abroadtravelingabroad

Lords of the High Atlas, How to Ride a Camel and a Saharan Night Under the Stars

Leave a Comment / Africa, Blogging, Sights to See, Solo Travel, Travel / Pamelahawthorne

Morocco is alternately overwhelming, delicious, friendly and vicious. It offers a constant assault on the senses, enhanced by true tales of its barely believable past. And everywhere, there are children. Boys mostly but occasionally a young girl with her mother close by, begging. I asked permission to take her picture and bought trinkets from these […]

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Happily, Hopelessly Lost in a Fes Medina: My Survival Tips

Leave a Comment / Africa, Shopping, Sights to See, Solo Travel, Travel / Pamelahawthorne

First, do not try to navigate this medina without a guide. Or two. Or even three. We are a group of 20 seasoned, fit, veteran travelers. Multi-lingual, mature. This isn’t anyone’s first rodeo. On Saturday here at the Medina, we criss-crossed the Mellah, (the Jewish quarter and visited 13th century synagogue, still active), Andalusian and

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Visit Impressive Volubilus and Eat Couscous in Fes

Leave a Comment / Africa, Blogging, Food and Wine, Sights to See, Travel / Pamelahawthorne

We left the grandeur of Rabat in the morning just as the King was arriving. Street crews spent the night trimming, sweeping, and spit-shining every inch of the capital city in preparations as we headed east to visit the 2nd and 3rd century Roman ruins of Volubilis, proceeding then to Meknes and ending the day

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Astonishing Rabat: Kings, Kasbahs and a Pink Lamborghini

Leave a Comment / Africa, Blogging, Food and Wine, Shopping, Sights to See, Solo Travel, Travel / Pamelahawthorne

Morning in Rabat, busy due to King Mohammed VI visit with the Parliament tomorrow. Flags flying, cobblestones washed in the square of the Royal Palace. Morocco is a Parliamentary Monarchy, emphasis on monarchy and HE’s coming tomorrow! The air is electric. Today’s itinerary and then the eloquence of pictures. After breakfast, a tour the capitol

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Next Stop Morocco: Kingdom of Light and That One Bar in the World

Leave a Comment / Africa, Blogging, Sights to See, Solo Travel, Travel / Pamelahawthorne

Casablanca is a brief 7 hours from JFK, then an hour and a half to Rabat but for the moment, close your eyes and breathe in the pungent spices of North Africa, intersection of vibrant trade routes from all over the world. An agreeable climate, expansive coasts, red deserts and imposing Atlas mountains. African, Arab,

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Visit Salamanca’s Whispered Luxury at Hacienda Zorita Wine Hotel

1 Comment / Blogging, Europe, Food and Wine, Sights to See, Solo Travel, Travel / Pamelahawthorne

It was an afterthought, a stop on the way from Madrid by way of Segovia and Avila to Salamanca. Easy to miss if you weren’t looking for the signpost at the end of a long driveway, mid-vineyard, bathed in a golden Spanish sunset. Had I known more about this little gem, I would have booked

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A Balloon Ride in Kenya: See Maasai Mara’s Majesty

Leave a Comment / Africa, Blogging, Photos, Sights to See, Solo Travel, Travel / Pamelahawthorne

Most travel “bucket lists” lead with an African Safari. Or at least rank as a top three destination experience. The movie, “Out of Africa” and the works of Isak Dinesen were all I needed. Meryl Streep’s rhapsodic soliloquy in the film’s opening scenes, “I had a farm in Africa at the foot of the Ngong

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Antonio Banderas’ El Pimpi and the Amazing Anchovies of Malaga

Leave a Comment / Europe, Food and Wine, Sights to See, Solo Travel, Travel / Pamelahawthorne

There are more famous residents of Malaga, Spain. Picasso for example. For art lovers, put the Picasso Museum Málaga on your must-see list. Several of his works are on display and there are art history and ceramic workshops. The great man is dutifully honored in the city park and you can take the requisite pics

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Stunning Views and Palace Intrigue: Princesses of Chateau de Chillon

1 Comment / Europe, Food and Wine, Sights to See, Solo Travel, Travel / Pamelahawthorne

Clos de Chillon The Castle has its own vineyard spread along the shores of Lake Geneva, just 10 minutes walk from the castle. Each year, its grapes produce a Grand Cru known as the Clos de Chillon. The white wine is made using the chasselas variety, and the red from a blend of the gamaret,

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Remembering Russia’s Most Beautiful and Majestic Monastery

1 Comment / Asia, Blogging, Sights to See, Solo Travel, Travel / Pamelahawthorne

With travel to Russia prohibited for the foreseeable future, I’ve been reflecting on my own experiences in this most culturally diverse, complex, fascinating and unique collection of countries. Russia is just that: a collection of regions, towns and cities. Each with its own language, foods, traditions and sadly united under another despot. With singular devotion

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