sand as far as the horizon

Erb Chebbi - Merzouga, Morocco

“Where are the people?” resumed the little prince at last. “It’s a little lonely in the desert…” “It is lonely when you’re among people, too,” said the snake.”       

      

                                                      -Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

a sea of sand

Erg Chebbi - Merzouga, Morocco

I wouldn't believe this picture to be real if I hadn't seen it with my own two eyes!  Go to the top of the dune and look around; all you can see is a sea of sand for miles.  The wind whisks the sand around and forms an ever changing magical landscape.

It's Erg Chebbi (name of the area of sand dunes) in the Sahara Desert not far from the Algerian border.  It covers an area of approximately 50 kilometers north to south and 5-10 kilometers east to west.

 

picture perfect beaches

Essaouira, Morocco

Essaouira and its bohemian laid-back charm...  ideal place to get away from the hustle and bustle of Marrakech... perfect for strolling along the Atlantic.

Rorschach test?!

Essaouira, Morocco

Actually, it's the beach in Essaouira!  I managed to be here at the perfect moment of the day when the clouds were reflecting off the water of the beach!

Berber designs

Skoura (Ouarzazate), Morocco

A Berber design from the kasbah Amerhidil.  The Berbers are the people indigenous to Northern Africa, west of the Nile Valley.

perfect lines

Marrakech, Morocco

another striking door...
 

Moroccan doors

Tamdaght (Ouarzazate), Morocco

Morocco is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for door lovers!

patterns within patterns

Fes, Morocco

Each and every rug is a work of art...
 

picturesque fishing village

Candás (Asturias), Spain

Asturias = paradise.

Cudillero

Cudillero (Asturias), Spain

Prague by night

Prague, the Czech Republic

baroque statues on the Vltava

Prague, the Czech Republic

The Charles Bridge, first dating from 1357, is lined with 30 baroque statues and connects the Old Town with the castle of Prague.

Charles Bridge

Prague, the Czech Republic

The Charles Bridge in Prague is like walking in a fairy tale.

the Vltava

Prague, the Czech Republic

The Vltava river flows through Prague and is crossed by 18 bridges, creating numerous picturesque moments.  The National Theatre can be seen on the left.

elaborate door

Prague, the Czech Republic

door with detail

Prague, the Czech Republic

medieval door

Prague, the Czech Republic

intricate calendars

Prague, the Czech Republic

An intricate calendar dating from the late 1800s, located in the Old Town Square of Prague, sits below the medieval astronomical clock.

astronomical clock

Prague, the Czech Republic

This medieval astronomical clock, installed in the Old Town Square of Prague in 1410, is the third oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest one still working today.  Crowds of people gather around on the hour to see the various figures around it move.

 

la Sagrada Familia

Barcelona (Catalunya), Spain

Renown architect, Antoni Gaudí, started this project when he was 31 years old and sadly never saw its completion.  At the age of 73 he was struck by a passing tram and died days later.  Construction continues and is estimated to be complete by 2027.  The Sagrada Familia is the most visited monument in Spain followed by the Prado art museum in Madrid and the Alhambra in Granada.

 

curvy rooftop chimneys

Barcelona (Catalunya), Spain

Antoni Gaudi's work is instantly recognizable when you see it.  This amazing architect is known for adding color and avoiding straight lines at all costs.  This chimney forms part of Casa Batlló, a home in the heart of Barcelona that Gaudí designed in the beginning of the 1900s.

learning

Asilah, Morocco

Learning something new, often times turns into a rewarding experience.

serenity

Asilah, Morocco

“We are not going to change the whole world, but we can change ourselves and feel free as birds. We can be serene even in the midst of calamities and, by our serenity, make others more tranquil. Serenity is contagious. If we smile at someone, he or she will smile back. And a smile costs nothing. We should plague everyone with joy.” 

                                                            -Swami Satchidananda, The Yoga Sutras

donkeys on the beach

Kaf Lahmam, Asilah, Morocco

Camels, horses and even donkeys on the beach...  There may have been as many animals as people that day!

unbeatable views

Kaf Lahmam, Asilah, Morocco

If you're hungry or thirsty or just need a break from being under the sun, you can always go to one of the beach stands for a refreshment or enjoy a meal of freshly grilled fish.  The views are unbeatable!

a ride to the beach

Kaf Lahmam, Asilah, Morocco

What a great way to get to the beach!  If I remember right, it took us less than an hour to get here from Asilah.

getting there

Kaf Lahmam, Asilah, Morocco

If you don't have your own transportation to get to the beach, and feel adventurous like when you were a kid without a care in the world, I suggest this option.  I'm sitting on a flat cart behind the horse taking the picture, just as you see the people ahead of me.  :)

a day at the beach

Kaf Lahmam, Asilah, Morocco

A day at the beach can change everything...

a morning stroll on the beach

Kaf Lahmam, Asilah, Morocco

Life on Kaf Lahmam (Paradise Beach) is pretty easy to take, the perfect place to disconnect from the rest of the world.

paradise

Kaf Lahmam, Asilah, Morocco

This beach lies a few kilometers south of Asilah and is known as Kaf Lahmam, or Paradise Beach in English.  The name really does speak for itself!