tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40914925105240141812024-03-12T17:52:33.736-07:00The KBAT's Sabbat(ical)Kimberly Hulthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16185690418428726394noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091492510524014181.post-60719588315441433102010-12-30T19:39:00.000-08:002011-01-04T19:09:23.468-08:00Ending the Sabbatical with Christmas in Minnesota<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TSPduLkLJsI/AAAAAAAACUM/itcSPtPbDZA/s1600/DSCN3641.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 369px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TSPduLkLJsI/AAAAAAAACUM/itcSPtPbDZA/s400/DSCN3641.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558530150553560770" border="0" /></a>Bonjour,<br /><br />So now that we are back in the States, we headed to Minnesota to celebrate Christmas with our family. We thought you'd enjoy a few pictures from the festivities<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TSPcVDZaaiI/AAAAAAAACUE/rleGZJhxxe4/s1600/DSCN3649.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 237px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TSPcVDZaaiI/AAAAAAAACUE/rleGZJhxxe4/s400/DSCN3649.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558528619352582690" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TSPXYOtLRDI/AAAAAAAACR8/mRgO6FpUboI/s1600/DSCN3661.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TSPXYOtLRDI/AAAAAAAACR8/mRgO6FpUboI/s400/DSCN3661.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558523176369734706" border="0" /></a>Too bad there weren't many presents this year.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TSPbgxPk7gI/AAAAAAAACTk/ujc3mR8PZwo/s1600/DSCN3691.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TSPbgxPk7gI/AAAAAAAACTk/ujc3mR8PZwo/s400/DSCN3691.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558527721126292994" border="0" /></a>It seems that both the American and Moroccan economies benefited from this year's gift giving activities...<br /><br />As shown in the photo at top, on Christmas Eve, we had a special surprise visit from Santa and one of his elves.<br /><br />Introducing my family, including the new baby, Boden.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TSPXYop7v9I/AAAAAAAACSE/DDwWCH-ia0I/s1600/DSCN3665.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 327px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TSPXYop7v9I/AAAAAAAACSE/DDwWCH-ia0I/s400/DSCN3665.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558523183335456722" border="0" /></a>Tommy and Anna during the present-opening frenzy.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TSPY3jgxEtI/AAAAAAAACS0/NV_IbpM8n-w/s1600/DSCN3709.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TSPY3jgxEtI/AAAAAAAACS0/NV_IbpM8n-w/s400/DSCN3709.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558524814042403538" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TSPY3Z74BII/AAAAAAAACSs/vyIIqLmVSS0/s1600/DSCN3708.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TSPY3Z74BII/AAAAAAAACSs/vyIIqLmVSS0/s400/DSCN3708.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558524811471750274" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TSPXZd0571I/AAAAAAAACSc/ahIyqnNPq6M/s1600/DSCN3713.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TSPXZd0571I/AAAAAAAACSc/ahIyqnNPq6M/s400/DSCN3713.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558523197608554322" border="0" /></a>Anna reading to her little cousins.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TSPbhBl7c5I/AAAAAAAACTs/ZuKioGtTEzU/s1600/DSCN3685.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TSPbhBl7c5I/AAAAAAAACTs/ZuKioGtTEzU/s400/DSCN3685.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558527725515010962" border="0" /></a>My nieces, Eva (2 1/2 years) and Gracie (nearly 8 months and celebrating her first Christmas).<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TSPY4HjRJpI/AAAAAAAACS8/GvuPSBxfdkA/s1600/DSCN3703.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TSPY4HjRJpI/AAAAAAAACS8/GvuPSBxfdkA/s400/DSCN3703.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558524823716570770" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TSPY3F_VWWI/AAAAAAAACSk/fKNTlrCNCxY/s1600/DSCN3674.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 328px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TSPY3F_VWWI/AAAAAAAACSk/fKNTlrCNCxY/s400/DSCN3674.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558524806117546338" border="0" /></a>Then it was off to northern Minnesota for some time with Bob's family. Due to a most unfortunate tobogganing injury (I do not recommend sitting on your bottom, in the front of the sled, jammed together with a bunch of kids, and then dragging the heavy toboggan back up the hill when your back has already started to hurt), not a lot of photos by your blogger for a while there.<br /><br />But I did recover...as Hunter captured.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TSPY4RE-rEI/AAAAAAAACTE/vZWe4lhKhWc/s1600/DSCN3722.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TSPY4RE-rEI/AAAAAAAACTE/vZWe4lhKhWc/s400/DSCN3722.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558524826273885250" border="0" /></a><br />And here is Hunter, striking a pose.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TSPZbejAAwI/AAAAAAAACTU/hUBFYrBuCts/s1600/DSCN3727.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TSPZbejAAwI/AAAAAAAACTU/hUBFYrBuCts/s400/DSCN3727.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558525431184884482" border="0" /></a>And here is Sara, aka Hunter's mother and Bob's sister (she is also known by other names).<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TSPZbhaenRI/AAAAAAAACTc/HAiWdUOcovY/s1600/DSCN3731.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TSPZbhaenRI/AAAAAAAACTc/HAiWdUOcovY/s400/DSCN3731.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558525431954447634" border="0" /></a>Finally, here is Anna and Tommy "hitting the slopes," for sledding, anyway, at Auntie Jan and Uncle Jim's "cabin".<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TSPZbB5AClI/AAAAAAAACTM/m8CjhrsBNc4/s1600/DSCN3744.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TSPZbB5AClI/AAAAAAAACTM/m8CjhrsBNc4/s400/DSCN3744.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558525423492532818" border="0" /></a>After a week of celebrations, it was back to Boulder for a snowy New Year's holiday, and someone's first day back at work.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TSPbhmE2drI/AAAAAAAACT8/WW32G9mqGVE/s1600/DSCN3749.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TSPbhmE2drI/AAAAAAAACT8/WW32G9mqGVE/s400/DSCN3749.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558527735308383922" border="0" /></a>It's now January 4th. Only 6 years and 361 days until my next sabbatical.<br /><br />Happy New Year, everyone.<br /><br />Au revoir,<br /><br />KimKimberly Hulthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16185690418428726394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091492510524014181.post-67293099308130534172010-12-13T05:52:00.000-08:002010-12-20T20:13:26.967-08:00A Wonderful Life<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQYoLzLgrCI/AAAAAAAACOQ/qu0UQG4mNWM/s1600/DSCN3500.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQYoLzLgrCI/AAAAAAAACOQ/qu0UQG4mNWM/s400/DSCN3500.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550167773962873890" border="0" /></a><br />Bonjour,<br /><br />So the date is all wrong. It's actually December 20th, and we're back in the States. But although we are happy to see friends and family again, we already miss so much of our life in Morocco.<br /><br />More than anything, we miss our friends (and all the events to celebrate our year in Morocco, which were marked by lots of couscous and even more wine).<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TRAgMCjslLI/AAAAAAAACRw/vx8NzgQIBSc/s1600/DSCN3499.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TRAgMCjslLI/AAAAAAAACRw/vx8NzgQIBSc/s400/DSCN3499.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552973731764933810" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TRAd7YmDAiI/AAAAAAAACQw/RzzVz3ImYsc/s1600/DSCN3613.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TRAd7YmDAiI/AAAAAAAACQw/RzzVz3ImYsc/s400/DSCN3613.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552971246599340578" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TRAd7mzbWPI/AAAAAAAACQ4/a2Lh0luLq5s/s1600/DSCN3617.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 351px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TRAd7mzbWPI/AAAAAAAACQ4/a2Lh0luLq5s/s400/DSCN3617.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552971250413558002" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TRAcUWrfxqI/AAAAAAAACQQ/Wrdi5mDtivI/s1600/DSCN3589.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TRAcUWrfxqI/AAAAAAAACQQ/Wrdi5mDtivI/s400/DSCN3589.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552969476558800546" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TRAd8pSjiUI/AAAAAAAACRQ/oGJsXSe9i-E/s1600/DSCN3614.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TRAd8pSjiUI/AAAAAAAACRQ/oGJsXSe9i-E/s400/DSCN3614.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552971268260858178" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TRAd77A1K1I/AAAAAAAACRA/g6lS24OjaVQ/s1600/DSCN3616.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 306px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TRAd77A1K1I/AAAAAAAACRA/g6lS24OjaVQ/s400/DSCN3616.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552971255838485330" border="0" /></a>(I'm hoping that Lamyae and Khalil see this post and send a copy of the photo they took of us eating couscous at their home, so I can add it to the post...)<br /><br />We miss our Moroccan pets, especially Stella (the cat below), Petey (the bird, also below), and Cocoa (the hamster). But Stella now has a good home with Rachida, our maid, and Pete and Cocoa live with Trish, Zoe, Nayla and Kai on the beach in Casablanca.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TRAcT_XvzoI/AAAAAAAACQI/510uXymvRJM/s1600/DSCN3568.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TRAcT_XvzoI/AAAAAAAACQI/510uXymvRJM/s400/DSCN3568.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552969470301949570" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TRAYLl_d7zI/AAAAAAAACP4/7sTLvL9iLlw/s1600/DSCN3588.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TRAYLl_d7zI/AAAAAAAACP4/7sTLvL9iLlw/s400/DSCN3588.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552964928003764018" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TRAgLNY4eOI/AAAAAAAACRg/yVn6mcRJwrk/s1600/DSC04087.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 331px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TRAgLNY4eOI/AAAAAAAACRg/yVn6mcRJwrk/s400/DSC04087.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552973717492496610" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TRAYL5ufo_I/AAAAAAAACQA/hZUDC8haVCs/s1600/DSC03568.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TRAYL5ufo_I/AAAAAAAACQA/hZUDC8haVCs/s400/DSC03568.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552964933301281778" border="0" /></a>But saying good-bye to Stella, Petey, and Cocoa left Anna, Tommy and me all pretty blue.<br /><br />And we even miss our Rabat house (although definitely not the proprietor/owner of the place),<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQYoNdOPXnI/AAAAAAAACOw/nzuoItpoDxQ/s1600/DSCN3572.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQYoNdOPXnI/AAAAAAAACOw/nzuoItpoDxQ/s400/DSCN3572.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550167802428481138" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQYrRmH3SDI/AAAAAAAACPA/dBqs5-1NY1c/s1600/DSCN3571.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQYrRmH3SDI/AAAAAAAACPA/dBqs5-1NY1c/s400/DSCN3571.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550171172072015922" border="0" /></a>especially our favorite reading corner by the fireplace.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQYrRB4OQ5I/AAAAAAAACO4/Xy_3npO1D4o/s1600/DSCN3573.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQYrRB4OQ5I/AAAAAAAACO4/Xy_3npO1D4o/s400/DSCN3573.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550171162342736786" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQYoMi-mtPI/AAAAAAAACOg/0rcoSYuROvk/s1600/DSCN1517.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQYoMi-mtPI/AAAAAAAACOg/0rcoSYuROvk/s400/DSCN1517.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550167786793645298" border="0" /></a>When we first moved to Morocco in January, we didn't anticipate how hard it would be to leave our friends, our newly-adopted pets, our teachers, and even our house (which was a warm, cozy place, but mostly, as Tommy put it, was "home").<br /><br />But I guess that's the price you pay when you become close to such amazing people and have such a wonderful experience... And we are grateful for our year.<br /><br />A bientot,<br /><br />Kim<br /><br />P.S.: For those of you who have wondered how we got all of our stuff back, let me just say that it took a village. Planes, trucks and automobiles. And gracious friends and family.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TRAgK1U6VhI/AAAAAAAACRY/Q8tdXHo2aRg/s1600/DSCN3631.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TRAgK1U6VhI/AAAAAAAACRY/Q8tdXHo2aRg/s400/DSCN3631.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552973711033390610" border="0" /></a>But the result is that we were able to bring back some pretty things for Christmas presents for friends and family. (Below, a small sampling of the gifts that we have arranged to get back to the States).<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TRAgLkdEUCI/AAAAAAAACRo/gfU4K_s8drM/s1600/DSCN3635.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TRAgLkdEUCI/AAAAAAAACRo/gfU4K_s8drM/s400/DSCN3635.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552973723684065314" border="0" /></a>Kimberly Hulthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16185690418428726394noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091492510524014181.post-68211211037725428162010-12-09T03:33:00.000-08:002010-12-09T14:11:47.840-08:00Our Hay Riad (Rabat) Neighborhood<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQEsi2ZpcTI/AAAAAAAACNo/-b7vbRVsWlc/s1600/DSCN3166.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQEsi2ZpcTI/AAAAAAAACNo/-b7vbRVsWlc/s400/DSCN3166.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548765193127424306" border="0" /></a>Bonjour,<br /><br />So we are packing up to leave now, which feels pretty weird -- a little "unreal" as Anna and Tommy have put it -- for all of us.<br /><br />Before we go, though, I wanted to share some pictures of the gates in our quartier (neighborhood), Hay Riad.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQDCUcnhZqI/AAAAAAAACMw/a_f-tEP8-jg/s1600/DSCN3168.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQDCUcnhZqI/AAAAAAAACMw/a_f-tEP8-jg/s400/DSCN3168.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548648397455582882" border="0" /></a>There are lots of beautiful homes in this area, but they are largely hidden behind tall walls and big gates, so you don't see much of them. But people do express some of their style with the design of their gates and doors.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQEsjO7k8lI/AAAAAAAACNw/A9itZ_m08Xw/s1600/DSCN3182.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQEsjO7k8lI/AAAAAAAACNw/A9itZ_m08Xw/s400/DSCN3182.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548765199712186962" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQEsjrnwF3I/AAAAAAAACN4/S1jZWBxie7A/s1600/DSCN3186.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQEsjrnwF3I/AAAAAAAACN4/S1jZWBxie7A/s400/DSCN3186.