Last year at this time...

...we were in Mexico by the pool...Ixtapa 2005!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND ALL THE BEST IN 2007!

Ourzazate to Merzouga

We took the night bus from Agadir to Ourzazate, which turned out to be a bad decision, since the only seats left happened to be next to the broken door, so I froze...night wind in the desert is COLD! Anyways, I was sick for the rest of the trip, but whatever. In Ourzazate there are the Atlas film studios, where they make a bunch of desert movies, including Gladiator. Otherwise ther eis not much else. The next day we headed to Tingher and the Tordga Gorges, where I hope to return someday to do some climbing. After we travelled to Erfoud for the night on this insan cross between a bus and a van that was so full of people that the driver sat on the laps of the two passengers who were sitting in the drivers seat. They even loaded a motorcycle on the top! There is absolutley nothing in Erfoud, butthat was ok since I was really sick and only wanted to sleep anyways. Then on to Merzouga, which was soooooooo cool. We spent three days there hiking up the sand dunes, riding camels and getting to know some of the locals. After Merzouga, we tried to get back to Figuig in a day, but ened up spending the night in freezing, boring, windy, cold Bourafa, eechhh! The next morniing we took the first bus to Figuig...and poof Le tour d'Ali is finished.

The photos are of a motorcycle being loaded on to the top of the bus-van type thing, Ali and I riding camels in Merzouga, The Torgda Gorges x2, Ali at the Atlas Flim Studios in Ourzazate, The guy who owned out hotel in Merzouga, Me on a camel in Merzouga, The dunes at Merzouga x2, Ourzazate, CAmel shadows in Merzouga and our guide taking a prayer break in Merzouga.

Marrakech to Agidir

So after leaving Settat, Ali and I headded for Marakkech for a night, but we did not do too much since I am planning on going there in January. In the evening we wandered around Jma el Fna, teh popular square filled with dancers, snake charmers and food stalls and we also went to see the Koutibia Mosque. The next day we we went to the Minerat, some tombs and the souk. The we took a grand taxi into the Atlas Mountains again to spend the day at Setti Fatma, where there is good tagine and a beautiful waterfall. I was really beautiful scenery there. The next day was spent travelling back to Marrakech and then on to the beach at Agidir. Agidir is basically a beach resort town, but we spent two days there not doing much of anything other than walking and sitting on the beach.

The photos are of, me at the waterfall in Seiit Fatma, Breakfast in Agadir, A shadow in Markkech, Koutibia Mosque, the beach in Agadir, me on the beach in Agadir, Marakkech, a mosque in Agadir and Alia nd I eating tagine in Setti Fatma.

Azrou to Settat

After leaving Meknes we headed south to Azrou, a town in the Atlas mountians, known for the Barnaby Apes and the Cedre Gourard, the largest Ceder tree in Africa or something like that. The monkeys were a highlight for both me an Ali...they were soooo cute and they came right up to you and took the food from your hand. The big ones fought off the little ones, so the lttle ones tugged on my skirt to get my attention, it was so cute. On the way back into town we had to stop cause the road was closed for the cross Morocco cycle race, so it was cool to get to watch that. The next day we headed to Beni Mellal, where there was not too much to see other than a nice little park called Ain Asserdoun. The next day we took a taxi to a small village in the hills and went ona bit of a walk, it was beautiful. Then we headded to Settat for a four day break with Ali's Grandma, Aunt, Uncle's and little cousin. I bought a warm jacket in Settat, since it is cold here...really cold and there is no heating. Otherwise in Settat we just hung out and I read an excellent book that I would highly reccommend called The Curious Incident to the Dog in The Nightime. READ IT!!!!!!

The photos are of a Barnabry Ape in Azrou, Ali and I outside of Beni Mellal, the Cedre Gourard in Azrou, two photos of the scenery outside of Beni Mellal on our walk, Ali and his cousin Ryan in Settat, Ali feeding the monkeys in Azrou, Azrou, the Kasbah in Beni Mellal, Ryan and Aicha...Ali's Grandma, Ain Asserdoun in Beni Mellal, The cycle race in Azrou, and me feeding the monkeys in Azrou.

