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 Kairaouine quarters for most of eight hours, stopping only for lunch. We had an additional …
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 beginning with a drive past the beautifully tiled entrance to the Royal Palace, followed by …
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, Jewish, Persian and French (so love this) cultural confluence with Berber culinary skills. And every …
Who has the time to research these apps? These days, I do. Here are a few of my favorites: Atlas Obscura: Atlasobscura.com online and Free app format I’ve spent hours on this site researching places to visit, reading their daily newsletter, listen to podcasts, watching videos. It’s a completely immersive travel experience. They specialize in the offbeat story, the never heard of destination, the hard to believe facts that make …
Notice I didn’t say cheap. Cheap is for twenty year old back-packers and nomadic unemployed bloggers. Cheap is not for a senior solo female traveler who thinks the journey is a very important part of traveling to the destination. Or at least has its profound effects. Say no to airline hop-scotch, before-dawn over-sold flights from out of the way regional airports. Be airfare wise but not trip foolish. Based on …
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 a week-long stay to enjoy all that the Hacienda Zorita Wine Hotel, Spa and Organic …