Aït Benhaddou is where a lot of films set in the Middle East were filmed, including Gladiator, Cleopatra, and more. I could have skipped it, honestly, but one very funny thing happened. The whole way up to the top of this city, there are craftspeople and souvenir stores. People call out as you walk up, encouraging you to come in and check out what they’ve got.
As we were coming down the hill, after seeing the view, a vendor said to Kendall, “I like your sunglasses! Can I buy them? I’ll give you two quah lee dee.” He tried to sell Kendall a “Berber compass” that the nomads used to cross the desert, riding camels on the dunes, lining up the stars of Orion’s belt in one part and the North Star in another—all entirely fictional. Kendall ended up buying a “Berber lock.”
When we got back to the van, Kendall started telling Hmad, “This guy tried to buy my sunglasses…” and Hmad said, “I know that guy! Let me guess, he had a Berber compass for you too?”
Hmad got on the phone and called the “Berber compass” guy, and ribbed him for trying to fleece one of Hmad’s clients. It was all good humored, and while the Berber lock was worthless, it made for a good story.
Be First to Comment