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And that’s a wrap, Morocco
Wow, it’s so hard to believe that our adventures in Morocco are coming to a close. Time just flew by!! After visiting the ancient Roman ruins in Volubilis and then stopping in…
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2,300 Year Old Roman Ruins…
…in Morocco. I didn’t realize the Roman Empire came as south as Volubilis, Morocco. This town was started in the 3rd century BC by indigenous Berber people and eventually flourished under Roman…
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Chefchouen
A little info about this Smurfiest of towns: Chefchaouen, Morocco, is a picturesque mountain city famous for its blue-washed buildings, earning it the nickname “The Blue Pearl”. Founded in 1471, its distinctive blue color…
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500 Camels Richer
*I wrote this yesterday and forgot to post it when we got to the hotel my bad* We spent the last two nights glamping in the Sahara desert. We arrived on Thursday…
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Oodles of Onions!
Onions are a major crop of Guigou. They are stored in the winter in rows and rows of organized piles. They are then sold at premium prices. If you look closely at…
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History of the amazing Amazigh People
Formerly called the Berbers, Amazigh (“free people”) inhabited the Maghreb region of North Africa dating back to prehistoric times—!!!!! They were able to avoid/resist Arabization when the Arabs invaded the region. Despite…
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Switzerland of Morocco
Continuing through Maghreb region of Morocco where Berber (preferred Amazighs=Free people) inhabit the area—we drive through the Switzerland of Morocco at an elevation of 7000 ft in the Middle Atlas Mountains. Simmi…
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Sahara to Fez
Day number “?”, Saturday Jan 3. We’ve left the warm, sunny days and cold nights of the breathtaking Sahara desert dunes and are driving northeast through ever changing landscapes of Morocco on…
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Near Algeria
The other side of this mountain range is Algeria. About 40 mi from where we will be staying.
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Most ancient irrigation system…
Just experienced something so amazing, I have to write about it before I forget! Back in the 9-10th century, an oasis was created out in a remote area on the way to…
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Kasbah of Tifoultoute
On our way to Ouarzazate for a one-night stay before heading to a glamping experience in the Sahara, we stopped by this famous Kasbah, which appeared in some famous Hollywood films and…
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Amazing Rug
Presented as a wall hanging in the lobby of the AMANAR Ouarzazate Boutique Hôtel & SPA in Ouarzazate, Morocco, this rug’s design is striking. I had to stop and admire it.
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Trivia
Did you know Punjab, India, shares a unique feature in their public bathrooms with Morocco? If you’ve consumed this blog before, then you already know the answer: tall urinals! I may have…
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Next stop Ouarzazate
On Dec 31 we will make our way to Merzouga to experience the Sahara Desert, taking a one night break in Ouarzazate where we will ring in the New Year. From there…
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“Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes!”
So all along the trip, our tour guide and Rena had warned us NOT to take photos of street performers and vendors and other attractions because it was sure to lead to…
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Traditional Moroccan Food
Tuesday Dec 30 started with a traditional Moroccan breakfast prepared by personal chef Lubna in our Riad. What a feast she prepared for us!!! The next Moroccan meal was at a Moroccan…
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Marrakech, Marrakesh—an ancient city
Today (I’m not even sure what day it is anymore!!) was devoted to exploring the ancient city of Marrakech which dates back to the 7th/8th century. We learned about various architecture styles,…
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Day 3? 2? I don’t know
We spent a full day out in Marrakesh today. We were able to go to a Medersa which was essentially a dorm for students that studied at the nearby mosque. We then…
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Fam-7 Travels Continue!
Good morning from Marrakech Morocco!! I’m writing this from the rooftop of our Riad as the quiet of the night starts to lift. First the repeated “cock-a-doodle-doos”—then the chirping birds, voices of…
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A Dream come true
I had always dreamt of visiting Morocco—-ever since I saw this country featured in a Smithsonian summer Folklife festival. I was mesmerized by a traditional dance performance—the sounds, colors, rhythms—-and it didn’t…
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Photo Dump—Hassan Mosque and misc— Casablanca
Visit to Hassan mosque on Dec 29. Read Rena’s post on the history of this amazing architectural feat constructed over the span of 7 years by 20,000 artisans who worked in shifts…
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Hassan II Mosque
What an amazing morning – we visited the second largest functioning mosque in Africa (also 14th largest in the world). The minaret was the world’s tallest until neighboring Algeria built one slightly…
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Sleepless in Paris…
Landed in Paris and we are hanging out at the airport for a couple of hours before boarding for Casablanca. I don’t think anyone really slept on the flight over so today…
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Fam-7 is off once again!