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548765207413659506" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQDJ45CdMrI/AAAAAAAACNA/41oZToJh4QI/s1600/DSCN3171.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQDJ45CdMrI/AAAAAAAACNA/41oZToJh4QI/s400/DSCN3171.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548656720141431474" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQEskE3iuHI/AAAAAAAACOA/5sdAN67cyhQ/s1600/DSCN3185.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQEskE3iuHI/AAAAAAAACOA/5sdAN67cyhQ/s400/DSCN3185.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548765214190778482" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQDCTWjR-cI/AAAAAAAACMY/J-Xfn5oYBh4/s1600/DSCN3183.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQDCTWjR-cI/AAAAAAAACMY/J-Xfn5oYBh4/s400/DSCN3183.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548648378647312834" border="0" /></a>Many have flowers or ornamental grasses growing above the gate door.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQDCTmA0XjI/AAAAAAAACMg/o0prRa4IGUE/s1600/DSCN3184.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQDCTmA0XjI/AAAAAAAACMg/o0prRa4IGUE/s400/DSCN3184.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548648382797733426" border="0" /></a>But as lovely as some homes (or at least the gates) are, this is still a developing country. So right next to a fancy home, you might see a vacant lot filled with leaves, branches, some broken glass, or even a small herd of sheep and cows, like this nice group grazing near the Marjane the other day.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQEsknnpziI/AAAAAAAACOI/GIdczDgXLLY/s1600/DSCN3512.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQEsknnpziI/AAAAAAAACOI/GIdczDgXLLY/s400/DSCN3512.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548765223519374882" border="0" /></a>We also have a large, green forest nearby. It's very quiet, and maybe not a terribly safe place to walk alone. But it is pretty.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQDJ6AK_BEI/AAAAAAAACNY/SMb1K0aqRKU/s1600/DSCN3177.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQDJ6AK_BEI/AAAAAAAACNY/SMb1K0aqRKU/s400/DSCN3177.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548656739236119618" border="0" /></a>Bob loves it when I take his picture for the blog.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQDJ5fdXFcI/AAAAAAAACNI/m5NR8q4w3jw/s1600/DSCN3173.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQDJ5fdXFcI/AAAAAAAACNI/m5NR8q4w3jw/s400/DSCN3173.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548656730454824386" border="0" /></a>And Tommy loves to throw sticks.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQDJ5ldnDpI/AAAAAAAACNQ/shqkv4vjjig/s1600/DSCN3176.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQDJ5ldnDpI/AAAAAAAACNQ/shqkv4vjjig/s400/DSCN3176.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548656732066483858" border="0" /></a>Here's one of our neighborhood mosques. Lately, I've been hearing the 4 a.m. call to prayer a lot more; it seems louder.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQDJ6RmxDjI/AAAAAAAACNg/vF2HXDJFG_Y/s1600/DSCN3178.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TQDJ6RmxDjI/AAAAAAAACNg/vF2HXDJFG_Y/s400/DSCN3178.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548656743916047922" border="0" /></a>But not much more of that for us...<br /><br />A bientot,<br /><br />KimKimberly Hulthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16185690418428726394noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091492510524014181.post-88837352183377477272010-12-03T14:17:00.001-08:002010-12-09T14:17:17.157-08:00Christmastime in an Islamic Country<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPzzrKal1qI/AAAAAAAACLo/E-FDmI9HlVo/s1600/DSCN3542.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPzzrKal1qI/AAAAAAAACLo/E-FDmI9HlVo/s400/DSCN3542.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547576763869419170" border="0" /></a><br />Bonjour,<br /><br />So I had pretty much forgotten that it was getting so close to Christmas, until I read my friend Marie's funny blog post earlier this week. She totally makes me laugh. Check her blog post called <a href="http://www.rockthekasbahafrica.blogspot.com">"O Christmas Tree"</a>.<br /><br />But with a lot of green, too much rain, and no formal Thanksgiving festivities beforehand, it can be easy to forget that Christmas is right around the corner. After all, you don't hear Christmas music playing every time you go in a store. And as you might have gathered, I've had my Christmas shopping pretty much done for a while, so it's not like I'm feeling a lot of pressure to find a bunch of presents.<br /><br />But folks here are still aware of the Christmas holiday ("Noel"). In fact, when you go in the bigger malls, it's clear that at least a few retailers know who they want to attract in December.<br /><br />Here's from the MegaMall.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TP0Od-JoKNI/AAAAAAAACMQ/6Px2azDfO3g/s1600/DSCN3550.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TP0Od-JoKNI/AAAAAAAACMQ/6Px2azDfO3g/s400/DSCN3550.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547606224052693202" border="0" /></a>(Fyi, photos are "interdit" (forbidden) inside the MegaMall, so it's a good thing the security guard doesn't know about the photos that follow).<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPujrOKGl-I/AAAAAAAACLI/AWiDM2JDVcM/s1600/DSCN3504.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPujrOKGl-I/AAAAAAAACLI/AWiDM2JDVcM/s400/DSCN3504.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547207328967071714" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPujrqmw6SI/AAAAAAAACLQ/GxImqOu4t9k/s1600/DSCN3505.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPujrqmw6SI/AAAAAAAACLQ/GxImqOu4t9k/s400/DSCN3505.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547207336603478306" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPujqE2kxAI/AAAAAAAACLA/HTfIE8ZEozk/s1600/DSCN3497.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPujqE2kxAI/AAAAAAAACLA/HTfIE8ZEozk/s400/DSCN3497.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547207309289374722" border="0" /></a>And here's from the Marjane (Rabat's answer to Target) (not the most exciting decorations, but better than nothing).<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPzzq6TxQqI/AAAAAAAACLg/lSClb3e7LnM/s1600/DSCN3541.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPzzq6TxQqI/AAAAAAAACLg/lSClb3e7LnM/s400/DSCN3541.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547576759545840290" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPzzrSu6T2I/AAAAAAAACLw/jh-Q3ubBHO4/s1600/DSCN3543.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPzzrSu6T2I/AAAAAAAACLw/jh-Q3ubBHO4/s400/DSCN3543.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547576766102130530" border="0" /></a>A couple of the many other retail store windows.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPzzrkrzQxI/AAAAAAAACL4/E6vYIv22Wa4/s1600/DSCN3544.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPzzrkrzQxI/AAAAAAAACL4/E6vYIv22Wa4/s400/DSCN3544.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547576770920923922" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPz5ilb_RjI/AAAAAAAACMA/jcaV4a-NV9g/s1600/DSCN3545.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPz5ilb_RjI/AAAAAAAACMA/jcaV4a-NV9g/s400/DSCN3545.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547583213573981746" border="0" /></a>Finally, here's our Morocco "Christmas tree" (for the next week or so, anyway).<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPz5ix9-uuI/AAAAAAAACMI/AJe1tzwERSk/s1600/DSCN3549.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPz5ix9-uuI/AAAAAAAACMI/AJe1tzwERSk/s400/DSCN3549.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547583216937777890" border="0" /></a>But, as we found last night, even if you don't have many decorations or a tree only Charlie Brown would love, kids will still have fun decorating it (for at least three minutes).<br /><br />A bientot,<br /><br />KimKimberly Hulthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16185690418428726394noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091492510524014181.post-2367310024923685472010-11-30T04:30:00.000-08:002010-11-30T09:20:47.642-08:00Fes for Thanksgiving<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUN0m1awbI/AAAAAAAACKA/O-F9kmk6O_g/s1600/DSCN3485.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUN0m1awbI/AAAAAAAACKA/O-F9kmk6O_g/s400/DSCN3485.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545353713605591474" border="0" /></a>Bonjour,<br /><br />So after spending Halloween in Fes with family, it seemed only natural to return to Fes with our friends, Sarah and Lucy, for a Moroccan-style Thanksgiving.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUQNbMpLyI/AAAAAAAACKg/IGzTkExcj84/s1600/DSCN3434.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUQNbMpLyI/AAAAAAAACKg/IGzTkExcj84/s400/DSCN3434.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545356339001765666" border="0" /></a>We celebrated with an elegant dinner at our riad, with our equally elegant children.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUMUkbzQKI/AAAAAAAACJg/UfDjMTfNXR4/s1600/DSCN3470.jpg"><br /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPULmliRX1I/AAAAAAAACJI/0qKooZQnwrc/s1600/DSCN3475.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 339px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPULmliRX1I/AAAAAAAACJI/0qKooZQnwrc/s400/DSCN3475.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545351273715425106" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPULm1l25RI/AAAAAAAACJQ/o20NejDAQxc/s1600/DSCN3479.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPULm1l25RI/AAAAAAAACJQ/o20NejDAQxc/s400/DSCN3479.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545351278025434386" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPULnnxxMAI/AAAAAAAACJY/FasSr2bNGqw/s1600/DSCN3477.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPULnnxxMAI/AAAAAAAACJY/FasSr2bNGqw/s400/DSCN3477.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545351291497164802" border="0" /></a>As I have written before, one of my favorite things about Fes is the call to prayer at sunset, echoing throughout the medina. I'm going to try to post here a short recording (by Anna) of it, although a recording can't do it justice.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw27zeu5ZyURYTwSxh2skWUpASHQuNHD39DVr0VKvrobROLCeN6_6HA5_2EtQfaAJw701iXrtEu3k6DvRsChw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />To make it in time for the prayer, Sarah and I had to fly (well, walk and run in our heels/boots, presumably unnoticed by the Moroccans -- except that they were all staring at us) from the old Jewish quarter (the Mellah) to our riad. We covered a good 40-minute distance in about half that, and the call to prayer was just starting as we raced up the stairs of the riad to the terrace.<br /><br />Here are a couple shots from the old synagogue in the Mellah, and one from the terrace, overlooking the old Jewish cemetary. (Some Jewish families remain in Morocco and still attend services at the synagogue, but most families left after the French protectorate ended in 1956).<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUKoSFt_JI/AAAAAAAACI4/t-PnI0k3O6c/s1600/DSCN3453.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUKoSFt_JI/AAAAAAAACI4/t-PnI0k3O6c/s400/DSCN3453.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545350203343502482" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUIA__JTdI/AAAAAAAACIg/17B-G2rqNHU/s1600/DSCN3452.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUIA__JTdI/AAAAAAAACIg/17B-G2rqNHU/s400/DSCN3452.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545347329445940690" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPULlFhQsmI/AAAAAAAACJA/WeVMaeiM49c/s1600/DSCN3455.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPULlFhQsmI/AAAAAAAACJA/WeVMaeiM49c/s400/DSCN3455.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545351247941382754" border="0" /></a>And for those of you who have been wondering why I get so excited about Fes and all of the shopping opportunities it offers, here are a few more images of one of my favorite cities in Morocco (yes, I know I have a lot of favorite cities) and the beautiful stuff I like to buy there.<br /><br />Some shops.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUG8Sct71I/AAAAAAAACIA/mE3bTawTU1w/s1600/DSCN3435.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUG8Sct71I/AAAAAAAACIA/mE3bTawTU1w/s400/DSCN3435.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545346148990840658" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUGMXNjOCI/AAAAAAAACHg/p5aEiptHCW4/s1600/DSCN3423.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUGMXNjOCI/AAAAAAAACHg/p5aEiptHCW4/s400/DSCN3423.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545345325635680290" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUGNWuGZxI/AAAAAAAACHw/pcu_7DHzipQ/s1600/DSCN3427.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUGNWuGZxI/AAAAAAAACHw/pcu_7DHzipQ/s400/DSCN3427.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545345342683637522" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUGMtyeP-I/AAAAAAAACHo/mQJ8I2zgIyM/s1600/DSCN3424.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUGMtyeP-I/AAAAAAAACHo/mQJ8I2zgIyM/s400/DSCN3424.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545345331696123874" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUIAkm7PRI/AAAAAAAACIY/6dwuSztrM5A/s1600/DSCN3449.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUIAkm7PRI/AAAAAAAACIY/6dwuSztrM5A/s400/DSCN3449.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545347322096598290" border="0" /></a>Some sites (sights?) (see also tanneries picture at top).<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUSqdYF7EI/AAAAAAAACKw/Q0mDp-ubeBE/s1600/DSCN3487.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUSqdYF7EI/AAAAAAAACKw/Q0mDp-ubeBE/s400/DSCN3487.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545359036826119234" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUQM6_Q-GI/AAAAAAAACKY/_92LLxzBUgI/s1600/DSCN3432.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUQM6_Q-GI/AAAAAAAACKY/_92LLxzBUgI/s400/DSCN3432.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545356330355718242" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUSqmdCD8I/AAAAAAAACK4/oiDWnvv5vk8/s1600/DSCN2820.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUSqmdCD8I/AAAAAAAACK4/oiDWnvv5vk8/s400/DSCN2820.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545359039262756802" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUMVG1LCgI/AAAAAAAACJo/lhnNnWwjvm0/s1600/DSCN3443.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUMVG1LCgI/AAAAAAAACJo/lhnNnWwjvm0/s400/DSCN3443.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545352072927054338" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUFYGKkvUI/AAAAAAAACHQ/TxlxZojGWY8/s1600/DSCN3420.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUFYGKkvUI/AAAAAAAACHQ/TxlxZojGWY8/s400/DSCN3420.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545344427706596674" border="0" /></a>And even some tired animals.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUKlUg2oBI/AAAAAAAACIo/vq086v6yH-E/s1600/DSCN3437.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUKlUg2oBI/AAAAAAAACIo/vq086v6yH-E/s400/DSCN3437.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545350152454578194" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUKlrx8aQI/AAAAAAAACIw/A4GnL7UW7CY/s1600/DSCN3439.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUKlrx8aQI/AAAAAAAACIw/A4GnL7UW7CY/s400/DSCN3439.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545350158700275970" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUN0KGvjnI/AAAAAAAACJ4/jp_ijU8e2AQ/s1600/DSCN3482.