My Lovely Lumix

I love love my lumix ... many ppl have been asking me what kind of camera I took on my trip and are so surprised when I show them my little, oh so compact point and shoot. With 14 mega pixels and an 8x zoom, this marvelous photo making machine takes pictures that look as good as the pros (and that is as easy to operate as 1-2-3). A perfect gift from a special someone, I love my lumix and would recommend it to any photo taking fanatic!

Magical Marrakech

EVERYTHING you have heard about Marrakech is true.

Markets in the Medina, late night lights in the sky, ladies doing henna in the souks, snake charmers, street performers, and magical mirages everywhere you look. This lovely large city has everything from modern malls and fast food chains, to old world castles, street markets and mosques. During the day the city sits quite as the locals seek the shade, BUT at night the sleepy streets come ALIVE !

People swarm the main market square to see the endless number of street performers. From stilts and snake charmers ( which i avoided like the plague) to fire breathers and bottle games, there is no shortage of things to feast your eyes upon. Hungry? not a problem, within minutes of nightfall, market cafes emerge with fresh food of all kinds cooked right on the spot for you to fill your belly with... the hardest part is deciding what to eat. Marrakech is not a destination but rather an experience.. its a treat for all your senses. So open your eyes to the luxurious textiles, leather goods and colorful lights, your nose to the sweet smells from the spice souks, your ears to the wonderful street music and your taste buds to the succulent street food and i promise you will be satisfied!

It's getting hot in here!

Ok in a Toronto heat wave (30+) , its hot, its sticky and we all complain... HOWEVER if I had known in Morocco that temperatures reached 50+ on a REGULAR basis I may have reconsidered my travel location (ok maybe not). But this heat is like no other I have ever experienced (and did I mention there is no AC). The best way for me show you what it felt like would be to turn the oven on to 400 degrees, make you stick your head in it, and then put a blow-dryer to the back of your neck… sweating yet? Join the club!

oh la la Oranges

Perhaps one of the most common sites on any street corner, back alley, or souk stairwell is a fresh orange juice stand. This native fruit is freshly squeezed all over the country and for pennies a glass, one can drink fresh OJ morning, noon and night… beat that Tropicana!

My one area of caution…. The freshly squeezed juice is served in a glass cup so you have to drink it on the spot … sorry no take out, so come thirsty and ready to gulp!

ok ok okay i am back

ok i know i am back, but due to my sporadic Moroccan Internet connection i still have a few unposted Moroccan pearls to share with you .. so bare with me for a few more days of posts from a 'far off land' and then back to more local treasures i promise xo

Ohhhh Essaouira

Ok, I loved it here…loved loved loved! Perhaps dare I say it my fav place thus far (Marrakesh is still to come!). This laid back beach town was the perfect mix of casual and cool .. literally cool. Only reaching 35+ during the day and with a nice breeze off the lake, in Essaouira I could walk around and not use the phrase “it is so hot I feel like my skin is burning off”. Days were spent in the hassle free markets, lying out on the beach, exploring the UNESCO protected Medina walls and hanging out late night at surf bars with the locals. A must must in this costal town is having lunch in the fish market. Sweet and succulent, select a fresh fish right off the boat and they will fry it right up in front of you. SOOO yummy this was one of my fav things to do… served with Moroccan salad, fries and washed down with a Fanta it was a fabulous treat for my inner foodie!

Todra Gorge

The Todra Gorge was a welcomed break from the heat as our hotel was situated right in the heart of the Gorge (aka the SHADE). The beautiful natural rock formations brilliantly burst with color and the red and orange hues only intensified during our sunset hike (aka death defying rock climb). Perfect for pictures and simply to catch a moment of peace and quite, this gorgeous gorge is well worth stopping (and even staying over) for.