Morocco

traveling light

mosaic

Kingdom of Morocco

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al-Mamlaka al-Maghrebia

Independence from France in 1956

Constitutional Monarchy

King Mohamed

Capitol: Rabat

Population : 34,000,000

Language: Arabic, Berber dialects & French

Religion: 99% Arab/Berber Muslim

Casablanca

we arrived from JFK to a FREEZING Casablanca airport where we spent the night on the floor...

we spent little time in Casablanca, wanting to get out of the big, modern city

the beautiful Hassan II Mosque

Fez

the Fez market

shoes and leather dying vats

pottery

Meknes

Roman ruins at Volubilis, 300 B.C.

train to Marrakesh

Take the train from Casablanca going south...

Wouldn't you know we're riding on the Marrakesh Express

They're taking me to Marrakesh

Graham Nash, 1969

Marrakesh

Saadian Tombs 1578-1603

tombs of over 100 Saadi Dynasty

princes and royal family members

discovered 1917

Koutoubia Mosque

221 feet high, the largest

mosque in Marrakesh

Ben Youssef Madrassa

14th century Islamic college

once housed 900 students

many thanks to Catherine at the exotic Ryad Zouina who rescued us from another ryad with no heat or hot water, if you're staying in Marrakesh - this is the place to stay !

lavish digs & delicious food

High Atlas Mountains

Grueling 12 hour drives took us over the Atlas Mountains which separate the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea from the Sahara Desert. The highest peak in the High Atlas range is 13,671 feet.

our guide, Redwon

Todra Gorge

We leave the vehicle to trek the magnificent Todra Gorge, cut by the Dades River. The gorge can only be accessed on foot. The canyon is home to nomadic Berbers.

Essaouira

Fomerly Mogador, founded late 15th century by the Portuguese as a military and commercial center on the Atlantic Ocean.

Sahara trek on dromedaries

our deaf, mute camel driver prepares a meal

making sand angels

Peace !!

Desert camp at Erg Zhigaga

Several hours by 4x4 takes us deep into the southeastern Sahara near the Algerian border. We were awed and exhausted by the 350' high dunes. No words can describe the views or feelings we had there.

The night sky was filled with resplendent shooting stars.

our mud hut held the day's heat for the below freezing nights

night visitors behind our hut

sunset

sunrise

Thanks for visiting Morocco with me !!

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another trek with my old pals, Sharrie & Heidi and new friend, Juliette

Morocco was vast and diverse. Beautiful, haunting, wise and harsh.

photo by Sharrie Ruppel

We covered lots of territory traveling by plane, dromedary, 4x4 or train.

Followed the footsteps of Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley and Graham Nash. Though Heidi and Sharrie had never heard of Graham Nash so I had to sing "Marrekesh Express" for them all during the 8 hour train trek.

We came home sore and exhausted and excited over our latest adventure.

We do love Africa.