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUN0KGvjnI/AAAAAAAACJ4/jp_ijU8e2AQ/s400/DSCN3482.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545353705893629554" border="0" /></a>Finally, I leave you with some exciting news. While in Fes, Bob underwent a bit of a transformation: He was bathed (scrubbed thoroughly in a hammam and then contorted by the attendant into lots of fun positions. You'll have to ask him about that in person, since he seems too traumatized to write about it himself), he was shorn (shortest haircut <span style="font-style: italic;">ever</span>), and he was clothed (in his new jellaba).<br /><br />Here's the old, dirty, hairy Bob (with Tommy).<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUG78xejUI/AAAAAAAACH4/2QRewG5flyo/s1600/DSCN3419.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 217px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUG78xejUI/AAAAAAAACH4/2QRewG5flyo/s400/DSCN3419.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545346143172332866" border="0" /></a>Now, introducing the new Bob (you should have heard the kids shriek when he pulled off his hood).<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUH-RYZPHI/AAAAAAAACIQ/g9GekA1L1DA/s1600/DSCN3440.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUH-RYZPHI/AAAAAAAACIQ/g9GekA1L1DA/s400/DSCN3440.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545347282575637618" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUMVmdpZ9I/AAAAAAAACJw/pY6AqWybing/s1600/DSCN3467.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 356px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUMVmdpZ9I/AAAAAAAACJw/pY6AqWybing/s400/DSCN3467.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545352081418315730" border="0" /></a>He looks rather grim, doesn't he? Or maybe a bit like Obi-Wan Kenobi? Or maybe he just doesn't like the direction this blog post is taking.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUQbhb4x3I/AAAAAAAACKo/DLQjVHWVrp0/s1600/DSCN3448.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPUQbhb4x3I/AAAAAAAACKo/DLQjVHWVrp0/s400/DSCN3448.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545356581194483570" border="0" /></a><br />A bientot,<br /><br />KimKimberly Hulthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16185690418428726394noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091492510524014181.post-269431245542366922010-11-28T09:18:00.001-08:002010-11-29T10:08:44.859-08:00Casa Cool<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPOvrslY3jI/AAAAAAAACFg/viboajJpWQE/s1600/DSCN3382.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPOvrslY3jI/AAAAAAAACFg/viboajJpWQE/s400/DSCN3382.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544968731460427314" border="0" /></a>Bonjour,<br /><br />Casablanca is often compared to New York, while Rabat is compared to Washington, D.C. But unlike the Big Apple, Casa doesn't seem to attract many tourists.<br /><br />We have been no exception: We didn't get to Casa for a long time, except for brief visits while in transit. But over the last couple of weeks, we've finally made a few trips to this city of four million, located about an hour from Rabat. And we've found it's much cooler (and, frankly, cleaner -- at least where we've been) than expected.<br /><br />We discovered that, as advertised, Casa really does have upscale galleries with good modern art for sale. Below, the Matisse Gallery, which features art by well-known Moroccan artists like Nouredine Diafallah.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPKQ3TwH9DI/AAAAAAAACE4/9BsA0wGmcHY/s1600/DSCN3210.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPKQ3TwH9DI/AAAAAAAACE4/9BsA0wGmcHY/s400/DSCN3210.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544653371115828274" border="0" /></a>There are also interesting sites to see, like the Mosquee Hassan II. The mosque, exceeded in size only by the mosque at Mecca, was built in 1993 and is still controversial among some who weren't too happy to pay the $750,000,000 in taxes needed to build it.<br /><br />The tower is more than 600 feet high, and the tallest structure in Morocco. And the mosque itself can seat 25,000 people, with 80,000 more in the courtyard (see below and photo at top).<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPO1-UKKgpI/AAAAAAAACGY/rO3Smtm0kNc/s1600/DSCN3366.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPO1-UKKgpI/AAAAAAAACGY/rO3Smtm0kNc/s400/DSCN3366.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544975648391070354" border="0" /></a>Unusually, the mosque is open to non-Muslims who want to visit and view the work of the 2500 people needed to construct it.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPO35ya4HVI/AAAAAAAACGo/VzdcrQUG_KM/s1600/DSCN3368.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPO35ya4HVI/AAAAAAAACGo/VzdcrQUG_KM/s400/DSCN3368.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544977769638141266" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPO2BQVLOzI/AAAAAAAACGg/ahmX94XH4Fc/s1600/DSCN3370.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPO2BQVLOzI/AAAAAAAACGg/ahmX94XH4Fc/s400/DSCN3370.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544975698903120690" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPO5cWruygI/AAAAAAAACG4/L6SxqCLqf4Q/s1600/DSCN3376.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPO5cWruygI/AAAAAAAACG4/L6SxqCLqf4Q/s400/DSCN3376.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544979462999689730" border="0" /></a>And you can visit the 18th century fort with an underwhelming museum but a good restaurant (Maure at La Sqala) in a leafy garden, and, importantly for Tommy, some old cannons. At Maure, Bob and Anna sampled the Moroccan Jewish chef's newest creation -- based upon his mother's recipe -- and talked at length with the chef about the spices used.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPOvr0e9o0I/AAAAAAAACFo/IJiWREikI9U/s1600/DSCN3387.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPOvr0e9o0I/AAAAAAAACFo/IJiWREikI9U/s400/DSCN3387.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544968733580960578" border="0" /></a>While on the subject of food, Casa has a reputation for having a cosmopolitan restaurant scene, with places like the 1930s-style Rouget de L'Isle, where Bob and I had, perhaps, our best meal out in Morocco.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPKQ7aVRKPI/AAAAAAAACFQ/B2mHpfbTHs8/s1600/DSCN3217.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPKQ7aVRKPI/AAAAAAAACFQ/B2mHpfbTHs8/s400/DSCN3217.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544653441601710322" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPKQ7-WxRMI/AAAAAAAACFY/PiNcDqdiF3U/s1600/DSCN3222.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPKQ7-WxRMI/AAAAAAAACFY/PiNcDqdiF3U/s400/DSCN3222.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544653451271685314" border="0" /></a>Naturally enough, you see lots of businesses, but many are located on spacious, palm-lined boulevards that remind us of Southern California.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPKQ6qGbpDI/AAAAAAAACFA/uYnsngdC7AY/s1600/DSCN3212.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPKQ6qGbpDI/AAAAAAAACFA/uYnsngdC7AY/s400/DSCN3212.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544653428654580786" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPO9TycGSaI/AAAAAAAACHI/3jO7zIIJjh8/s1600/DSCN3215.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPO9TycGSaI/AAAAAAAACHI/3jO7zIIJjh8/s400/DSCN3215.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544983713878002082" border="0" /></a>And, despite a line in the movie Casablanca about the city being situated in the desert, there's also the beach, including right by our friends' house.<br /><br />Here's Anna, Tommy and Lucy on the beach, shortly after Lucy and Sarah arrived in Morocco last week (and with a rather large dog that Tommy "adopted").<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPO1NePr3HI/AAAAAAAACGI/o7NhRzl-5w8/s1600/DSCN3351.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPO1NePr3HI/AAAAAAAACGI/o7NhRzl-5w8/s400/DSCN3351.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544974809284992114" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPO1N3WSFhI/AAAAAAAACGQ/vZDyceqDECw/s1600/DSCN3360.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPO1N3WSFhI/AAAAAAAACGQ/vZDyceqDECw/s400/DSCN3360.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544974816023549458" border="0" /></a>Despite their jet lag, here's Sarah and Lucy looking pretty awake.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPO5dPALKkI/AAAAAAAACHA/56evN5ztsHs/s1600/DSCN3364.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TPO5dPALKkI/AAAAAAAACHA/56evN5ztsHs/s400/DSCN3364.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544979478117820994" border="0" /></a>One thing we haven't checked out in Casa? The hip nightlife scene.<br /><br />And, alas, time is running out... it's definitely looking as if Bob won't be dancing at a cool Casa nightclub this year...<br /><br />A bientot,<br /><br />KimKimberly Hulthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16185690418428726394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091492510524014181.post-91710949057330673932010-11-23T03:22:00.000-08:002010-11-23T10:45:07.071-08:00The Peace Place... in Marrakesh<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOwJrMCQPxI/AAAAAAAACEg/hrbNQ_7zlp4/s1600/DSCN3336%2B%25282%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOwJrMCQPxI/AAAAAAAACEg/hrbNQ_7zlp4/s400/DSCN3336%2B%25282%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542815878955941650" border="0" /></a><br />Bonjour,<br /><br />After leaving Oualidia, we headed to Marrakesh. En route, we decided we might want to start looking for a place to stay...good thing too, as it quickly became clear that many places were either closed or full because of the holiday weekend (Aid al Kabir).<br /><br />And while the Marrakesh medina is fabulous, it's also pretty zany, so this time, we thought we'd try something new...<br /><br />We ended up at Les Deux Tours, located in the Palmeraie, a leafy area about 15-minutes drive from the medina. This place was a huge hit with Anna and Tommy. While "peaceful" is not usually a word associated with Marrakesh, it fits here (at least until the KBATs showed up).<br /><br />It had turtles and turtle ponds.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOwJqczaDUI/AAAAAAAACEQ/cLox5OcQGro/s1600/DSCN3323.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOwJqczaDUI/AAAAAAAACEQ/cLox5OcQGro/s400/DSCN3323.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542815866277203266" border="0" /></a>It had frogs.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOwIEbhxvTI/AAAAAAAACDw/HYxKgU6mnqE/s1600/DSCN3309.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOwIEbhxvTI/AAAAAAAACDw/HYxKgU6mnqE/s400/DSCN3309.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542814113588165938" border="0" /></a>It had tree swings.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOwIEPKWPJI/AAAAAAAACDo/Xt3OQiCBzyM/s1600/DSCN3320.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOwIEPKWPJI/AAAAAAAACDo/Xt3OQiCBzyM/s400/DSCN3320.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542814110268669074" border="0" /></a>It had a comfy hammock.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOwIGPu_ZRI/AAAAAAAACEA/fP99zG791RI/s1600/DSCN3313.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOwIGPu_ZRI/AAAAAAAACEA/fP99zG791RI/s400/DSCN3313.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542814144782099730" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOwIHldxYAI/AAAAAAAACEI/6L4sAgLFGqE/s1600/DSCN3325.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOwIHldxYAI/AAAAAAAACEI/6L4sAgLFGqE/s400/DSCN3325.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542814167795326978" border="0" /></a>It had a heated (rare here) pool in an Andulusian-style garden.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOwJq1q2k6I/AAAAAAAACEY/ZpOQLQTCs4c/s1600/DSCN3330%2B%25282%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOwJq1q2k6I/AAAAAAAACEY/ZpOQLQTCs4c/s400/DSCN3330%2B%25282%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542815872952210338" border="0" /></a>It has airy bedrooms.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOwIFAeeJVI/AAAAAAAACD4/27f2OS0bAOc/s1600/DSCN3311.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOwIFAeeJVI/AAAAAAAACD4/27f2OS0bAOc/s400/DSCN3311.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542814123506410834" border="0" /></a>(Just kidding. It's just one of the resting areas or something in the garden).<br /><br />It has good courtyards for studying Arabic.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOwJsI_I0CI/AAAAAAAACEo/vQmTdZrAnFw/s1600/DSCN3337.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOwJsI_I0CI/AAAAAAAACEo/vQmTdZrAnFw/s400/DSCN3337.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542815895317434402" border="0" /></a>And it even had convenient local transportation.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOwJsp6yESI/AAAAAAAACEw/Jp1N2iI3SUY/s1600/DSCN3341%2B%25282%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOwJsp6yESI/AAAAAAAACEw/Jp1N2iI3SUY/s400/DSCN3341%2B%25282%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542815904157536546" border="0" /></a>(Again just kidding, although these nice fellows were parked right outside the gate).<br /><br />The next morning, we headed into the Ville Nouvelle for some very successful art shopping, because, as heaven knows, we need more stuff to have to get back to the States.<br /><br />Then it was off to Casablanca to pick up Sarah & Lucy!<br /><br />A bientot,<br /><br />KimKimberly Hulthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16185690418428726394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091492510524014181.post-59124163480908937502010-11-21T00:07:00.000-08:002010-11-21T13:44:28.562-08:00Everybody's Gone Surfin'<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOlom7HMkXI/AAAAAAAACDI/EGUykbyEtlU/s1600/DSCN3291.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOlom7HMkXI/AAAAAAAACDI/EGUykbyEtlU/s400/DSCN3291.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542075834368299378" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOjhVxgDt0I/AAAAAAAACC4/QFnMBIBc1mM/s1600/DSCN3254.jpg"><br /></a>Bonjour,<br /><br />First it was Bob.<span style=""> </span>Then it was Anna.<span style=""> </span><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Now everybody’s learning how.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOjUgWUbntI/AAAAAAAACCA/nh2-yjgML3c/s1600/DSCN3293.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOjUgWUbntI/AAAAAAAACCA/nh2-yjgML3c/s400/DSCN3293.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541912993691573970" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">We just spent a few days south of Casablanca in Oualidia (famous here for its fresh oysters and surfing), where we took surfing lessons.<span style=""><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Anna first got the bug last month after she went to surfing camp for four days with her class.<span style=""> </span>And Bob had already had several lessons (well at least three of them anyway) in Skirhat (just outside of Rabat).</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">And now Tommy and I have gotten in on the action. And we’re not terrible at all -- everybody was up and cruising the waves. But when asked who was the best surfer in the family, this is how my family ranked themselves.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOlonuBcuMI/AAAAAAAACDQ/GgXEBC9fdr0/s1600/DSCN3295.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOlonuBcuMI/AAAAAAAACDQ/GgXEBC9fdr0/s400/DSCN3295.