Photo that inspires

A few hours before dark, a large group of us arrive at our hotel seated on the edge of the Sahara Desert in Morocco. We had spent six hours on a bus from Al-Akhawayn University in Ifrane to the town of Merzouga. The bus’s air-condition worked intermittently in the 100+ temperature as we drove on the treacherous mountain roads. We stepped off the bus at 4pm, exhausted and ready to just relax. However, from the parking lot we could see the huge red dunes of the desert. So, many of us dropped our bags in our room and took off for the largest dune. The funny thing about the desert is that trying to determine height and distance becomes difficult because there is no point of reference. Thus the climb up the dune was a greater challenge than we thought it would because it was so steep and tall; climbing in sand is very difficult. So an hour and half later we reached the top.

The view from the top of 20 story sand dune was worth all the effort. We took a seat on the back side of the dune which dropped off dramatically. From our sandy perch we could see dune after dune and the desert spreading out from Morocco to Algeria.

This picture inspires me in different ways. First, the picture brings back the memory of my dune adventure in Morocco, being so physically tired at the top that all we wanted to do is sit down and rest, but spiritually rejuvenated from the view. Additionally, the picture inspires the feeling of friendship because of how the arms of my friends are touching. Also, their body posture reveals a sense of relaxation, as his shoulders are rolled forward and she is resting back on one arm. Also, their head coverings put the picture the context of a far off foreign land. Finally, the beauty of the endless desert inspires me as the desert stretches out as far as the eye can see.