Box to Nomad Family

Hey fellow travelers!
I mailed the box today to Liz Williams from Authentic Morocco which will go to our adopted Nomad family.  In it are 15 assorted shirts/sweatshirts, socks for the whole family, soap, hand lotion, scarves, gloves, wash cloths, some kids jeans, a soccer ball, books from Caroline, and a couple fleece jackets.  I tried to spread out the sizes but erred on bigger rather than smaller given that one kid did not get shoes that fit.  I also sent pictures of all the children - they were so intrigued by our cameras and they likely do not have any pictures of themselves.  Cost for all the items was $148.  Shipping was $107.  So if all eight of us wants to contribute, it would be about $32 per person.

If you mail a check to my current address within the next two weeks, I should still get it.  Otherwise, I am on the 6 month nomadic lifestyle myself and will have to relay on mail to catch up with me.  Hope everyone is well and that you got the pictures that I sent.
Anita

Missing you all!

Marge and I reminisced about our wonderful trip, over Anita's fine photos and my attempt to recreate a Moroccan  eggplant salad. Picture us having drinks with olives, almonds and eggplant salad in pretty little bowls from Sale potteries. You all were with us!
Anyone ready to share photos of the rug purchases?

Testing the blog

with a picture of Karen taking a picture - at Majorelle Garden

Tangier photos

We arrived in Tangier on a clear day and could see Spain from our hotel. Our many walks took us from Mediterranean beach around the rocky coast to the Atlantic. Marge's encounter with the dog was at the end of our picnic and she was sharing our left-overs.

The incredibly photogenic city of Chefchouen

This city with its varied shades of blue and its happy spirit charmed us all! (And I don't know why the last picture is bigger, scroll to see their feet etc.)

Notre Dame de Lourdes in Casablanca

For those who did not have much time in Casablanca, the catholic church there - Notre Dame de Lourdes, was quite a surprise. The stained glass was floor to ceiling and had motifs backed by designs in Berber rugs. Not only colorful, but so materfully done. It was worth the visit that day. Anita

Fez Bone Carver

I loved this guy. I think I was the only one who bought something form him - a little fish comb for 50 Dirham. I asked if I had time to go back and take a picture of him. I remember that he was so excited that I had returned. He had to straighten his jalaba and put on his shoes even though I had not planned to take a picture of his feet. He was so proud. It was a nice memory for me. Anita

Was this the bone carver we saw in Fes?

This New York Times article about Fes profiles an elderly carver of bone combs - could it be the same one we saw on our tour?

Morocco photos from NYTimes

Marge's daughter Jen called our attention to this short photo essay .

Getting home

One more story about the adventure of driving in Morocco.

Besides  getting lost various times and me getting a speeding ticket we had one more challenge: a flat tire on the way to the airport!

It happened on the Autoroute. Elizabeth skillfully got the car to the right shoulder and Susan warned the oncoming traffic while we tried to find the jack, spare tire, directions etc. No phone to reach any help...no jack in sight( who knew it was under the hood?)...all the luggage by the side of the road and time ticking down to airplane check-in.  A truck stopped with 3 guys at the same time a highway assistance truck appeared and another Moroccan miracle took place. We were back on the road in record time, waving goodbye to another 4 "brothers". Made it to Casablanca in time. Needless to say our adrenalin was in overdrive.

In NJ but on Morocco time...

Looking back at the blog I think we have a treasure in the YouTube video made in Chouen, here

If you can watch it to the end you see all of the town as we experienced it; the blue walled streets and alleys, the main square, the shops, the beginning of the walk up the mountain. Even the public wash boards at the waterfall are in the video. Don't miss the cute straw hats, which are a take off on the typical hats Rif women wear and seem to be the main souvenir item for Moroccan tourists.

Seeing these happy youth who made the video reminds me that our cultures are pretty similar around the world.

Hi from Susan.....last time...
We just finished a great dinner...bags are packed and we go to Casa to come home tomorrow.  It has been a FABULOUS trip!  Who knew Morocco was so incredible.