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542075848034400450" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal">What do you do in Oualidia when you aren't surfing?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOjUg8GLdrI/AAAAAAAACCI/WUXkO62wb7M/s1600/DSCN3294.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOjUg8GLdrI/AAAAAAAACCI/WUXkO62wb7M/s400/DSCN3294.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541913003832342194" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">When not surfing the giant waves (or, in our case, somewhat smaller waves), you can always go out and make rather creative sandcastles, using nice bits of trash, like old feathers, beer bottles and broken chunks of concrete that you can't quite move.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOjbJNlUh8I/AAAAAAAACCo/oWtzz4nbvFQ/s1600/DSCN3267.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOjbJNlUh8I/AAAAAAAACCo/oWtzz4nbvFQ/s400/DSCN3267.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541920292790896578" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOjbI558OuI/AAAAAAAACCg/f1CqzbQpShQ/s1600/DSCN3262.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOjbI558OuI/AAAAAAAACCg/f1CqzbQpShQ/s400/DSCN3262.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541920287508675298" border="0" /></a></p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOlqSWIDDlI/AAAAAAAACDg/Ri1RrnFFdW8/s1600/DSCN3274.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOlqSWIDDlI/AAAAAAAACDg/Ri1RrnFFdW8/s400/DSCN3274.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542077679865630290" border="0" /></a><br />Or you can enjoy the view from the nice apartment, while you read a good book.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOjhWGiQz9I/AAAAAAAACDA/AW3tyL8RTxM/s1600/DSCN3282.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOjhWGiQz9I/AAAAAAAACDA/AW3tyL8RTxM/s400/DSCN3282.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541927111307087826" border="0" /></a><br />Or you can walk along the beach.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOjhVxgDt0I/AAAAAAAACC4/QFnMBIBc1mM/s1600/DSCN3254.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOjhVxgDt0I/AAAAAAAACC4/QFnMBIBc1mM/s400/DSCN3254.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541927105660696386" border="0" /></a>But after a few days in Oualidia, we were feeling too relaxed, so we headed off to frenetic Marrakesh for some serious art shopping... <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>A bientot,</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Kim (truly the best surfer in the family)</p>Kimberly Hulthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16185690418428726394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091492510524014181.post-68681025867259974222010-11-18T06:21:00.000-08:002010-11-21T00:06:55.118-08:00A Postmortem<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOjR2oY6_qI/AAAAAAAACB4/laS05xAZuXM/s1600/DSCN3300.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 315px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOjR2oY6_qI/AAAAAAAACB4/laS05xAZuXM/s400/DSCN3300.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541910077964484258" border="0" /></a><br />Bonjour,<br /><br />So, it's the day after Aid al Kabir, and there are still lots of sheep in Morocco.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOjR18ElW3I/AAAAAAAACBw/qIn2wH--VmU/s1600/DSCN3297.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 174px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOjR18ElW3I/AAAAAAAACBw/qIn2wH--VmU/s400/DSCN3297.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541910066068020082" border="0" /></a>For Moroccans, yesterday was a wonderful day with family and feasts, kind of like our Thanksgiving or Christmas. Today festivities continue, as it is Independence Day in Morocco.<br /><br />As for us, we made it through yesterday without much trauma. We left Rabat in the morning, and while I looked away a few times to avoid seeing very fresh skins, roasting heads (in the medians or by the edge of the road) and bloody knives, we didn't see many dead animals. (And Bob didn't get invited to share in any fresh mutton).<br /><br />The hardest part was when Rachida came to our house (she's house-sitting for us this weekend) with two young, scared animals -- a sheep and a goat -- in the trunk of a share taxi (old, white mercedes sedan). That made it really real. <br /><br />Anna pet the shivering sheep, which was laying on top of the goat, before it was lifted out of the car. Tommy pretty much hid. Bob was unmoved.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOWV68_Fd7I/AAAAAAAACBQ/MSHRs3vWheI/s1600/DSCN3227.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 361px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOWV68_Fd7I/AAAAAAAACBQ/MSHRs3vWheI/s400/DSCN3227.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540999756584941490" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOWYCi9K0EI/AAAAAAAACBY/WTjlB0cJsMY/s1600/DSCN3231.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOWYCi9K0EI/AAAAAAAACBY/WTjlB0cJsMY/s400/DSCN3231.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541002086059790402" border="0" /></a>The two animals came from the same farm and seemed to be friends, huddling together after the cords tying their legs were cut. They had a chance to frolic in our backyard and munch on some plants (fyi, they seemed happy to be free in our yard) before their ends. That made me glad.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOWYi9bIDEI/AAAAAAAACBg/2ikEE1gY2hc/s1600/DSCN3233.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 328px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOWYi9bIDEI/AAAAAAAACBg/2ikEE1gY2hc/s400/DSCN3233.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541002642920574018" border="0" /></a>It also made me glad when Rachida described the prayer said before the animals are killed, which she said (I think) really calms the animals. (She clearly felt bad for them, though. And we definitely did not stick around for what was coming next).<br /><br />Instead, we headed south to Casablanca to hang out with some friends...<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOY1-N8SXPI/AAAAAAAACBo/jxFFIrJjd9U/s1600/DSCN3244.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 374px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOY1-N8SXPI/AAAAAAAACBo/jxFFIrJjd9U/s400/DSCN3244.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541175734536658162" border="0" /></a>before stopping in Oualidia for another little vacation from our vacation (sabbatical). More on that soon.<br /><br />A bientot,<br /><br />KimKimberly Hulthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16185690418428726394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091492510524014181.post-69229858979798979732010-11-16T02:49:00.000-08:002010-11-17T02:42:13.577-08:00Ode to the Sheep<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOLEIFALmEI/AAAAAAAACAg/jdH-iKzBn7Y/s1600/DSCN3159.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOLEIFALmEI/AAAAAAAACAg/jdH-iKzBn7Y/s400/DSCN3159.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540206134680066114" border="0" /></a>Bonjour,<br /><br />Tomorrow nearly everyone in Morocco will be celebrating Aid al Kabir.<span style=""> </span>It’s the biggest holiday of the year for devout Muslims, and it involves lots of feasting and traveling, as families gather together.<span style=""> </span><br /><p class="MsoNormal">At the center of the holiday is the sacrifice of millions of sheep.<span style=""> </span>The holiday celebrates the story in the Koran (and in the Bible and in the Torah) about Abraham. To test Abraham’s faith, God directed him to sacrifice his young son, Isaac. <span style=""> </span>After Abraham built the altar and prepared to kill his son, God rewarded Abraham’s faith by giving him a ram to sacrifice instead.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOLAvz55C9I/AAAAAAAACAI/eJnc3Qdo0Q4/s1600/DSCN3086.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOLAvz55C9I/AAAAAAAACAI/eJnc3Qdo0Q4/s400/DSCN3086.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540202419238538194" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Karim, our guard, says that all Muslims are obligated to buy a sheep (at a price equal to one-month’s salary), kill it and eat it during the feast (and in the days to follow).<span style=""> </span>Other families have less strict interpretations of this rule (some Muslims we know donate money to charity in lieu of buying a sheep, for example).<span style=""> </span>But some families feel great pressure to conform, and some leave town to avoid the holiday and/or their neighbors’ scrutiny.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Aside from the religious significance of tomorrow's events, from a practical perspective, there have been sheep everywhere for the last week or so. You see them on street corners, at the produce stands, in small carts wheeled through the medina, thrown into wagons and the backs of trucks, and in our neighbor’s backyard tool-shed.<span style=""><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOLAumC8_fI/AAAAAAAACAA/nhy4_scCxfc/s1600/DSCN3081.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOLAumC8_fI/AAAAAAAACAA/nhy4_scCxfc/s400/DSCN3081.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540202398338579954" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOLEpOqCoAI/AAAAAAAACA4/EVEC7B2DHcM/s1600/DSCN3191.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOLEpOqCoAI/AAAAAAAACA4/EVEC7B2DHcM/s400/DSCN3191.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540206704207241218" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">Some of the sheep look terrified and unhappy, like when I tried to get a photo at one stand and they all tried to squeeze into the farthest corner.<span style=""> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOLEG1cnf1I/AAAAAAAACAQ/uO77-pQ7hMM/s1600/DSCN3156.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOLEG1cnf1I/AAAAAAAACAQ/uO77-pQ7hMM/s400/DSCN3156.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540206113324498770" border="0" /></a></p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOLEHe86rBI/AAAAAAAACAY/qKwwjhjXMmc/s1600/DSCN3157.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOLEHe86rBI/AAAAAAAACAY/qKwwjhjXMmc/s400/DSCN3157.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540206124465826834" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal">Some of them seem complacent, even contented, nuzzling their humans much like dogs.<span style=""> </span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Some sheep vendors sell bags of charcoal next to the pens of sheep.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOLEJmlidDI/AAAAAAAACAw/WYyRkZfI6Xo/s1600/DSCN3163.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOLEJmlidDI/AAAAAAAACAw/WYyRkZfI6Xo/s400/DSCN3163.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540206160874992690" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Outside of the Marjane (Morocco's answer to Target), there is a huge sheep market, but I didn't get too close.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOLE05FbM4I/AAAAAAAACBI/h1cxeGZgd9U/s1600/DSCN3187.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 198px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOLE05FbM4I/AAAAAAAACBI/h1cxeGZgd9U/s400/DSCN3187.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540206904574948226" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">All of this, for me, is the most obvious example of how real the connection is here between raising animals and eating meat.<span style=""> </span>Morocco is not like the U.S., where buying meat means just buying food in a sterile, styrofoam tray that is wrapped in plastic.<span style=""> </span>Here, buying meat means you go to the medina or market, point out the chicken you want, watched it get weighed (and thereby priced), and stand by while that chicken is killed, plucked and chopped up.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> As harsh as that feels when you walk through the medina, or by the local chicken stand, as a longtime vegetarian, I think it is a good thing.<span style=""> </span>Here, you can’t avoid the fact that before you can eat meat, an animal must die. <span style=""> </span>And here, at least, the animals have almost certainly lived a free-range life before their unpleasant end.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Rachida, our maid, cook and friend, said yesterday that she worries that Americans, like some French, will think Muslims “savages” (her word) because of the sheep.<span style=""> </span>Since it is just one week before Thanksgiving, when Americans will be buying millions of turkeys wrapped in plastic, I told her that Americans are not in a position to judge.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">An animal lover, Rachida told me about the sheep she had last year, which would watch television with her and of which she grew very fond, and how hard it was to kill it for Aid.<span style=""> </span>She still thinks about that sheep.<span style=""> </span>And now she won’t keep her sheep at her house; it stays with her neighbor so she won’t grow attached again. (Tommy also reported tonight that some of his friends were distressed at school today, because they didn't want their cute sheep to die).<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’m not sure how it will go tomorrow.<span style=""> </span>For Anna and me, it will probably be unpleasant.<span style=""> </span>For Tommy, who has been the truest vegetarian and most ardent animal-lover in the family, it could be awful.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>For Bob, it will be (he hopes) a chance to eat some really fresh mutton.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">One final note: <span style=""> </span>Bob (always the philosopher) says that it is better for there to be a holiday with the mass slaughter of sheep (along with some billy goats) because if not for this holiday, the sheep never would have been born.<span style=""> </span>And, he claims, better for them to have lived before dying tomorrow, than to have not lived at all.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOLEIypY9GI/AAAAAAAACAo/iteltdy6jRc/s1600/DSCN3161.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOLEIypY9GI/AAAAAAAACAo/iteltdy6jRc/s400/DSCN3161.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540206146932503650" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Tommy disagrees with Bob and thinks it would better if the sheep had not been born.<span style=""> </span>I’m not convinced by Bob’s argument either.<span style=""> </span>Dit-moi (tell me) -- Are you?</p><p class="MsoNormal">A bientot,</p><p class="MsoNormal">Kim<br /></p>Kimberly Hulthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16185690418428726394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091492510524014181.post-2350194185328103952010-11-15T02:02:00.001-08:002010-11-15T06:45:30.314-08:00Trainin' It<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOERDNZ8I7I/AAAAAAAAB_4/v0zRs7EIB4Q/s1600/DSCN2927.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOERDNZ8I7I/AAAAAAAAB_4/v0zRs7EIB4Q/s400/DSCN2927.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539727763478160306" border="0" /></a>Bonjour,<br /><br />Before leaving Asilah, we had one last chance to capture a few more images from the pretty medina (and just outside of the medina).<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOEHp7CCzdI/AAAAAAAAB9I/i3yW2YjsnFU/s1600/DSCN3133.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOEHp7CCzdI/AAAAAAAAB9I/i3yW2YjsnFU/s400/DSCN3133.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539717433444715986" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOEQQz77HGI/AAAAAAAAB_o/GNEn04IZeXc/s1600/DSCN3010.