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’round the globeTravel Journal, Africa
Travel Journal, Africa – Casablanca, Marrakech, Morocco – Mar/Apr 2007
Swapping Cairo for Marrakech
While hospitalization and an ice storm forced us to CANCEL our trip with Abercrombie and Kent to Cairo in February, we found an alternative to visiting Africa instead: Casablanca & Marrakech. Thinking it was the “better” alternative.
News of Breached Security
However, security concerns loomed over our visit as news broke on the week of our departure that local Moroccan police were on a hunt for a 12 member Al Queda/Islamist faction trying for another “civl scare through explosion and destruction” throughout North African’s tourist destinations, aiming mostly at Westerners. All this occured one week before our arrival, which we later learned that same terror cell – 11 members – were captured in Casablanca after a 12th member (suicide bomber) managed to evade police by detonating himself inside an internet cafe.
In any case, after a long 3 weeks in the EU, the hubby is finally home, only to get back on yet another flight — for leisure however — as my travel journal begins on the ground at JFK.
Waiting at the BA Terraces Lounge, JFK for our departure flight BA182 JFK-LHR. March 2007
Just catching up on some required magazine reading. March 2007
Outside my window, London awaits. March 2007
Well, good morning, sleepy. Just checking my documents, visa, passport, customs and immigration forms, etc. BA 182 JFK-LHR; Mar07
En route to Marrakech via Casablanca. Here is the overhead monitor displaying a map of Spain as we make our way south into the African air space. LHR-CMN-RAK; March 2007
Here’s Steven reading the book that “I” carried aboard in my carry on.
Seizing an opportunity, our pilot announced that we were about to leave Spain’s southwest Iberian coast, heading directly south into Northern Africa’s air space. Mar07
Now we are officially entering Africa’s domain, flying over Rabat and Casablanca.
There’s Casablanca’s suburban areas – look how “green” it is – as we approach CMN Casablanca, Mohammed V Int’l Airport. March07
Here’s the approach from Casablanca-Marrakech. Mar07
Here we are. Finally in our room – a pavilion piscine (pool villa) at the Amanjena property, taking a timed shot of ourselves. Even we can’t believe we made it.
Here’s Steven, still working on blackberry, of course. His figure gives an accurate relative size to the towering rotunda above him.
I believe I caught him, again. STILL WORKING. Am about ready to toss that crackberry into the ‘G ahrh bedge’
Our very first Moroccan meal – breakfast – in our pavillion. Let’s see. Well, actually we were offered our very first taste of anything Moroccan the prior evening upon our arrival onto the Amanjena property – traditional Moroccan mint tea – sweet, warm, and herbally smooth. This morning we are trying Moroccan pancakes (flat yeast bread, similar to naan), along with their version of meuslix, which comes w/yogurt. Then there’s African coffee (Steven holding cup) and off the side, not visible is my usual order of a fruit platter.
There’s Steven below (see his knees) while I take a shot of our pavillion from his angle. The center courtyard is for lounging, while the heated pool provides the perfect dipping temp year round…all to ourselves…in TOTAL PRIVACY!
Steven relaxing, away from the sun. In the desert, the sun is absolutely deceiving. Chilly temps, with very, very strong rays.
Just checking things out.
Finally dressed to face the day and explore Marrakech.
View outside our villa
Taken on the grounds of the Amanjena
Long walkway into main Amanjena lounge
Standing amid one of several artifacts on display on the Amanjena property
Main lounge of Amanjena
Here we are while a staff member …ugh finally takes a photo of us…we’ve been trying to manage all on our own, using the damn timer.
Quiet lounge area of the Amanjena
Ah…finally off the Amanjena to see the real “Morocco” away from the private, gated property. This is our first shot of the West Palmaerie desert showing the snow-capped Atlas Mountains to the south. Truly spectacular.
Typical low-rise structures along the road between the Medina and West Palmaerie desert.
View from our car, there stands the 12th century Koutoubia Mosque built by Almohad sultan Abdel Moumen. Closed to non-Muslims, we could only admire the moorish great from afar.
View of the permanent fixtures of storks, El Badi Palace had just closed for their 2-hr lunch, but luckily we were given carte blanche w/our tour guide to further explore the palace grounds.
Here we are with our tour guide, Si Mohammed at the start of our tour on the grounds of El Badi Palace.
Here’s Steven after a rather taxing 2 1/2 story climb …yes on foot… to the top of this fallen palace. In the distance are the permanent nest fixtures of the famous Moroccan stork.
Here’s a closer look at one of several dozen stork nests, atop El Badi Palace. According to Mohammed, they’ve been here for several hundred years, a fixture of the palace and ubiquitous with Marrakech locals.
Here we are in front of El Badi Palace’s fountains while Mohammed took this shot of us.
Oh! Look! It’s McDonald’s outside the Medina, of course, along side their “Costco” and “Ikea.” Mar07
Taken from our tour van, a shot of the typical Moroccan family walking on a sunny afternoon. Outside the Medina, Marrakech. Mar07
At the center of the Medina lies El
Updated 10jun07
