or take generic wide shots without focusing on individuals.
Dates for sale.
Chickens and bunnies for sale…
Maybe scroll down past the next photo if you’re easily disturbed by images of raw meat and animal heads…
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(giving you time to think about it…)
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Yeah, it’s pretty gross. Sorry about that.
Let’s move on to fruits and veggies, shall we?
Anyone need a couple bales of hay? Or a couple hundred?
We climb higher into the Atlas mountains.
We stop at this view point overlooking a road which has been featured in many car commercials.
Like this Cadillac commercial:
Pretty cool to recognize that landscape!
We stop at a cafe for lunch that serves my favorite Moroccan dish, beef tagine with prunes. It’s stellar.
We indulge in nos nos, our daily coffee fix.
A few more nos nos shots, since I can’t help myself:
Gareth, the lone male in our group (poor guy!) wears a shirt that gets attention.
This area is known for its rose fragrances and we pop our heads into this shop below the cafe.
Now for the main attraction: Atlas Studios!
Here’s a handful of projects that have shot here: The Mummy, Gladiator, Babel, The Passion, and Game of Thrones. Other projects that have filmed in the area include Lawrence of Arabia, as well as more recent projects like Hanna and Salmon Fishing in the Yemen.
Our guide looks like he’s auditioning for the role of director. He pulls it off, right?
I’m giddy to be here. A taste of Hollywood after leaving my job 18 months ago! I’ve missed this world. You can take the girl out of L.A.…
They shot scenes from the remake of Ben Hur in this studio.
An autographed shot of Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner in Jewel of the Nile (1985).
We pass this roundabout while leaving Ouarzazate and I lean out for a photo:
We’re in for one more Hollywood treat today — a sunset visit to Ait Benhaddou, an UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to more filming locations. See you Monday!
Thanks to Nomadic Tours for discounting my tour in exchange for photography and blogging. Opinions are my own.
