Fez Morocco

Hi everyone,  ready for more travel log?  I wanted to share some of my pictures from Morocco.  It was an experience like no other.  Before our trip Janet had hired a tour guide to take us to Fez, Morocco one of the four imperial cities. Our destination was to the Old Walled City. We had a few snafus finding the guide when the Cruise ship docked in Casablanca.  We were only a tad worried when one of the taxi drivers pleaded with us not to leave the immediate area of the ship to find our tour guide because it would not be safe for us.   (I believe him now). We didn't spend any time in Casablanca which is actually a very modern city.  We headed straight to Fez just a quick 3 hours down the road, through the rain that came out of nowhere when we were well on our way, and didn't have proper rain gear with us. 

This is one of the first things we saw when we arrived in the city.  All these men out in the grassy areas exercising.  It was strange.  Also no women to be seen.

Jungmee and I enjoying the rain and getting ready to see the sites!

 

Interesting and beautiful architecture.

The entrance to the old city.  It would be so easy to get lost in here and never find your way out.

An old vendor. Selling lemons, limes and other spices.

Eggs for sale.  No cars can get into the old city because it is small alley ways.  People use these carts and donkeys and horses to bring supplies in.  Pedestrians must give right of way to them.

Inside the courtyard of the mosque.  We had to wait for their prayers to finish before entering.  You can see some of the people in the covered area who had just finished prayer.  They wash their feet in the pool of water and then they also put some of the water in their mouth.  When it is time for prayer music is played on loud speakers all over the city.  You can hear it everywhere.

Here is the whole gang in the Mosque.

Marian, Angie, Florence, Janet, Me, Lori, Jungmee, Karen

This is our tour guide in his traditional clothing.  Many people wore these.  They have a white dress shirt and this covering that looks like a bathrobe.  The hat is pointed and the hemline is just high enough that it doesn't get wet or muddy, then they wear dress socks and dress shoes.

Some of the shops....

We went to use a women's bathroom in a restaurant.  The bathroom for women was on the top of the building.  We had to go on the roof to get to it.  This was the view from the roof.  I guess they are all getting some TV time.

These are pictures from the leather district.

The smell here was absolutely unbelievable and not in a good way.  This are the tubs that the leather is processed and dyed in.

These are some of the leather shoes that they make.  The one thing I regret not purchasing.

These are large metal tubs from the metal district.

No Bull!

Malaga, Spain

This was the first stop on our cruise ( You know the one I took clear back in october).  Malaga has a Castle 

Cathedrals

and of course -- Shopping!

The main stop in Malaga was the Plaza de Toros La Malagueta

or for you Gringos - the place where the bull fighting happens!

This is inside the bull fighting ring

Nice comfy seating

This was a fantastic place and a lot of fun.  When we first arrived we gave them our money at the door and just started exploring.  Out of nowhere came a man who had an official looking uniform, not teeth and a whistle.  He started blowing his whistle and telling us to get out of the ring.  Then he told us we could get a tour and go to the museum.  He took us to the museum and handed us over to a little tiny old man.  He brought out a cape and let us all hold it.  They weigh a ton!  Janet asked him about the cape and he said it was his from when he was a Matador!  Then he went in the office and got a picture of himself as a young Matador.  Oh the ladies all went wild.  He was a rock star!!!!  I think he was very flattered by all the attention.  The museum was amazing.  These matadors are very tiny people.  Their clothing is so elaborate and beautiful and smalllllll.  The only thing missing at the Plaza de Toro was a bull.  Well except for the one that I was able to tame so easily (and that's no bull).

Malaga is a beautiful lush city.  The parks and walkways were lovely.  They really know how to shade their walkways.

This photo would be much funnier if we really hadn't almost missed the ship.  Yup leaves port at 7:00 pm and we were the last two on the ship at 7:01.  Dang Americans.

Winter Getaway

Last August when I was in Peru Ken bought tickets to a Keb Mo Concert at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach. This weekend the concert was finally here. The concert was fantastic. Keb can really sing and he didn't let us down.

The plan had been to Kayak Saturday morning but the weather forecast before we left home didn't look good so the Kayak stayed home.

Instead we decided to check out Torry Pines State Park in LaJolla. Of course the day actually was warm and beautiful. This is the view from the beginning of the hike. We actually hiked out to the rock in the picture to start out with.

Here is my hiking companion and pack mule.
There were many areas where the plants were being rehabilitated. Rehabilitated from what I do not know, it all looked good to me.
The view as we hiked further out. (looking north)

The view the other direction. (looking south)
At the end of the trail. The Pacific Ocean.

Cusco - The Historic Capital of the Inca Empire

Flying to Cusco. The Andes Mountains.

Cusco is about 12,000 feet above sea level. You really can feel that thin air the minute you get off the plane. I loved Cusco. The colors of the city seemed so bright and vibrant to me. The sky was the bluest blue.

I love this picture. The women carry all kinds of things but most often babies in these large squares of cloth they tie on their backs.

The Plaza de Armas - this is the city center. It was such a lovely place to sit and people watch and just enjoy the beauty of the city.

Some more of beautiful balconies

The Cathedral of Cusco

The Cathedral of Cusco faced the Plaza. Sitting on the steps in front of the Cathedral was one of our favorite places to sit and watch and talk to the locals. The locals speak amazing english. They are all selling something but they will stop and chat with you but in the end the last thing they want to say is will you buy?

The plaza at sunset. The Church of La Compania on the left.

Traditional Indian dress. These little girls and women would walk around and if you wanted to take their pictures you had to pay them.

This is one of the shops we stopped at and the people also lived above the shop.

This little guy was starting some weaving. He was making bracelets.
The Plaza again.
Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro officially discovered Cusco on March 23, 1534. This is the road that he first entered the city on.The spanish undertook new construction using the foundations of the old Inca city, replacing temples with cathedrals and palaces with mansions for the conquerers. The walls on the right side of the photo are the Inca constructed walls. The craftmanship was amazing. The wall on the left is Inca wall that was torn apart by the spaniards, because they thought there was gold in the walls, then they reconstructed the walls. Big difference. It is believed that the walls were all covered with gold and silver and the Spaniards took it all when they conquered the city.

A view of the city. They have an amazing history and they are so proud of their heritage.