Well this month has been a busy travelling month for both Dave and I. Out of 4 weeks we have only been home together for two. At the end of February I went to Morocco with my friend Maite for a week. Then in mid-March my friend Stephen came to visit and we went to Switzerland and Germany on day trips. And then last week Dave went to Moscow with his class - so we have been all over the place!
This blog will be mainly pictures - because they tell more then I could in writing. Dave comes home from Russia tomorrow so I do not yet have his pictures to post - but they will be up next week. So here is a glimpse of my travels over the last few weeks and at the end of the blog I will tell you about my first week here in Strasbourg without my husband!
And the gorge - really beautiful, rugged place.
The next day we visited the kasbah of Ouazazate - it was beautiful - and most of it really well preserved.
Maite in the men`s mosque inside the kasbah
A little stop outside the city to hold a snake - no biggie -for me....
....or Maite!
And this cute little girl on our tour let the man put lizards on her head and arm - so cute!
At the CLA studies in Ouazazate. Many films are made in Moroccoa in this area - Star Wars, Gladiator, et
At a Moroccan rug shop - a bit too pricey for us - but beautiful to see if not buy
Visit to an oasis town - that has struggled to keep its traditional way of life and fought to prevent a resort from being built here. We were allowed to visit but only with our Moroccan guides.
We had an exciting off roading experience getting to the oasis and town!
Our guide (on the right) and a man that sells pottery
The next day we left Ouazazate and drove through the Atlas mountains on our way to Marrakesh.
We passed through Tizin-Tichka, the point of highest altitude in the country.
Our hotel in Marrakesh....
.....the pool, which was also really cold - but I did end up swimming in it our last day in Morocco
That afternoon and evening we went on a tour of the souks and then Maite and I explored them on our own
Our next morning consisted of visiting sites of interest in and around Marrakesh - this is Menera Garden
Bahia Palace - beautiful old palace, a place of tranquility in the middle of the busy city
The Koutoubia Mosque - the inspiration for much of religious architecture done by the Moors.
Majorelle Gardens - not on our tour itinerary, but we had a free afternoon and decided to visit the gardens
They were absolutely beautiful, and something I think should be a must see when in Marrakesh
That night, our last night in Morocco, we went back to Djemmaa el Fna square to get one last taste with our friends Laurence and Etienne from the tour....
Here is Etienne buying some delicious food from a street vendor - I do not remember what they were called but they were so good!
Site of Churchill`s famous speech - Europe Arise! And they did.
The trolley tour we took around the city - we did the tour of the city and then took a train up to a mountain overlooking the city...
Stephen found a bench he really liked!
The view overlooking the city of Zurich....very beautiful city and area.
Stephen and I at the top lookout point - it was very windy!
Back in the city around dusk.
This blog will be mainly pictures - because they tell more then I could in writing. Dave comes home from Russia tomorrow so I do not yet have his pictures to post - but they will be up next week. So here is a glimpse of my travels over the last few weeks and at the end of the blog I will tell you about my first week here in Strasbourg without my husband!
Maite and I left France when it was snowing....
And the next day we were wearing sunglasses under the Moroccan sun!
This was our first day - we traveled on our tour bus from Marrakesh to Ouazazate in the South.
We arrived in Ouazazate at our hotel - where we would be staying for the next 4 nights while we explored the South.
It had a lovely pool - it was just way too cold for me to swim in!
The first site we visited: Ait Ben Haddou kasbah and town. It was incredible - this fortress town that appears to have just emerged from the ground - as the buildings are all made with earth and straw. It was incredible.
Maite overlooking the town
In the town, climbing to the top.
A cute little donkey we met along the way!
The next day we started our journey into the South to visit the Tinfou dunes and the Draa Valley. This was one of the rest stop we visited in the morning....
And where I saw my first Moroccan camel....but it would not be the last!
Heading into the Draa Valley - amazing valley filled with palm trees, surrounded by desert and cliffs - another kasbah we saw right in the valley.
At the last town in the Draa before you reach the open desert.
Maite and I got our hands decorated - like Indian Henna - but Moroccan.
Then we reached the dunes of Tinfou - where we rode camels - or dromadiare as they say in French! Definitely one of the highlights of my trip!
Look at those colours - it was amazing.
The next day we took another route south to visit the Todra gorge....this was yet another kasbah we saw on our way.
More palm groves and kasbahs....
On our way back - the palmerie was amazing - so lush in the middle of what appears to be barren land.
Then before we left we were invited into the town`s main building for mint tea - a local specialty - made and served to us by this man - who later made us dance..... we all were very white dancers
Djemmaa el Fna square at night
Morocco was an amazing trip for me. It is probably the most different place I have ever seen. I loved being in the South and in the desert for the majority of the week and then being in Marrakesh for the weekend. I really could not have asked for a better trip! Interestingly, though, the tour we went on was a French tour - so I did not understand the majority of what our tour guides were saying. So a BIG thank you to Maite for translating for me and for encouraging me to learn more French! I had a great time with you!
I arrived home from Morocco when Dave was getting ready for his last set of ISU exams. So we had a pretty uneventful week of him studying and me doing laundry, cleaning, cooking, etc. I had that week off as well from babysitting and tutoring as the kids were on school break - so not much to blog about!
Dave finished his exams and then headed into a week of working on his personal assignment which was due on the Friday. So when my friend Stephen came, Dave was unfortunately quite busy and not able to do much but work at school :(
On the first few days of Stephen`s visit I was babysitting, tutoring and going to French class - so he was able to look around Strasbourg while I was busy. We were able to go to the European Court of Human Rights together one morning though, for a public hearing of the case of Nejdet Şahin and Perihan Şahin v. Turkey (Application no. 13279/05).
On Thursday Stephen and I caught a bus from Strasbourg at 4:45 am to go to Zurich for the day. We were able to spend the whole day there, arriving around 10am and leaving at 7:30pm. It was a great day trip and the weather was fantastic!
On Friday, Stephen and I continued our travels with another day trip, but this time to the town of Baden-Baden, Germany where there are thermal spas. We went with Zahira and Annalise and had a fantastic day! Once again, the weather was gorgeous and Baden-Baden is a beautiful town to spend the day in - especially when the spring flowers were blooming like they were the day we went!
Our ill fated attempt at getting a jumping picture - there were too many problems - Annalise`s scarf, Za`s hand, and my crazy face!
We did go to the spa that afternoon to soak in the thermal hot spring waters - but did not take any pictures as none of our cameras were waterproof and we were just too busy relaxing to worry about pics!
The next day Stephen left to visit another friend in Germany before heading back to Canada. Thank you so much Stephen for coming to visit - it was wonderful to have you here for a few days!
The day after Stephen left, Dave left for Russia in the morning, leaving me on my own for a week. While I have left Dave a couple times on his own to do traveling while he is in school - this was the first time he has left me here! While he was long past due for a vacation - and going on a spaced themed trip to Russia was a great get away for him - I was sad to see him go. In some ways the week has been good - I have been getting a lot done, like planning things for coming home to Canada, getting some odds and ends wrapped up here, but now it is Saturday night and my 7th day alone - and I am more than ready for Dave to come home tomorrow! From what I have heard from him so far he has had a great trip and has taken lots of pictures - so I will be sure to post some next week and perhaps get Dave to write a bit about his trip!
Love Heather