This year our travels will take 7 of us all around Morocco (including 2 nights in the Sahara!) and 5 will continue onto Madrid for a few days. On our way to…
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Storm Chasing
Weather is tough to predict in Ireland and we had a private car to cliffs of moher and some other spots. Storm Amy was coming our way but our driver said we…
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Edinburgh Castle
Last day in Edinburgh we went into the Castle. Incredible history and beautiful views. This was built as a fort to protect the city and also has a prison and Castle where…
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Catching up….Dublin
Arrived in Dublin last night—in a small propeller jet where we were greeted with lots of rain. But we were blessed with the best weather today for our guided walking tour of…
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Some Scenes from Dublin
A very full day with a walking tour of the city, a hunt for Steelers gear and an amazing restaurant which used to be an ancient church. More pics from my fellow…
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Inverness
Took a day trip to the Highlands and visited Inverness. Train ride was amazing – saw the transitions from the low to highlands, gorgeous sunrise and lots of sheep and cows! Gagan…
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Inverness!
Took a scenic train to Inverness in the Highlands in the early morning. Beautiful small city with a beautiful river in the center. Legends of the lochness monster. Spent a great day…
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Made it to Dublin
Sorry. We’ve been laxed in posting but here’s a quick rundown. We enjoyed a thorough self-guided tour of the Edinburgh castle. Overwhelming and impressive. Then it was on to a quick lunch…
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Solo Morning
When everyone is still sleeping and you can’t, Edinburgh is a great city to walk around and enjoy beautiful views. Did the royal mile and Carlton Hill. It was a beautiful morning.
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Edinburgh or Film Set?
Sounds so cliche, but I feel like we are walking around a movie set in Edinburgh. It is amazing. Living around DC, our history goes back to around the late 1700s or…
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Hike and Palace
Wow, what a morning! Off to an early start hiking up to Arthur’s Seat. Challenging on the way up but worth it for the incredible views! Then we were off to Holyrood…
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A Brisk Hike on a Chilly morning
Just after 8 am, we embarked on a hike up to King Arthur’s Seat, a magnificent vantage point offering 360-degree views of Edinburgh. We split up, with the guys taking a much…
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Back in Time
It feels like we took a Time Machine back to the 15th century but then you look around and see all the signs of modern life. So far, Edinburgh feels like an…
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First Impressions – Scotland
Airport security was a breeze and we all piled into a taxi where the driver was astonished by our amount of luggage. The accents are amazing and I think everyone hear will…
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And We’re Here
Tough flight. We really missed the comfort of premium economy and I was bummed that there wasn’t complimentary prosecco and a hot towel but whatevs. I think it should be standard on…
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Here We Go Again…
Except this time it’s a bunch of empty nesters going to Scotland and Ireland. The original intent was to go to the Steelers-Vikings game in Dublin but sticker shock quickly set us…
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Bittersweet Goodbyes
Perhaps one of the most memorable moments for me on this trip was when we were leaving. Trust me, I don’t mean it in a bad way…. Through out the day, family…
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Jam
I have learned the meaning of this word all too much in the past two days. Indore is riddled with “jam” everywhere. Getting from point a to point b has become near…
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People
Hard to believe our Nepal-India touring is done. Sadly we are leaving Goa for our last few days in Indore before heading home. We have visited many places, seen many sights and…
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Traffic Jam of Traffic Jams
On our way back from shopping, we got swallowed up in a jam so thick, you’d have thought a Smucker’s 18-wheeler jackknifed and spilled its guts everywhere.
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And Just Like That, We’re Back in Indor(e)!