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOEQQz77HGI/AAAAAAAAB_o/GNEn04IZeXc/s400/DSCN3010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539726897647918178" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOEHph3JStI/AAAAAAAAB9A/3cWziGe8zfU/s1600/DSCN3124.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOEHph3JStI/AAAAAAAAB9A/3cWziGe8zfU/s400/DSCN3124.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539717426688117458" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOEN3Jrqu2I/AAAAAAAAB_I/S3tCzsjVVeY/s1600/DSCN2967.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOEN3Jrqu2I/AAAAAAAAB_I/S3tCzsjVVeY/s400/DSCN2967.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539724257785461602" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOEJHis0EaI/AAAAAAAAB-I/zZo_e7ciSG0/s1600/DSCN2946.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOEJHis0EaI/AAAAAAAAB-I/zZo_e7ciSG0/s400/DSCN2946.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539719041820922274" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOEQQuykMbI/AAAAAAAAB_g/pXkEq7kjHhM/s1600/DSCN3003.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOEQQuykMbI/AAAAAAAAB_g/pXkEq7kjHhM/s400/DSCN3003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539726896266490290" border="0" /></a>Then, we headed back by train again to Rabat because Karla, Gary and Grace had a plane to catch the next morning and more high-pressure, last-minute shopping to do in Rabat...<br /><br />A word about the rail system in Morocco. The trains in Morocco aren't bad at all, although they are often running 10-15 minutes behind schedule (which is available on the internet at the oncf site). Going by train may take longer, but it's more pleasant than driving. So, if a city is on the train line, that's usually how we choose to get there.<br /><br />Now, if you were riding on our train, and wanted to squeeze into a seat in our compartment (if we hadn't taken them all), who would you most like as your riding companion(s)?<br /><br />Karla and Gracie (aka mini-G)?<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOEHqcxkxHI/AAAAAAAAB9Y/QvOkDwWvXXU/s1600/DSCN2901.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOEHqcxkxHI/AAAAAAAAB9Y/QvOkDwWvXXU/s400/DSCN2901.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539717442502444146" border="0" /></a>Anna?<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOEHqGTQrcI/AAAAAAAAB9Q/ODW7XHqtNW4/s1600/DSCN2903.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOEHqGTQrcI/AAAAAAAAB9Q/ODW7XHqtNW4/s400/DSCN2903.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539717436469718466" border="0" /></a>Gary (big G)?<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOEJG_oXphI/AAAAAAAAB9o/SnxB0_f9G_Q/s1600/DSCN2907.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOEJG_oXphI/AAAAAAAAB9o/SnxB0_f9G_Q/s400/DSCN2907.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539719032407041554" border="0" /></a>Bob? (be prepared to sit quietly and study Arabic flashcards, though...)<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOEHqhSf2XI/AAAAAAAAB9g/iZtpgNbZM_s/s1600/DSCN2915.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOEHqhSf2XI/AAAAAAAAB9g/iZtpgNbZM_s/s400/DSCN2915.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539717443714275698" border="0" /></a>Tommy?<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOEJHLpcYNI/AAAAAAAAB9w/PwgsY1kgHE0/s1600/DSCN2910.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOEJHLpcYNI/AAAAAAAAB9w/PwgsY1kgHE0/s400/DSCN2910.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539719035632771282" border="0" /></a><br />or me (aka Number One Auntie)?<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOEJHXUYqHI/AAAAAAAAB-A/V-Dz4XFawYw/s1600/DSCN2919.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TOEJHXUYqHI/AAAAAAAAB-A/V-Dz4XFawYw/s400/DSCN2919.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539719038765672562" border="0" /></a>Don't we look like a fun group?<br /><br />Oddly enough, no one else tried to join us...<br /><br />A bientot,<br /><br />KimKimberly Hulthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16185690418428726394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091492510524014181.post-69021614973867051262010-11-12T04:45:00.000-08:002010-11-12T13:59:18.911-08:00Paradise Lost<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TN1SAShREKI/AAAAAAAAB8w/VMNjlFo0yYo/s1600/DSCN3141.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TN1SAShREKI/AAAAAAAAB8w/VMNjlFo0yYo/s400/DSCN3141.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538673281660424354" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TN1N28vfoyI/AAAAAAAAB7Q/hPqYrDmXZ9Y/s1600/DSCN3076.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TN1N28vfoyI/AAAAAAAAB7Q/hPqYrDmXZ9Y/s400/DSCN3076.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538668723149185826" border="0" /></a>Bonjour,<br /><br />So on our last full day in Asilah, our whole group set out by foot to Paradise Beach. The Lonely Planet guidebook says that this is one beach that completely lives up to its name and is found only 3 km south of town. It sounded like it was going to be a lovely walk.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TN1MVNTfcsI/AAAAAAAAB64/qU5oFCcLXrA/s1600/DSCN3067.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TN1MVNTfcsI/AAAAAAAAB64/qU5oFCcLXrA/s400/DSCN3067.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538667043967955650" border="0" /></a>Or not.<br /><br />At first, it seemed nice enough as we left the medina late in the morning.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TN1MU7anwII/AAAAAAAAB6w/FG__K07bIWQ/s1600/DSCN3060.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TN1MU7anwII/AAAAAAAAB6w/FG__K07bIWQ/s400/DSCN3060.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538667039166021762" border="0" /></a>There was some pretty coastline.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TN1MVnUgxTI/AAAAAAAAB7A/nG6yUJaUJ4M/s1600/DSCN3064.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TN1MVnUgxTI/AAAAAAAAB7A/nG6yUJaUJ4M/s400/DSCN3064.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538667050951558450" border="0" /></a>Some cute baby sheep.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TN1N4AvT0_I/AAAAAAAAB7o/-x64rPxUVzE/s1600/DSCN3085.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TN1N4AvT0_I/AAAAAAAAB7o/-x64rPxUVzE/s400/DSCN3085.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538668741402022898" border="0" /></a>A colorful sheep herder.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TN1N2roKtGI/AAAAAAAAB7I/3kWmXkFvXgI/s1600/DSCN3071.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TN1N2roKtGI/AAAAAAAAB7I/3kWmXkFvXgI/s400/DSCN3071.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538668718555051106" border="0" /></a>But as time wore on, and the mid-day sun began to beat down on us, none of the wide, arcing turns along the coastline produced a remotely plausible beach, much less anything fit to be called Paradise Beach.<br /><br />Then after about 1 1/2 hours of walking, we discovered that we had brought only one small bottle of tap water (something that Karla, Gary and Grace, at least, couldn't drink). Of course, we had just assumed that after a short, breezy walk, we'd be at Paradise Beach, where there would be food and water at a charming little restaurant (pretty standard at good beaches in Morocco).<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TN1PraoyU3I/AAAAAAAAB8A/gxQFAjRbSjo/s1600/DSCN3088.jpg"><br /></a>No such luck. We did, however, find this nifty, abandoned(?) construction site.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TN1N3iPJz9I/AAAAAAAAB7g/Qf7h_GFY54Y/s1600/DSCN3079.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TN1N3iPJz9I/AAAAAAAAB7g/Qf7h_GFY54Y/s400/DSCN3079.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538668733214085074" border="0" /></a>And with no other shade available, Gary and Karla made do with the treads of a stalled bulldozer to change Grace's diaper. Desperate times....<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TN1N3DWJayI/AAAAAAAAB7Y/Q2jfWPCJTns/s1600/DSCN3075.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TN1N3DWJayI/AAAAAAAAB7Y/Q2jfWPCJTns/s400/DSCN3075.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538668724921920290" border="0" /></a>Ultimately, after walking way more than 3 km (5 km? 6 km? 7 km?) south of town, we gave up and turned back.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TN1PraoyU3I/AAAAAAAAB8A/gxQFAjRbSjo/s1600/DSCN3088.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TN1PraoyU3I/AAAAAAAAB8A/gxQFAjRbSjo/s400/DSCN3088.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538670724038939506" border="0" /></a>In retrospect, maybe the Lonely Planet writers accidentally left off a "1" and really meant to say that the beach was <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">13 </span>km south of town. Although after consulting another travel book, it turns out the beaches are <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">north </span>of town, and there's no mention whatsoever of any alleged "Paradise Beach." Hmm.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TN1PrCHwWAI/AAAAAAAAB74/DGfV1cCMeto/s1600/DSCN3077.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TN1PrCHwWAI/AAAAAAAAB74/DGfV1cCMeto/s400/DSCN3077.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538670717457946626" border="0" /></a>Since it was Bob's idea to spend the day at the elusive Paradise Beach, he took some abuse on the way home, especially from his unhappy son (who has really mastered a walk that says "I am the most-dejected boy ever").<br /><br />Here are Gary and Grace being good sports (since falling asleep constitutes being a good sport when you are six months old).<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TN1PsOu6q5I/AAAAAAAAB8I/KMawD8U9DNA/s1600/DSCN3089.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TN1PsOu6q5I/AAAAAAAAB8I/KMawD8U9DNA/s400/DSCN3089.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538670738023295890" border="0" /></a>In any case, our spirits lifted upon returning to town and ordering big bottles of coke and water and some pizzas.<br /><br />Bob, having been denied his fresh fish on the beach, got his fresh fish in town instead.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TN1Psu6_FjI/AAAAAAAAB8Q/0Z-TzBu-Ehc/s1600/DSCN3099.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TN1Psu6_FjI/AAAAAAAAB8Q/0Z-TzBu-Ehc/s400/DSCN3099.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538670746663851570" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TN1R-zRi4MI/AAAAAAAAB8Y/a5PRNLejaO0/s1600/DSCN3100.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TN1R-zRi4MI/AAAAAAAAB8Y/a5PRNLejaO0/s400/DSCN3100.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538673256093114562" border="0" /></a>Then we played for a while on the perfectly-fine beach right next to the medina (and about 10 minutes walk from our rental house),<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TN1R_45kO0I/AAAAAAAAB8o/muEZDaMhXAQ/s1600/DSCN3119.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TN1R_45kO0I/AAAAAAAAB8o/muEZDaMhXAQ/s400/DSCN3119.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538673274783021890" border="0" /></a>ending the day with a beautiful sunset.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TN1SAl8CbcI/AAAAAAAAB84/tccxxV-3gEQ/s1600/DSCN3147.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TN1SAl8CbcI/AAAAAAAAB84/tccxxV-3gEQ/s400/DSCN3147.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538673286872985026" border="0" /></a><br />A bientot,<br /><br />KimKimberly Hulthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16185690418428726394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091492510524014181.post-50814157601429835712010-11-10T07:43:00.000-08:002010-11-11T05:10:16.730-08:00Asilah!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNsNfPeeZDI/AAAAAAAAB5A/ItvumuX5ZtM/s1600/DSCN3121.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNsNfPeeZDI/AAAAAAAAB5A/ItvumuX5ZtM/s400/DSCN3121.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538034997163615282" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNvjioQluPI/AAAAAAAAB5g/0chhcwSXbuc/s1600/DSCN3042.jpg"><br /></a>Bonjour,<br /><br />We (the KBATS, plus Karla, Gary and Grace) trained it to Asilah on Wednesday. <br /><br />In my opinion, Asilah rivals Chefchaouen and Essaouira for the title of most charming small city in Morocco.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNry5Eth5XI/AAAAAAAAB3A/iwcVsSUl7Rc/s1600/DSCN2944.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNry5Eth5XI/AAAAAAAAB3A/iwcVsSUl7Rc/s400/DSCN2944.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538005754136618354" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNsI2YuEY2I/AAAAAAAAB4Y/8wi7zz0fS14/s1600/DSCN3005.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNsI2YuEY2I/AAAAAAAAB4Y/8wi7zz0fS14/s400/DSCN3005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538029897223791458" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNvjioQluPI/AAAAAAAAB5g/0chhcwSXbuc/s1600/DSCN3042.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNvjioQluPI/AAAAAAAAB5g/0chhcwSXbuc/s400/DSCN3042.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538270350844213490" border="0" /></a>For one thing, it has the cleanest medina I've ever seen. The medina was the cleanest place in the city (not the usual state of affairs).<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNry675436I/AAAAAAAAB3Y/u9VYRgkn1bU/s1600/DSCN2960.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNry675436I/AAAAAAAAB3Y/u9VYRgkn1bU/s400/DSCN2960.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538005786132275106" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNsI2MKyqKI/AAAAAAAAB4Q/GmhBqWo3_Tc/s1600/DSCN2943.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNsI2MKyqKI/AAAAAAAAB4Q/GmhBqWo3_Tc/s400/DSCN2943.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538029893854603426" border="0" /></a>There are also lots of places to buy contemporary art, since Asilah is a haven for Moroccan (and other) artists.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNsNffklYoI/AAAAAAAAB5I/e-BCHMdJFRE/s1600/DSCN3127.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNsNffklYoI/AAAAAAAAB5I/e-BCHMdJFRE/s400/DSCN3127.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538035001484206722" border="0" /></a>And in the medina, many of the walls are covered with funky murals, presumably painted by many of those artists.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNry5tt3p5I/AAAAAAAAB3I/mjcuwBt295Q/s1600/DSCN2956.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNry5tt3p5I/AAAAAAAAB3I/mjcuwBt295Q/s400/DSCN2956.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538005765143898002" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNry6IVYA7I/AAAAAAAAB3Q/uhFf7SYgzzY/s1600/DSCN2953.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNry6IVYA7I/AAAAAAAAB3Q/uhFf7SYgzzY/s400/DSCN2953.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538005772288918450" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNsNflwbB1I/AAAAAAAAB5Q/5tDekA0gJac/s1600/DSCN3131.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNsNflwbB1I/AAAAAAAAB5Q/5tDekA0gJac/s400/DSCN3131.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538035003144472402" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNsI3LIbtPI/AAAAAAAAB4g/jL6SvCbaJlY/s1600/DSCN3017.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 336px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNsI3LIbtPI/AAAAAAAAB4g/jL6SvCbaJlY/s400/DSCN3017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538029910756144370" border="0" /></a>Asilah has the added advantage of being located right next to the sea, and the light is beautiful, particularly in the evening (yes, I'll be posting more photos of spectacular sunsets soon).