long days

Fès, Morocco

This tannery worker gives new meaning to a hard day's work.  Not only was this a memorable experience for the eyes, but for the nose as well!  Pigeon droppings and cow urine along with a mixture of acids and natural pigments are typically used to treat and dye the skins and make them softer.  Men are seen waist deep in the vats, stomping on the skins in this concoction for hours until the leather takes shape and the dye is fully absorbed.  The tannery of Fès dates back to medieval times and is the place where animal skins (mostly camel, sheep and goat) are treated and dyed and later sold to make leather products.

Stay tuned for more pictures of this medieval process for curing leather!

daily errands

Ouarzazate, Morocco

mint tea

Essaouira, Morocco

Minutes later, the waiter served him his ritual mint tea...

 

out for a stroll

Aït Benhaddou (Ouarzazate), Morocco

Aït Benhaddou is a fortified city (a walled in grouping of kasbahs known as a ksar) which has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987.  The entire town is built on a hill with everything made from adobe.  Numerous films have been shot here including Indiana Jones: The Jewel of the Nile and Gladiator, among many others.

everday life

Boumalne Dades (Tinghir), Morocco

Majorelle blue

Marrakech, Morocco

When Morocco was a protectorate of France (1912-1956), French painter, Jacques Majorelle, designed this botanical garden at his home and studio in the heart of Marrakech.  This bold cobalt blue was used extensively throughout the garden and its buildings and later became known as bleu Majorelle - Majorelle blue.

If you're a blue nut like me, definitely go see this wonderful masterpiece!  The blues will blow your mind!

Essaouira

Essaouira, Morocco

In the past many people set foot on the land where Essaouira lies today... the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Portuguese, Arabs and the French.  The Portuguese were responsible for fortifying the town and centuries later a French architect was contracted by an Arab sultan in the 18th century to design the layout of the city to enable it to become an important commercial center.  In fact, the name Essaouira means "well designed".  Soon after, this town was considered an important commercial port on the route between Europe and Timbuktu, Mali.

fishing boats, seagulls and fortified towns

Essaouira, Morocco

...a great combination!

always something to do

Essaouira, Morocco

the numerous jobs of a fisherman...

 

a way of life

Essaouira, Morocco

I could spend hours just sitting on a dock watching the fishing boats and people going about their business.  The colors transport me to another level!

ropes, nets and buoys

Essaouira, Morocco

This is some serious fishing...

Mogador

Essaouira, Morocco

In the 16th century, Portugal took over different towns along the African coastline and built fortresses for protection.  One of these cities was Mogador, today known as Essaouira.

fishing on the Atlantic

Essaouira, Morocco

I highly recommend walking around this port due to its vibrant colors, constant movement of fishermen and seagulls trying to feed on anything they can.  It's a spectacle in and of itself!  Then walk next door and sit down at one of its outdoor restaurants serving anything and everything the fishermen have brought in that day.  They weigh what you choose and give you a price!  You can't get fish or seafood any fresher than that!

long days at sea

Essaouira, Morocco

The port of Essaouira is filled with fishermen coming and going at all hours of the day to make a living. 

interesting textures

Marrakech, Morocco

something that pops out in every corner...
 

a magical kindgom of doors

Tamdadght, Morocco

A magical kindom of doors...  the only one leading into the kasbah of Tamdaght.

Road of 1000 Kasbahs

Boumalne Dades (Ouarzazate), Morocco

The Dades River Valley stretching one hundred miles from Ouarzazate to Tingher is a spectacular drive with hundreds of kasbahs lining the route, desert landscapes, palm groves, Berber villages and the High Atlas mountains to the north.  This part of Morocco is a must see.  The contrast of the green and red earth is captivating.

the land of contrasts

Tinghir, Morocco

Tinghir sits in the oasis of the Todgha river valley tucked away between the High Atlas and Little Atlas mountains.  Nearly 50  kilometers of lush palm trees run along this river valley creating a surprising contrast with the red earth on both sides.  This area is also known for its numerous groupings of homes made of adobe creating what was known as a kasbah.  Kasbahs were surrounded by a wall which served as protection when the city was under attack.  Many kasbahs are abandoned today; however, a few families choose to continue living in them.  Others have been restored and converted into guest houses for tourism or used as backdrops for films.

vertical walls

Todgha Gorge - Tinghir, Morocco

These vertical walls formed by the Todgha River in the High Atlas Mountains make your jaw drop!

silence

Erb Chebbi - Merzouga, Morocco

“...One sits down on a desert sand dune, sees nothing, hears nothing. Yet through the silence something throbs, and gleams...” 

                                                           -Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

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!