Merzouga Travel Guide

first, hire a guide and camels for a three-day walk in Sahara (the less people, the better. it was just two of us + guide). spend the night in the beduin tent, wake up to see the rain in the desert. second, get in the sand storm. run with the guide to one of the few permanent buildings in the area, squeeze with your guide and local family into tiny adobe structure to avoid the flying and stinging sand. say enthusiastic "YES!!" when offered the traditional Moroccan mint tea. also say "yes" when the 10-year old girl asks if you want to come with her and her donkey to get the water for the tea from a well about a mile away. third, plow through the sand storm behind the donkey who seems to be the only one aware of geographical directions and location of the well. once you get to the well (in about 20 min), stare at the hole in the ground and the little girl who matter-of-factly lowers her arms in the ice-cold water to fill plastic bottles and then brings them up. wince when you imagine flying sand hitting the almost-frozen hands of the kid. realise that you will not be able to live with yourself if you just keep standing and watching, and start filling the bottles with water. the sand on cold skin stings more than you thought. follow the donkey back home. drink the most delicious tea you have ever tasted. fourth, next time you're buying chai latte at Starbucks, remember the kid in the middle of Sahara getting the water for the tea.

Merzouga, encantadora aldea a pie del Erg Chebbi, un cordón de dunas que limita Marruecos con Argelia pequeño pero encantador.