<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNvmxwMb_4I/AAAAAAAAB6Y/y-AeSspD_FA/s1600/DSCN3035.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNvmxwMb_4I/AAAAAAAAB6Y/y-AeSspD_FA/s400/DSCN3035.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538273909207203714" border="0" /></a>Here's the view from the roof terrace of the house we rented in the medina.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNsFe4cgIaI/AAAAAAAAB4I/3N5-YkYxzD0/s1600/DSCN3012.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNsFe4cgIaI/AAAAAAAAB4I/3N5-YkYxzD0/s400/DSCN3012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538026194888303010" border="0" /></a>On Thursday morning, several of us headed to the weekly local market, which is not designed for tourists but for real residents. Our choice for transportation? A horse-drawn, wooden cart.<br /><br />It seemed like a good, fun idea at the time.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNvkjjcN8QI/AAAAAAAAB5o/519ivFFfCgM/s1600/DSCN2993.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 227px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNvkjjcN8QI/AAAAAAAAB5o/519ivFFfCgM/s400/DSCN2993.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538271466242306306" border="0" /></a>Here's Anna taking the reins on our ride.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNsFdzkDMFI/AAAAAAAAB3w/qZsd9VEOUKE/s1600/DSCN2986.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNsFdzkDMFI/AAAAAAAAB3w/qZsd9VEOUKE/s400/DSCN2986.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538026176397914194" border="0" /></a>And here's Gracie checking out the view from the cart and her daddy's lap.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNry7NUm_oI/AAAAAAAAB3g/X846-4BMD4w/s1600/DSCN2988.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNry7NUm_oI/AAAAAAAAB3g/X846-4BMD4w/s400/DSCN2988.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538005790807752322" border="0" /></a>Turns out that taking the cart was not such a great decision, something we realized first when the horse began to gallop up a street paved with broken asphalt (we had the driver slow down so that Gary and Gracie didn't bounce right off the back), then again, when our driver turned out onto the highway and cars and trucks pulled up close before swerving around to pass us, (it's hard to get a good photo of that when you are doing all you can just to hang on), and then again, when my lower back let its presence be known when I got off the cart.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNvmwrzQm9I/AAAAAAAAB54/lywwvHleWJ4/s1600/DSCN2990.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNvmwrzQm9I/AAAAAAAAB54/lywwvHleWJ4/s400/DSCN2990.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538273890847988690" border="0" /></a>We took a regular taxi home.<br /><br />But before we did, Gracie got to visit her first Thursday market in Morocco.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNvkj-t0brI/AAAAAAAAB5w/6Bktnu4ijys/s1600/DSCN2999.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNvkj-t0brI/AAAAAAAAB5w/6Bktnu4ijys/s400/DSCN2999.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538271473563889330" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNsFeCPAH0I/AAAAAAAAB34/3lBR3mdxd-c/s1600/DSCN2997.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNsFeCPAH0I/AAAAAAAAB34/3lBR3mdxd-c/s400/DSCN2997.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538026180336164674" border="0" /></a>And while there, we had time to buy fresh olive oil, several kinds of delicious olives, about 4 lbs of tomatoes, 2 lbs of onions, and two bunches of scallions, all for about $5.<br /><br />The next day, we were off to Paradise beach... well, at least we thought we were.<br /><br />A bientot,Kimberly Hulthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16185690418428726394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091492510524014181.post-71742257572860558312010-11-10T05:56:00.000-08:002010-11-18T14:20:45.119-08:00Return to Rabat<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNqr_Y0g3GI/AAAAAAAAB2Y/zGNekLO1o1M/s1600/DSCN2897.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 259px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNqr_Y0g3GI/AAAAAAAAB2Y/zGNekLO1o1M/s400/DSCN2897.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537927797288262754" border="0" /></a>Bonjour,<br /><br />After Fes, we returned to Rabat, where the Halloween festivities continued even though we were now into November.<br /><br />Bob headed out to the local produce stand and bought a huge, pumpkin-like squash. Here in Morocco, people usually just buy a small piece hacked off of these mostly-green squash to cook as part of the standard Friday lunch of couscous and vegetables.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNqnbm0FGLI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/7hzyfWUKz-0/s1600/DSCN2850.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNqnbm0FGLI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/7hzyfWUKz-0/s400/DSCN2850.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537922784522737842" border="0" /></a>Astounding the produce guys, Bob bought the whole thing (for about $10, probably an average day's pay for the produce guys) and brought it back for Anna and Tommy to carve.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNqnZxC8bSI/AAAAAAAAB04/-dF1WMyjJ2c/s1600/DSCN2841.jpg"><br /></a>The kids went to town, carving a "rabid cat."<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNqnaDmLzpI/AAAAAAAAB1A/kjToZ25Zf9E/s1600/DSCN2842.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNqnaDmLzpI/AAAAAAAAB1A/kjToZ25Zf9E/s400/DSCN2842.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537922757889347218" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNqnaqO0G-I/AAAAAAAAB1I/nnJopX8uu9I/s1600/DSCN2845.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNqnaqO0G-I/AAAAAAAAB1I/nnJopX8uu9I/s400/DSCN2845.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537922768260307938" border="0" /></a>Since then, Rachida (our maid, cook and friend) has chopped it up and given most of it away to others. She's also made pumpkin couscous, pumpkin salad (cold and mashed, with lots of garlic), pumpkin-based soup... just a whole lotta pumpkin for us. We're still eating that pumpkin.<br /><br />The next morning, Gracie spent some quality time at home with her cousins and Rachida, while Karla, Gary and I set out for the Chellah, since they missed it before. (See prior post on Gracie's North African Adventure).<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNqs3U2LtMI/AAAAAAAAB2o/CCSqFbGgemQ/s1600/DSCN2853.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNqs3U2LtMI/AAAAAAAAB2o/CCSqFbGgemQ/s400/DSCN2853.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537928758294197442" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNqqXW5ZTXI/AAAAAAAAB1g/H_DY3ODrSSs/s1600/DSCN2856.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNqqXW5ZTXI/AAAAAAAAB1g/H_DY3ODrSSs/s400/DSCN2856.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537926010065472882" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNqqX8-uwsI/AAAAAAAAB1w/rfvBIpwAN8k/s1600/DSCN2867.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNqqX8-uwsI/AAAAAAAAB1w/rfvBIpwAN8k/s400/DSCN2867.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537926020288398018" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNqqYxLh5wI/AAAAAAAAB2A/pHQeDyv6Umw/s1600/DSCN2877.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNqqYxLh5wI/AAAAAAAAB2A/pHQeDyv6Umw/s400/DSCN2877.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537926034300724994" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNqqXmlnZAI/AAAAAAAAB1o/lBGoPIfj3bY/s1600/DSCN2866.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNqqXmlnZAI/AAAAAAAAB1o/lBGoPIfj3bY/s400/DSCN2866.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537926014277477378" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNqqYYNvRVI/AAAAAAAAB14/TkFA1rVaGf4/s1600/DSCN2874.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNqqYYNvRVI/AAAAAAAAB14/TkFA1rVaGf4/s400/DSCN2874.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537926027599103314" border="0" /></a>Our next stop: The Tour Hassan and Mausoleum of Mohammed V and Hassan II (again, see prior post, but suffice to say this is like a Washington Monument for Moroccans, since Mohammed V was the first king of independent Morocco). (Fountain in photo at top is just outside of the mausoleum).<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNqs3h4c_MI/AAAAAAAAB2w/z5ctJpe3zEE/s1600/DSCN2881.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNqs3h4c_MI/AAAAAAAAB2w/z5ctJpe3zEE/s400/DSCN2881.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537928761793379522" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNqr-6ibD-I/AAAAAAAAB2Q/VIDGs_sNIrY/s1600/DSCN2890.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNqr-6ibD-I/AAAAAAAAB2Q/VIDGs_sNIrY/s400/DSCN2890.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537927789159321570" border="0" /></a>When leaving Tour Hassan, Karla received an unsolicited henna tattoo by a woman thinking that this tactic would earn her some dirhams. It didn't work.<br /><br />That said, the tattoo does like pretty cool now.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNqx_3naZ6I/AAAAAAAAB24/pmUuSHn2dAo/s1600/DSCN2900.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNqx_3naZ6I/AAAAAAAAB24/pmUuSHn2dAo/s400/DSCN2900.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537934402624579490" border="0" /></a>Only two hours later, we were on the train, traveling to another former Spanish enclave, Asilah. Asilah is the present-day haunt of artists and many European and Moroccan tourists (and now on my list for another one of the prettiest cities in Morocco).<br /><br />A bientot,<br /><br />KimKimberly Hulthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16185690418428726394noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091492510524014181.post-88180607851188495092010-11-07T12:08:00.000-08:002010-11-08T04:57:25.798-08:00Fes for Halloween<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNfpTMgObWI/AAAAAAAABzU/mzNivWk3kho/s1600/DSCN2783.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNfpTMgObWI/AAAAAAAABzU/mzNivWk3kho/s400/DSCN2783.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537150782858489186" border="0" /></a>Bonjour,<br /><br />After a brief stop in Rabat, our group headed off to Fes for Halloween.<br /><br />At our elegant riad, we had a mini-Halloween celebration. For costumes, Bob, Anna and Tommy improvised from things they found in the room. I'll let you figure out what they were.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNcOZsHbHWI/AAAAAAAABxE/AHpPHuhOXB8/s1600/DSCN2736.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNcOZsHbHWI/AAAAAAAABxE/AHpPHuhOXB8/s400/DSCN2736.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536910101377129826" border="0" /></a>Anna then decided she would dress up in a second costume -- as her mother.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNcOawIoXBI/AAAAAAAABxU/G8bVvyvcgfU/s1600/DSCN2758.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNcOawIoXBI/AAAAAAAABxU/G8bVvyvcgfU/s400/DSCN2758.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536910119635803154" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNcOabzdzMI/AAAAAAAABxM/HWilIFjiQb4/s1600/DSCN2747.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNcOabzdzMI/AAAAAAAABxM/HWilIFjiQb4/s400/DSCN2747.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536910114178321602" border="0" /></a>Hmmm.<br /><br />Also that afternoon, I bravely went out with Karla and Gary to help them find a rug. At first, Anna, Nana and Bob joined us.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNcOYxxCg-I/AAAAAAAABw0/2w4qC5DVL-k/s1600/DSCN2727.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNcOYxxCg-I/AAAAAAAABw0/2w4qC5DVL-k/s400/DSCN2727.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536910085713986530" border="0" /></a>But after a little time on the scene, Bob, Anna and Nana quickly disappeared, leaving just Karla, Gary, Gracie, and me.<br /><br />Low point of the experience? Definitely when Karla announced -- after at least an hour of looking at no fewer than 30-40 rugs and narrowing the choices down to five -- that she really needed to see some <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">more </span>rugs (especially since the shopkeeper had something like 800 more of that same style). Oh dear.<br /><br />High point of the experience? Somewhat later, when I realized that Karla and Gary had reconciled their notably different taste in rugs and had truly (and at long last) agreed upon a very nice rug. Al-Hamdulillah.<br /><br />In the meantime, poor Gracie had just given up and coped the best way that six-month old babies can under such circumstances.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNcOZa0R5fI/AAAAAAAABw8/BbeYsTQkybw/s1600/DSCN2732.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNcOZa0R5fI/AAAAAAAABw8/BbeYsTQkybw/s400/DSCN2732.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536910096733431282" border="0" /></a>The next day, we explored the medina further.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNfpSpskByI/AAAAAAAABzM/_rI_6UPsQVw/s1600/DSCN2776.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNfpSpskByI/AAAAAAAABzM/_rI_6UPsQVw/s400/DSCN2776.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537150773514995490" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNch6G37vbI/AAAAAAAABx0/VjCHdImcukA/s1600/blog4.jpg"><br /></a>Just a couple of notes on Fes, one of my many favorite cities in Morocco: Fes is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for good reason. Founded in the 9th century, it is a city that serves for many as the cultural capital of Morocco and is best known for its authentic, medieval medina. The call to prayer at sunset is, for me, almost magical as it echoes through the city.<br /><br />The medina is filled with shops, residents, beautifully-renovated and as-yet-still-ruined riads and more than 9500 narrow streets in which to wander and lose yourself.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNfpSThwn2I/AAAAAAAABzE/U7lTVFAr0Q4/s1600/DSCN2771.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNfpSThwn2I/AAAAAAAABzE/U7lTVFAr0Q4/s400/DSCN2771.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537150767564103522" border="0" /></a>A few shots from the medina: The tanneries.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNfpT2Pf7AI/AAAAAAAABzk/KkTTTFnHZAU/s1600/DSCN2792.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNfpT2Pf7AI/AAAAAAAABzk/KkTTTFnHZAU/s400/DSCN2792.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537150794062621698" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNfpTgxqmyI/AAAAAAAABzc/hEILW0pUQIw/s1600/DSCN2786.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNfpTgxqmyI/AAAAAAAABzc/hEILW0pUQIw/s400/DSCN2786.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537150788300348194" border="0" /></a>A donkey at work in a narrow lane.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNfrcKmXJLI/AAAAAAAABzw/jil1RN96I7M/s1600/DSCN2799.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 397px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNfrcKmXJLI/AAAAAAAABzw/jil1RN96I7M/s400/DSCN2799.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537153135989433522" border="0" /></a>A brass shop.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNfreSygg2I/AAAAAAAAB0Q/opVhNL5XYcM/s1600/DSCN2802.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNfreSygg2I/AAAAAAAAB0Q/opVhNL5XYcM/s400/DSCN2802.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537153172547601250" border="0" /></a>The street musicians, looking for some dirham tips.