Oujda to Meknes

So on the way back from Mohammedhia, I met up with Ali in Oujda. Since we were both ready to head off, I only stayed one night with his family there before we headed off. Our first stop was Fes, where we spent time wandering around the endless alleys of the souk and got some roof top viewes of the tanneries. We also checked out teh ROyal Palace and saw a bunch of gates. The next day we headded to Meknes where we saw a bunch of old buildings, some tombs and a really cool square. We stayed a couple of days in Meknes, making a day trip to Volubilis and Moulay Idriss. Voulubilis is a site of ancient Roman ruins and Moulay Idriss is where there is a masolouem that I could not enter since I was not Muslim, but it was a beautiful town, and ALi took my camera and took some photos so that I could get an idea of what it looked like. I Meknes we ate some really yummy Tagine with Olives and lemons and veggies anc chicken....MMMMMMM.

The photos are of a door in Fes, Moulay Idriss, The doors of the Royal Palace in Fes, A Mosque in Meknes, the Tanneries in Fes, Voulubilis, Minaret in Moulay Idriss, Voulubilis, A random donkey in Fes, an old school building turned tourist attraction in Meknes and a carpet shop in Meknes.

Le Tour d'Ali

So after leaving Darrin, I was not too sure what I was going to do...but I had met Ismail, he had plans for me. His nephew, Abdelali, who lives in Oujda, offered to accompany me on a tour of Morocoo. Talk about lucky, Ali was really nice and happy and he had always wanted to see more of Morocco too. We were able to see almost evey city that was suggested in the Footprint Guide and then some. It is the best way to see the country, with local!!!! The next bunch of post-s are going to be from the tour that we did, that I named Le tour d'Ali. Thanks Ali!

Some videos of Morocco, more to come

Here are the first of the almost 50 videos that I took in Morocco...

Ferry to Melilla

Wallid on his bike

Wallid in the Water

Party in Saidia

Party in Saidia

Party in Saidia

Making couscous

More couscous

Figuig

Wedding

Wedding

Souk

Marriage

Souk

Zhor's dog black

Visiting Zhor's Family in Mohammedia

Between terms at school, Zhor had a one week holiday, and so we went to visit her family in Mohammedia, a suburb of Casablanca, almost one days journey on the bus and train from Figuig. Whe we arrived I met her two sisters, Soukina and Aicha and her Mon, Fatima. The first thing that we did was to go to my first ever Hammam, a large public bathhouse. It is amazing, you scrub, scrub, scrub and all the dirt and dead skin comes off and I never realized how dirty I actually was. It takes about two hours and it is like being in a sauna...I felt really great after. The week was spent hanging out in Mohammedia, eating lots of really yummy Moroccan food and relaxing with Zhor and her family. On the weekend we went to the Souk and just before leaving, Fatima did some Henna for me on my hand and foot. We also happened to be around for a big car race and a national festival where they pratice a horse sport that I can't remember the name. But what they do is a whole group of people ride on a horse until the reach the end of a field and then, if they do it properly, they fire their guns at the same time. Zhor and I also went into Casablanca twice. On the second visit we went to the tallenst building in Morocco, something like 15 stories called the twin centre and to the Hassan Mosque, one of the biggest in the world. I cound not enter, but next time maybe I am going to disguise myself as a Muslim so that I can see inside, but we will see.

The photos are of the Hassan Mosque in Casablanca, Women buying Olives at the souk, me and Zhor's family, a mosque in Mohammedia, Zhor's Mom putting henna on her, Zhor's dog black, Zhor and I coming back from my first hammam, Spices at the souk, The hassan mosque in Casablanca, The beach in Casablanca, My foot with Henna, Zhor and I at the beach in Mohammedia, and The Hassan Mosque in Casablanca.