I look forward to coming home but the memories will linger forever!!!

Counting down

We are in a beautiful Riad in Sale and it is a great contrast to Larache.  The place is spotless, and every detail artistically presented.  The staff are attentive and pleasant.  We even have a cute cat companion.  The medina here is clean and quiet....so we should stay a few more days. BUT tomorrow we head home.

Rabat is a modern sort of city where we can catch a tram that runs across the river that separates Sale from Rabat.  It's quick and efficient and very civilized. We've explored the famous sites, along with all the Sunday crowds, then today had a morning in the Chellah, a items of old ruins and extensive grounds with nice gardens.  There are around 75 nesting pairs of storks, and I feel like I've photographed them all.

Now we are recovering from a scrumptious dinner, and getting packed.  More to come, with photos!

Larache

Larache is not a tourist town; I call it La Raunchy due to its impressive garbage piles, one of which greeted us each morning as we left our Riad. And the Riad gave us much fodder between its grime and our very weird host Hassan......however, we had two great days in the region! The first day we, with some difficulty, found the roman ruins of Lixus, which is not given its due in the guidebooks. We were lucky enough to have a young man guide us through for over two hours. His father and grandfather had also been caretakers of the site, but the ministry of culture no longer supports the guards, so he gave us this fascinating and detailed tour at no charge, due to his passion for the site. The next day we met the Hassan mentioned in all the guidebooks as the expert birder at mousy bousselham- and expert he was indeed! He took us out on his boat and I will let the birders tell all we saw; the pink flamingos were the most unusual to this non- birder. Then he showed us the fishermen who had returned with a big haul, picked out a variety of fish and crabs for us, and shared an amazing lunch in the restaurant nearby who cooked them up for us!

Take me to your kasbah

I'm slowly updating my blog. Here's a post about our first kasbah in Telouet and another one about the amazing rock formations we saw everywhere. And yet another post, this one about the gorgeous Majorelle Garden.

Tacky tourist snow globe

My little tacky tourist snow globe of Morocco was the only thing that broke in my luggage.  It was the smallest one you can buy - about 1 1/2 inches around. It was a camel inside and said Morocco around the base.  Can someone bring me another one before you leave?  Karen and I started collecting them years ago.  I can't be without one now!  Let me know.  I have Dirham, Euros, Dollars,  or I can probably scare up some Lithuanian currency too.
Anita

When we were 8

When we numbered eight on this trip - a MADE everyone have a group shot at least one a day. Sometimes it was like herding crickets, but most of the time I could get everyone to smile at the right time. Enjoy! Anita

Morocco Faces in the Crowd

I'm still going though pictures and reliving some great memories of Morocco! We often take so may pictures of arches, mosiacs and mountains - we often forget the faces that stole our hearts for a few seconds in our busy sight-seeing days. So I'm going to share a few aaawwww moments from our first days in Morocco. Anita

Tangier time

We've whiled away another breakfast hour looking over the bay and beyond to Spain, and of course settling the problems of the world.  Weather here has been glorious, sunny, low humidity, sea breeze.  Yesterday morning we spent  at the American Legation museum and talking with the director, Jerry Loftus, who is full of great ideas and stories.  Then long walk up to the high point of the kasbah, viewpoint over the straits and wandering back thru the medina.  Tangier is quite advanced with posted maps and walking tours, but the little alleys don't seem to bear much relationship with the map. So we wander and ask directions...

Now Marge and Elizabeth are going out to rent a car, while Ed, Susan and I shop for picnic supplies.

.....she might be in Tangier....

Actually there are still 4 she's and one he. It has been great fun to hear Phyllis and Marge reminisce about how different this city was when they lived here, right after the war. It was an International Zone, and way smaller. We walked along the beach their dad took them to before breakfast when they lived in the Rif Hotel, which we also passed. Some stuck their toes in the Mediterranean. I have to add another video from Chefchouaen. We became very fond of our host Ben at our Riad Dar Gabriel. He showed us this publicity ad for the town, and two of his daughters whom we met are featured: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Dq8dB0pUYNw