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNftiEWr2YI/AAAAAAAAB0g/LFOBV3JZBxk/s1600/DSCN2812.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 342px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNftiEWr2YI/AAAAAAAAB0g/LFOBV3JZBxk/s400/DSCN2812.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537155436415539586" border="0" /></a>Karla, Grace and Gary at the 14th century Bou Inania Medersa.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNftiT8fXXI/AAAAAAAAB0o/HGWcYuGmyJo/s1600/DSCN2828.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNftiT8fXXI/AAAAAAAAB0o/HGWcYuGmyJo/s400/DSCN2828.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537155440600636786" border="0" /></a>Goofing off at Cafe Clock, our favorite place for lunch in Fes (with the best date-almond milkshakes in the world, although Karla's banana-almond milkshake was pretty good too).<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNftiw6-_lI/AAAAAAAAB0w/nLqRo9l0fUg/s1600/DSCN2831.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNftiw6-_lI/AAAAAAAAB0w/nLqRo9l0fUg/s400/DSCN2831.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537155448378949202" border="0" /></a>Then it was time to take Nana and PopPop back to Rabat for their flight home, while Karla, Grace and Gary were just getting, ah, warmed up on their shopping. The Fes shopkeepers were about to have their hands full.<br /><br />A bientot,<br /><br />KimKimberly Hulthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16185690418428726394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091492510524014181.post-38451396522354458442010-11-05T02:19:00.000-07:002010-11-05T15:33:53.470-07:00A Stop for Luxury: Le Mirage<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPSFRSKwkI/AAAAAAAABuc/Dd1mw7P3iW0/s1600/DSCN2652.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPSFRSKwkI/AAAAAAAABuc/Dd1mw7P3iW0/s400/DSCN2652.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535999354949255746" border="0" /></a><br />Bonjour,<br /><br />Continuing our tour with Northern Morocco, we next stopped at Le Mirage in Cap Spartel for a bit of luxury and lots of pretty beach shots. Cap Spartel is near the junction of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, by Tanger.<br /><br />Some views of the grounds and hotel.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPSE_NX3rI/AAAAAAAABuM/njxdAgmc-4I/s1600/DSCN2635.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPSE_NX3rI/AAAAAAAABuM/njxdAgmc-4I/s400/DSCN2635.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535999350097305266" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPSEsbqyyI/AAAAAAAABuE/8q5yvC7OoFo/s1600/DSCN2634.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPSEsbqyyI/AAAAAAAABuE/8q5yvC7OoFo/s400/DSCN2634.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535999345056992034" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNR__kGQ-pI/AAAAAAAABv8/iYw8EaCNAco/s1600/DSCN2642.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNR__kGQ-pI/AAAAAAAABv8/iYw8EaCNAco/s400/DSCN2642.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536190571943623314" border="0" /></a>Anna by our suite.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPSFPGk51I/AAAAAAAABuU/u2t_qL4Y0HU/s1600/DSCN2639.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPSFPGk51I/AAAAAAAABuU/u2t_qL4Y0HU/s400/DSCN2639.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535999354363766610" border="0" /></a>And here's Tommy with his tiny lizard, Squirmy, that he found at Le Mirage (biggest selling point of hotel for Tommy). <br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPXA_gAf6I/AAAAAAAABu8/PWuhI065MDI/s1600/DSCN2683.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPXA_gAf6I/AAAAAAAABu8/PWuhI065MDI/s400/DSCN2683.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536004779014127522" border="0" /></a>Now, some views of the beach, the shoreline, and us posing on the beach.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPSF8_N-YI/AAAAAAAABuk/BY6ackwdakY/s1600/DSCN2651.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPSF8_N-YI/AAAAAAAABuk/BY6ackwdakY/s400/DSCN2651.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535999366680934786" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPaJ1b0RnI/AAAAAAAABvk/LVdA70DEX2o/s1600/DSCN2656.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPaJ1b0RnI/AAAAAAAABvk/LVdA70DEX2o/s400/DSCN2656.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536008229465900658" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNSDrZoUoVI/AAAAAAAABws/4W9VRX0IMeo/s1600/DSCN2654.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNSDrZoUoVI/AAAAAAAABws/4W9VRX0IMeo/s400/DSCN2654.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536194623582806354" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPXAJyNtLI/AAAAAAAABu0/es3T_RndWzA/s1600/DSCN2665.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPXAJyNtLI/AAAAAAAABu0/es3T_RndWzA/s400/DSCN2665.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536004764594975922" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPaJIiyH4I/AAAAAAAABvU/5JPI4ezt0Vo/s1600/DSCN2671.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPaJIiyH4I/AAAAAAAABvU/5JPI4ezt0Vo/s400/DSCN2671.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536008217415524226" border="0" /></a>Naturally, we needed to take a six-month to the formal dining room that night.<span style=""> </span>Can't expect Gracie to miss out, can you?<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPaJQoPB6I/AAAAAAAABvc/rgj7xuN62iQ/s1600/DSCN2690.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPaJQoPB6I/AAAAAAAABvc/rgj7xuN62iQ/s400/DSCN2690.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536008219585873826" border="0" /></a>And here's what happens when I try to get Bob to smile using the same technique that works with Gracie (you say "Gracie, Gracie, Gracie!", really fast in a high-pitched voice). Apparently, it works on PopPop, though.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPa93bO_OI/AAAAAAAABv0/3WdJKorL3ro/s1600/DSCN2688.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 259px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPa93bO_OI/AAAAAAAABv0/3WdJKorL3ro/s400/DSCN2688.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536009123353525474" border="0" /></a>Your blogger.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPXBTVL79I/AAAAAAAABvM/_u-pBArvScY/s1600/DSCN2689.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPXBTVL79I/AAAAAAAABvM/_u-pBArvScY/s400/DSCN2689.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536004784337448914" border="0" /></a>The next morning, we had breakfast by the 19th century lighthouse, where you can have your picture taken with a baby donkey for just a couple of dirhams.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNSAA0GTkwI/AAAAAAAABwc/uxuELYuonyA/s1600/DSCN2714.jpg"><br /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNSAA0GTkwI/AAAAAAAABwc/uxuELYuonyA/s1600/DSCN2714.jpg"><br /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNSAAnipawI/AAAAAAAABwU/eaLgNWe3kYs/s1600/DSCN2713.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNSAAnipawI/AAAAAAAABwU/eaLgNWe3kYs/s400/DSCN2713.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536190590047841026" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNSAAcHVmAI/AAAAAAAABwM/vANNoNitSYA/s1600/DSCN2703.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNSAAcHVmAI/AAAAAAAABwM/vANNoNitSYA/s400/DSCN2703.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536190586980505602" border="0" /></a>We then checked out the Grottes d'Hercule (Hercules' fabled (?) caves, where he supposedly rested after forging the Straits of Gibraltor) before heading back to Rabat.<br /><br />A bientot,<br /><br />KimKimberly Hulthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16185690418428726394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091492510524014181.post-67975787482975871692010-11-03T09:17:00.000-07:002010-11-06T15:32:58.897-07:00Next Stop: Tetouan<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPLhV9j0jI/AAAAAAAABt8/l9r23zSROe4/s1600/DSCN2622.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPEP6orPFI/AAAAAAAABsk/nxGFjmw-79w/s1600/DSCN2580.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPEP6orPFI/AAAAAAAABsk/nxGFjmw-79w/s400/DSCN2580.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535984144685415506" border="0" /></a>Bonjour,<br /><br />After leaving Chefchaouen, we headed out toward Tanger and Cap Spartel. En route, we stopped in Tetouan, at the base of the Rif Mountains.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPEQQGkPyI/AAAAAAAABs0/91lgHWeis3g/s1600/DSCN2601.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPEQQGkPyI/AAAAAAAABs0/91lgHWeis3g/s400/DSCN2601.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535984150447931170" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPEQnvj2lI/AAAAAAAABs8/B-SdRYu7QbA/s1600/DSCN2602.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPEQnvj2lI/AAAAAAAABs8/B-SdRYu7QbA/s400/DSCN2602.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535984156793887314" border="0" /></a>Tetouan was the capital of the Spanish Protectorate in Morocco until Morocco's independence in 1956. The Spanish influence is clear in some of the architecture and in the prevalence of Spanish (not French) spoken as many people's second language.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPIBh9MD2I/AAAAAAAABtk/kkkaLDE5-Fw/s1600/DSCN2599.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPIBh9MD2I/AAAAAAAABtk/kkkaLDE5-Fw/s400/DSCN2599.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535988295588908898" border="0" /></a>Tetouan's medina has been designated a world heritage site because it remains largely untouched by modern development, although the city has begun to see some investment elsewhere, including in the pretty parks that surround the medina.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPEPs9apsI/AAAAAAAABsc/TMAzWXP0oKk/s1600/DSCN2575.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPEPs9apsI/AAAAAAAABsc/TMAzWXP0oKk/s400/DSCN2575.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535984141014312642" border="0" /></a>While there, we checked out the Ethnographic Museum, where Anna went wild taking photos of the exhibits, the cool building (with the painted doors), and her mother (who struck a few poses).<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPIAZN-5kI/AAAAAAAABtE/CYeUKTP3MtM/s1600/DSCN2618.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPIAZN-5kI/AAAAAAAABtE/CYeUKTP3MtM/s400/DSCN2618.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535988276063561282" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPIAuDWyrI/AAAAAAAABtM/ErBLdM1PSIs/s1600/DSCN2623.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPIAuDWyrI/AAAAAAAABtM/ErBLdM1PSIs/s400/DSCN2623.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535988281656134322" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPIBUMPaUI/AAAAAAAABtc/nj5A2txnem4/s1600/DSCN2625.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPIBUMPaUI/AAAAAAAABtc/nj5A2txnem4/s400/DSCN2625.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535988291893946690" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPLhV9j0jI/AAAAAAAABt8/l9r23zSROe4/s1600/DSCN2622.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPLhV9j0jI/AAAAAAAABt8/l9r23zSROe4/s400/DSCN2622.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535992140659937842" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPIBCpE3pI/AAAAAAAABtU/kWI7S-CcDcE/s1600/DSCN2598.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPIBCpE3pI/AAAAAAAABtU/kWI7S-CcDcE/s400/DSCN2598.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535988287183052434" border="0" /></a>Look who also liked the museum...<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPLhF4PrBI/AAAAAAAABt0/t0X1qabyFgk/s1600/DSCN2606.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNPLhF4PrBI/AAAAAAAABt0/t0X1qabyFgk/s400/DSCN2606.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535992136342678546" border="0" /></a>Before leaving, we lunched at a tasty grill/sandwich shop, where sandwiches, fries and sodas for our group of eight cost about $11.<br /><br />Then it was off to the sea and Le Mirage...<br /><br />A bientot,<br /><br />KimKimberly Hulthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16185690418428726394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091492510524014181.post-22553025389856290212010-10-29T12:00:00.000-07:002010-11-02T15:31:26.745-07:00First Stop: Chefchaouen<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNA05S8lIJI/AAAAAAAABqM/ra-mhvMUaY0/s1600/DSCN2515.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNA05S8lIJI/AAAAAAAABqM/ra-mhvMUaY0/s400/DSCN2515.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534982100981457042" border="0" /></a>Bonjour,<br /><br />Alas, I've slipped again -- fallen behind on my posts due to our many adventures. But to fill you in, for the last week, we've been zooming around northern Morocco with Nana, PopPop, Karla, Gary and Grace.<br /><br />First, after a little recovery and sightseeing time in Rabat, our group headed off to the Rif Mountains to visit the quaint city of Chefchaouen. Bob says it may get his vote for prettiest city in Morocco.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNA9hXBkfdI/AAAAAAAABrU/tnx7Immh2KI/s1600/DSCN2553.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNA9hXBkfdI/AAAAAAAABrU/tnx7Immh2KI/s400/DSCN2553.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534991585363918290" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNA9gQqFBNI/AAAAAAAABrE/dscwjIqxiqU/s1600/DSCN2550.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNA9gQqFBNI/AAAAAAAABrE/dscwjIqxiqU/s400/DSCN2550.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534991566474904786" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNA9hnvbdjI/AAAAAAAABrc/0wm3UYNYNUk/s1600/DSCN2554.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNA9hnvbdjI/AAAAAAAABrc/0wm3UYNYNUk/s400/DSCN2554.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534991589851231794" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNA3VqFalzI/AAAAAAAABqk/xWlR2bWYD5Y/s1600/DSCN2544.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNA3VqFalzI/AAAAAAAABqk/xWlR2bWYD5Y/s400/DSCN2544.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534984787252123442" border="0" /></a>We stayed for a couple of nights at a hotel with a rooftop terrace overlooking the city, where we watched the sunsets, listened to the calls to prayer and had some pleasant meals.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMscGtaOLgI/AAAAAAAABos/FapRJrqrWRg/s1600/DSCN2447.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMscGtaOLgI/AAAAAAAABos/FapRJrqrWRg/s400/DSCN2447.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533547468749155842" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMscHcExsBI/AAAAAAAABo8/tbG1gHToqXA/s1600/DSCN2456.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMscHcExsBI/AAAAAAAABo8/tbG1gHToqXA/s400/DSCN2456.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533547481275674642" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMscG2axMRI/AAAAAAAABo0/r-trtEiLH6g/s1600/DSCN2448.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMscG2axMRI/AAAAAAAABo0/r-trtEiLH6g/s400/DSCN2448.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533547471167369490" border="0" /></a>Here's Nana giving a jaunty wave as she goes into the hotel.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMse9ung3VI/AAAAAAAABpU/JmevZQn741o/s1600/DSCN2486.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMse9ung3VI/AAAAAAAABpU/JmevZQn741o/s400/DSCN2486.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533550612989402450" border="0" /></a>And Gracie getting some kisses from her Daddy as she leaves the hotel.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMse9xBGLtI/AAAAAAAABpc/TLZ9zvinSF0/s1600/DSCN2494.