Interestingly (or amusingly) on our way home from the airport, I noticed this declarative sign in town. No, the city has not changed its name, but it does need a search-and-rescue for…
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My First Complaint of This Trip
We’re leaving Goa today (as I’m writing this) and I’m reminded of the many, many wonderful things, some even exceeding my expectation. But the horse-and-carriage of a van, looking like a full-sized…
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Another one (DJ Khaled)
So if you haven’t heard the theme of this trip has been Lucky. We now have 5 on this trip! There was the driver to Amritsar, Luckwinder Singh. There was the suit…
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Stalker Alert
LaLiT seems to let some sus people on the premises…saw this strange man taking pictures of us through the bushes.
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More from Goa
While one of us recovers from a stomach bug and another stays back to nurse them back to health, the rest of us took a short trip to explore Goa. more pics…
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Tragedy in Nepal
Wow. Just saw the news that there was a 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Tibet, not far from Kathmandu, where we were mere days ago. We remember our tour guide showing us centuries-old…
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Greetings from Goa
We went from the Himalayan steppes to a coastal beach and gorgeous sunshine and warm breezes. We’re going to hang here for the next couple of days to give everyone time to…
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G’s Amritsar Reflections
After our flight from Delhi to Amritsar was canceled abruptly by Air India, resulting in us walking over two miles (no kidding, Jeet tracked it), we Ubered to a Hyatt in Delhi…
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Much Ado ‘Bout Laddu
Killing some time at the Delhi airport, I wandered across these choke hazards. Indian lore says that this sweet used to be square in shape and made in wooden blocks as far…
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Aim High
We just got back to Delhi waiting for our connecting flight to Goa. While Delhi airport has had its share of challenges, I do appreciate the normal height of the men’s urinal…
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Quintessential shopping experience
A trip to India is not complete without the quintessential shopping experience where you sit on gaddis, have shopkeepers cover the entire surface with colorful clothing of intricate and delicate designs. Rena…
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New campaign slogan?
“Beti bachayo. Beti padhao” translates to “Spare/save the daughter. Educate the daughter” is seen on nearly every single truck here. It’s about time!!
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The Beltway Ain’t Got Nothing on Ring Road
Note to self: stop complaining about commutes (the snarls!) when you get back home. Though the photo below doesn’t do the traffic justice.
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Loaded trucks
The truck loads on desi trucks never ceases to amaze and terrify me in the same instant. How do they not topple over?!
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Amritsar bound!
On our way to Amritsar—by road. At least an 8 hour journey. Super excited about the sites we will see along the way and for the chance to see the countryside. Sure…
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My Contribution to the Delhi Air
In the aftermath of this picture, I was able to clean my feet to pristine-USA condition. At the time of this photo, however, my wife didn’t want to sit next to me.
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What are we even looking at??
Good morning from Delhi. What are we even seeing?? The fog/smog is soooo thick that this is the view from our room. That’s not sky I took a pic of. It’s supposed…
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Pho Real? In Kathmandu?
The Vietnamese noodle soup phenomenon knows no border. Its ubiquity is rivaling the global reach of Starbucks by the day.
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Weary travelers
Cancelled flight. Going in circles around this huge a** airport to get luggage, new flights etc. If we get an early morning flight, that too may end up with cancellation issues again…
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Third time at Delhi Airport
Flight was delayed from Nepal to Delhi. Now, just found out that flight to Amritsar is cancelled tonight because of visibility concerns in Amritsar. Heading to domestic baggage to retrieve our checked…
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Nagarkot—days 3 & 4 in Nepal—part 2
Now that we got through the serious part our Nagarkot stay, it’s time to focus on the real reason we came to Nagarkot. Nagarkot is a remote area, at an elevation of…
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!!BREAKING NEWS!!
Flight to Amritsar cancelled! Our correspondents say it is likely because of low visibility in Amritsar and the family is scrambling to resolve this issue. More news coming soon. Update! After walking…
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Nagarkot—days 3 & 4 in Nepal—part 1
Breathtaking and surreal views like never seen before—only way to describe this place. The air was crisp, clean (and of course very thin!) and so fresh at an altitude of nearly 6000…
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Hello from the (Nearly) Top of the World
We’re getting ready to get back to the airport but I’m feeling a little wistful about not having more time in Nagarkot. But I’m grateful for the time we did spend here,…
