Fes
Morocco
April 21, 2013
Dear Family and Friends,
The Medina in Fes is probably the world’s largest contiguous car-free area.
The medina is a neighborhood of about 9000 narrow streets where people live and work and go to school. The tour guide doesn’t let us out of his sight for a moment. If I get lost, young boys are available for a “small fee” to lead me out of the maze!
Auberge du Sud
Erg Chebbi
Merzouga
Morocco
April 23, 2013
My Dear Fellow Travelers,
It was a looong van drive from Fes to Merzouga. Here in the desert we are scheduled for a shrt camel ride over the dunes of the Sahara.
A camel ride? Done that a couple of times. Not my favorite activity.
I decided to plant my boots in the sand and admire the scenery from ground level.
Jan
Kasbah Ait ben Haddou
Skoura
Morocco
April 26, 2013
Aït Benhaddou is a fortified city along the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech. It is situated in Souss-Massa-Draaon on a hill along the Ounila River and is known for its Kasbahs, although they take damage with each rainstorm.
Most of the town's inhabitants now live in a more modern village at the other side of the river; however, eight families still live within the ksar.
Essaouira
Morocco
April 28, 2013
“Well, you don’t see that every day!”
Here is a sampling of a few in I saw in Morocco:
* The sheer walls of a gorge. Todgha Gorge, Tinehir. That’s not me climbing of the rocks.
** A shrine and gardens dedicated to the Prophet Jesus in a Muslim country.
*** Jan grinding nuts from the argan tree to make oil. Argan Oil. Good for whatever ails you.
The Atlas Mountains
Morocco
April 29, 2013
As we traveled across the mountains and desert of Morocco, I asked our Photo Guide a question:
“Do you have any suggestions for taking photos from a moving vehicle?”
Our guide rolled his eyes, smiled, shook his head and continued listening to his music. I assume he meant “fat chance.”
Essaouira
Morocco
April 29, 2013
Dear Friends and Explorers,
King Henry the Navigator and Vasco da Gama (1460 – 1524) might not be as well known as Ferdinand and Isabel and Christopher Columbus. But surely the Portuguese King and Captain are significant figures in navigation, exploration and conquest during the Age of Discovery.
Like his Spanish counterparts, King Henry of Portugal (1394 – 1460) never set sail anywhere. Instead he sponsored and encouraged his Captains to “discover” new lands and return with boatloads of treasure.
