Reggie trying her hands (and feet) at rock climbing
Sue and Katherine up on the rocks
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Rock climbing in Todra Gorges
Reggie trying her hands (and feet) at rock climbing
Sue and Katherine up on the rocks
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
After Essaouira, Marakech was jarring to the senses - busy, congested, hot, noisy and humid. Everything about Marrakech spelt commercialism; from the souks in the medinas to the many wide boulevards that lead to The Koutoubia mosque.
We got completely lost in the medina on the first day - labyrinths of little alleyways filled to the brim with leather slippers, spices, pottery, jellabahs (traditional desert wear), tin lanterns and the occasional genie lamps (made in India!). Besides pedestrians, vehicular traffic like petite taxis, motobikes and the occasional mules compete for room in the covered passage ways.
On our own the next day, we managed to seek out the medersa (Koranic school)
with its inumerous little chambers some barely measuring 5' x 7'. We also visited the Museum of Marakech which has a beautiful mosaic tiled courtyard with a dramatically raised chandelier; new age music was piped into the huge room with strategically placed (and welcomed) seats.
We also went to see the Saadian tombs in which some of the earlier Sultans of Morocco were buried.
We will post some pictures once we're back in the US.
We got completely lost in the medina on the first day - labyrinths of little alleyways filled to the brim with leather slippers, spices, pottery, jellabahs (traditional desert wear), tin lanterns and the occasional genie lamps (made in India!). Besides pedestrians, vehicular traffic like petite taxis, motobikes and the occasional mules compete for room in the covered passage ways.
On our own the next day, we managed to seek out the medersa (Koranic school)
with its inumerous little chambers some barely measuring 5' x 7'. We also visited the Museum of Marakech which has a beautiful mosaic tiled courtyard with a dramatically raised chandelier; new age music was piped into the huge room with strategically placed (and welcomed) seats.
We also went to see the Saadian tombs in which some of the earlier Sultans of Morocco were buried.
We will post some pictures once we're back in the US.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Post from Sue
Hi Everyone
We have been outside on email range for a few days. As Reggie wrote, we had a lot of fun in the Sahara, riding camels over the sand dunes, eating and sleeping under the stars, and experiencing the quiet AND the sand storms of the desert.
Since then, we have been in Todra Gorge, the Grand Canyon of Morocco, where we went hiking and rock climbing. It was very beautiful.
Then we drove to Ait-Ben Haddou which is a Ksar and a UNESCO world heritage site. The Ksar was very striking. On the way, we stopped at the Atlas film studios where Gladiator, the Ten Commandents and many other films where shot. That was good fun too.
We also went to a cooking demo, so we are now ready to cook Moroccan food, though we are probably not going to do that for a while since we are getting tired of the limited range of possibilities. Basically, they eat 3 things: tajine which is a stew; coucous; and brochettes which are grilled meats. After 13 days, it gets a little repetitive. There are also Pastillas but those are not available every where. Also, I think that French Fries are one of the four food groups here and are served with almost every meal.
We went up to the Atlas Mountains and stayed in a very rural village in a Gite (basic mountain lodge). We hiked in the Toubkal Mountains and enjoyed the tranquility of the scenery. There was very limited interaction with the locals as they mainly speak Arabic, French and/or a local berber language. They have an uneasy relationship with the tourists. Many earn a living from tourism yet they do not like their pictures taken and are having their whole way of life changed by tourism. It is a conflicted experience.
We are now in Essaouira, a seaside fishing city that used to have a large Jewish population. Most of the Jewish community left after the founding of Israel and after the 1967 war. Many of our guides have pointed out how sorry that there are about this. Often, they strongly identify as African or Berber and not as Arabs. More on the Berbers later.
Next Stop: Marrakesh. And, hopefully more internet cafes.
Sue
We have been outside on email range for a few days. As Reggie wrote, we had a lot of fun in the Sahara, riding camels over the sand dunes, eating and sleeping under the stars, and experiencing the quiet AND the sand storms of the desert.
Since then, we have been in Todra Gorge, the Grand Canyon of Morocco, where we went hiking and rock climbing. It was very beautiful.
Then we drove to Ait-Ben Haddou which is a Ksar and a UNESCO world heritage site. The Ksar was very striking. On the way, we stopped at the Atlas film studios where Gladiator, the Ten Commandents and many other films where shot. That was good fun too.
We also went to a cooking demo, so we are now ready to cook Moroccan food, though we are probably not going to do that for a while since we are getting tired of the limited range of possibilities. Basically, they eat 3 things: tajine which is a stew; coucous; and brochettes which are grilled meats. After 13 days, it gets a little repetitive. There are also Pastillas but those are not available every where. Also, I think that French Fries are one of the four food groups here and are served with almost every meal.
We went up to the Atlas Mountains and stayed in a very rural village in a Gite (basic mountain lodge). We hiked in the Toubkal Mountains and enjoyed the tranquility of the scenery. There was very limited interaction with the locals as they mainly speak Arabic, French and/or a local berber language. They have an uneasy relationship with the tourists. Many earn a living from tourism yet they do not like their pictures taken and are having their whole way of life changed by tourism. It is a conflicted experience.
We are now in Essaouira, a seaside fishing city that used to have a large Jewish population. Most of the Jewish community left after the founding of Israel and after the 1967 war. Many of our guides have pointed out how sorry that there are about this. Often, they strongly identify as African or Berber and not as Arabs. More on the Berbers later.
Next Stop: Marrakesh. And, hopefully more internet cafes.
Sue
Saturday, August 4, 2007
The Sahara
We approached the Sahara on a caravan of camels, each bearing one of us as we strode off toward the sun setting on the dunes. There was growing excitement of spending the night under the wide open starry skies and the anticipation of a bedouin meal awaits all of us.
The sand dunes were amazing - smooth, unmarred by other human feet. This was the moment I was waiting for. To see the desert and be in its presence. The rippling waves of sands appear smooth from a distance but up close the patterns are distinct.
We played charades in the moon light, had a wonderful tagine for dinner and were then entertained by the Berbers with their drumming.
Then it is time for sleep. We laid down over the sands and watched the stars until the clouds covered them and the moon came out.
- Reggie
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Tanneries at Fez Medina
Fez is known for its leather among many other things. The medina is huge with more than 9000 small winding streets.
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