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMse9xBGLtI/AAAAAAAABpc/TLZ9zvinSF0/s400/DSCN2494.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533550613633576658" border="0" /></a>Meanwhile, here's Anna having some fun with PopPop.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMscHh30EqI/AAAAAAAABpE/gX6HShNt7EE/s1600/DSCN2483.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMscHh30EqI/AAAAAAAABpE/gX6HShNt7EE/s400/DSCN2483.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533547482831917730" border="0" /></a>On Thursday, we cruised through the medina, checking out the town and visiting the stream where women wash the clothes.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNA06X48PaI/AAAAAAAABqc/gR545eg_80I/s1600/DSCN2531.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNA06X48PaI/AAAAAAAABqc/gR545eg_80I/s400/DSCN2531.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534982119488241058" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMse-fzalzI/AAAAAAAABpk/FRoDjsWN4uU/s1600/DSCN2502.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMse-fzalzI/AAAAAAAABpk/FRoDjsWN4uU/s400/DSCN2502.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533550626192660274" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNA04TyPK4I/AAAAAAAABqE/IDDwtD90tpU/s1600/DSCN2500.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNA04TyPK4I/AAAAAAAABqE/IDDwtD90tpU/s400/DSCN2500.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534982084026641282" border="0" /></a>Some of us then hiked to a nearby mosque with a great view of the medina (see photo at top), taking time to scale some rocks en route.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMse-oyWpuI/AAAAAAAABps/WHQhYYX-Dr8/s1600/DSCN2507.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMse-oyWpuI/AAAAAAAABps/WHQhYYX-Dr8/s400/DSCN2507.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533550628604126946" border="0" /></a>While some of us hung out in a cafe or relaxed on the hotel terrace...<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNA03ZldFLI/AAAAAAAABp8/dRAWpp5nZ_k/s1600/DSCN2500.jpg"><br /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNA056UuPMI/AAAAAAAABqU/bsE8QxNdQUU/s1600/DSCN2526.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNA056UuPMI/AAAAAAAABqU/bsE8QxNdQUU/s400/DSCN2526.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534982111551700162" border="0" /></a>And, lest you fear that I missed a prime shopping opportunity, rest easy... some of us also did some power shopping. <br /><br />In fact, as you can ask Karla, power shopping is a competitive sport in this family. You either snatch up things as soon as you arrive at the store, or you stand by and watch while your mother and sister do. No mercy.<br /><br />You'll have to ask her what happened at this store (got her to smile for the camera anyway).<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNBDrAiIzQI/AAAAAAAABsM/trJeAKBP-yU/s1600/DSCN2568.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNBDrAiIzQI/AAAAAAAABsM/trJeAKBP-yU/s400/DSCN2568.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534998348194958594" border="0" /></a>Here's a the shop run by our favorite "Hat Man." He was happy to pose for a picture by the time we finished shopping at his place.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNBDqB4P3FI/AAAAAAAABr8/yp4CdojQ_VI/s1600/DSCN2545.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 339px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNBDqB4P3FI/AAAAAAAABr8/yp4CdojQ_VI/s400/DSCN2545.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534998331376262226" border="0" /></a>One of the paint stores. The powders in the bags are paints that are mixed up for use at home.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNA3WsMsJgI/AAAAAAAABqs/DAvLhZn_PPA/s1600/DSCN2559.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNA3WsMsJgI/AAAAAAAABqs/DAvLhZn_PPA/s400/DSCN2559.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534984804999374338" border="0" /></a>Not sure what some of this stuff is. Maybe someone else knows... (Livy?)?<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNA9gyPWuLI/AAAAAAAABrM/wOYP6jjZTQ0/s1600/DSCN2552.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNA9gyPWuLI/AAAAAAAABrM/wOYP6jjZTQ0/s400/DSCN2552.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534991575489624242" border="0" /></a>And more cute shops....<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNBBXpnFOhI/AAAAAAAABrk/RCp8p9yxiR0/s1600/DSCN2557.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNBBXpnFOhI/AAAAAAAABrk/RCp8p9yxiR0/s400/DSCN2557.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534995816600910354" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNBBYP-8iCI/AAAAAAAABrs/-BtLeWD98fM/s1600/DSCN2560.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNBBYP-8iCI/AAAAAAAABrs/-BtLeWD98fM/s400/DSCN2560.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534995826901551138" border="0" /></a>One added plus of being in hilly Chefchaouen: Great places to run and jump, especially if you are a nine or ten-year old boy.<br /><br />Here, a local boy catches some serious air in the uphill walkway leading to our hotel. (I didn't capture him airborne on the first shot and made him go up and do it again. He was happy to oblige.)<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNBFEJCBg9I/AAAAAAAABsU/I89zRh2Ckto/s1600/DSCN2563.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNBFEJCBg9I/AAAAAAAABsU/I89zRh2Ckto/s400/DSCN2563.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534999879484539858" border="0" /></a>Tommy, not to be outdone by a local kid, gets ready to catch some serious air of his own just before we headed out of town. See below (I didn't capture him at his peak, but I think Tommy may have bested the local kid).<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNBDqhMeXYI/AAAAAAAABsE/TEPZLDHqf3w/s1600/DSCN2567.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TNBDqhMeXYI/AAAAAAAABsE/TEPZLDHqf3w/s400/DSCN2567.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534998339782598018" border="0" /></a>A bientot,<br /><br />KimKimberly Hulthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16185690418428726394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091492510524014181.post-89422253283799278052010-10-28T15:32:00.000-07:002010-10-29T17:18:02.092-07:00Gracie Goes to North Africa<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMqDhkbWGwI/AAAAAAAABoU/Aeukx2-kWD8/s1600/DSCN2384.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMqDhkbWGwI/AAAAAAAABoU/Aeukx2-kWD8/s400/DSCN2384.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533379704915368706" border="0" /></a>Bonjour,<br /><br />It's Gracie, and I just arrived in Morocco on Monday with my Mom (Karla), my Dad (Gary), and my PopPop (Bob). I am staying for a couple of weeks with my Auntie Kim, Uncle Bob, and my cousins, Anna and Tommy.<br /><br />Auntie Kim said that because this is my very first time in Africa, I should write today's post. (You might wonder how it is that at not quite six months old, Auntie Kim is able to transcribe a post for me. Well, Auntie Kim knows just what I want to say (and have been babbling) -- she's the Number One Auntie, after all).<br /><br />Here I am on Monday night, my first night in Rabat (I probably should have been sleeping, but I was still pretty wired from my flights). I look like an international traveler, don't I?<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMoBkotXdAI/AAAAAAAABnk/M0S5UW2C92k/s1600/DSCN2387.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMoBkotXdAI/AAAAAAAABnk/M0S5UW2C92k/s400/DSCN2387.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533236821092692994" border="0" /></a>So, on Tuesday morning, while my parents and I were recovering from a rough night, Nana and PopPop went out with Auntie Kim, Anna and Tommy to see the Chellah, which has lots of 1st century Roman and 13th century Islamic ruins set among flowers and trees. They thought it was pretty cool.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMn-u3cz5uI/AAAAAAAABmE/zenUAO4dCiA/s1600/DSCN2406.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMn-u3cz5uI/AAAAAAAABmE/zenUAO4dCiA/s400/DSCN2406.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533233698313594594" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMn-vdRHpeI/AAAAAAAABmM/KECorB4EpJg/s1600/DSCN2415.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMn-vdRHpeI/AAAAAAAABmM/KECorB4EpJg/s400/DSCN2415.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533233708465104354" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMn_2JpaiUI/AAAAAAAABmc/H_nd1SKhXhE/s1600/DSCN2424.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMn_2JpaiUI/AAAAAAAABmc/H_nd1SKhXhE/s400/DSCN2424.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533234922969008450" border="0" /></a>(Below: PopPop, Anna and Tommy snacking at the Chellah).<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMn-wB44s1I/AAAAAAAABmU/HY3Ay_wr90Y/s1600/DSCN2416.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMn-wB44s1I/AAAAAAAABmU/HY3Ay_wr90Y/s400/DSCN2416.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533233718295573330" border="0" /></a>After that, the group headed out to the Tour Hassan (a 44 meter minaret for a great mosque that was built but never finished in the 12th century and that later survived the Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755) and the Mosque and Mausoleum of Mohammed V (Morocco's first king and its father of independence) and Hassan II (Morocco's king before the current king, his son).<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMn_2gGshxI/AAAAAAAABmk/wo0y2qFApwI/s1600/DSCN2430.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMn_2gGshxI/AAAAAAAABmk/wo0y2qFApwI/s400/DSCN2430.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533234928997402386" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TModgpdGuVI/AAAAAAAABoM/TON8F2CkaME/s1600/DSCN2433.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TModgpdGuVI/AAAAAAAABoM/TON8F2CkaME/s400/DSCN2433.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533267538899024210" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMn_3HeKflI/AAAAAAAABm0/8lZRtt5sA9k/s1600/DSCN2438.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMn_3HeKflI/AAAAAAAABm0/8lZRtt5sA9k/s400/DSCN2438.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533234939564818002" border="0" /></a>I sure have learned a lot about Morocco already, haven't I?<br /><br />After that, my Mom, Dad and I caught up with the rest of the group in the Rabat medina for a little shopping. I was starting to get pretty tired, though. (In the photos below, you can see Nana with Anna and Tommy by a pet store, and me with my Dad).<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMn_3mM-_II/AAAAAAAABm8/fXj3I3Y-Jlw/s1600/DSCN2441.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMn_3mM-_II/AAAAAAAABm8/fXj3I3Y-Jlw/s400/DSCN2441.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533234947814259842" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMoBkKgKZKI/AAAAAAAABnc/xbL0Syjs2U8/s1600/DSCN2445.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMoBkKgKZKI/AAAAAAAABnc/xbL0Syjs2U8/s400/DSCN2445.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533236812984247458" border="0" /></a>Come to think of it, my parents should have been getting pretty tired too, but guess who made the only purchase of the evening?<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMqEr8MajJI/AAAAAAAABok/z-Ne20cV8xc/s1600/DSCN2444.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 274px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMqEr8MajJI/AAAAAAAABok/z-Ne20cV8xc/s400/DSCN2444.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533380982605515922" border="0" /></a>I found the whole medina experience pretty stimulating, so I did what any smart six-month old would do: I fell asleep.<br /><br />We then headed back home (in three different blue "petit" taxis), where my cousins, Anna and Tommy, had already introduced PopPop to their pets, including the hamster, Coco (who is very cute and funny), and the bird, Petey (who sure is noisy but is pretty and likes to fly).<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMn-uexzoNI/AAAAAAAABl8/qZAcCXeWxcQ/s1600/DSCN2400.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMn-uexzoNI/AAAAAAAABl8/qZAcCXeWxcQ/s400/DSCN2400.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533233691690770642" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMn-t38OBhI/AAAAAAAABl0/f4-yLfudzDw/s1600/DSCN2397.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMn-t38OBhI/AAAAAAAABl0/f4-yLfudzDw/s400/DSCN2397.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533233681265460754" border="0" /></a>Since Tuesday, I have had a lot of other adventures in Morocco, so you'll hear more from the Number One Auntie soon.<br /><br />A bientot et bisous,<br /><br />GracieKimberly Hulthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16185690418428726394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091492510524014181.post-38338398746365874262010-10-25T01:56:00.000-07:002010-10-28T15:32:38.686-07:00Cafe Time with Nana<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMVHV2KCXQI/AAAAAAAABj8/1OQCa5P4C2s/s1600/DSCN2305.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMVHV2KCXQI/AAAAAAAABj8/1OQCa5P4C2s/s400/DSCN2305.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531906157934959874" border="0" /></a><br />Bonjour,<br /><br />Yesterday, we headed over to our favorite neighborhood cafe for brunch, featuring cafe cremes (or lattes) (for the ladies), the' a la menthe (for Tommy), and pain au chocolate, good bread and eggs.<br /><br />As you might imagine, there was a fair amount of animated discussion at our table.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMVHVudVO5I/AAAAAAAABj0/yQhpU3sFlis/s1600/DSCN2291.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 357px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMVHVudVO5I/AAAAAAAABj0/yQhpU3sFlis/s400/DSCN2291.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531906155868404626" border="0" /></a><br />Who do you think talked the most in this group? (I can tell you it wasn't me; I was the group's photographer).<br /><br />Was it Tommy?<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMVHWhhD19I/AAAAAAAABkU/KpnNrbXrkTM/s1600/DSCN2319.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMVHWhhD19I/AAAAAAAABkU/KpnNrbXrkTM/s400/DSCN2319.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531906169574250450" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMVKYdMeEBI/AAAAAAAABlM/dvDqI-MEkqc/s1600/DSCN2335.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 289px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMVKYdMeEBI/AAAAAAAABlM/dvDqI-MEkqc/s400/DSCN2335.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531909501308768274" border="0" /></a>Was it Anna?<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMVIsf1PDnI/AAAAAAAABks/AsbAa4pMzYI/s1600/DSCN2332.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMVIsf1PDnI/AAAAAAAABks/AsbAa4pMzYI/s400/DSCN2332.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531907646590750322" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMVIr9CjsoI/AAAAAAAABkc/zd5h8xHE0Ig/s1600/DSCN2327.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 360px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMVIr9CjsoI/AAAAAAAABkc/zd5h8xHE0Ig/s400/DSCN2327.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531907637251388034" border="0" /></a><br />Or was it Nana?<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMVIsFZdkQI/AAAAAAAABkk/e8rFgHbUixU/s1600/DSCN2331.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMVIsFZdkQI/AAAAAAAABkk/e8rFgHbUixU/s400/DSCN2331.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531907639494938882" border="0" /></a><br />And the winner is......<br /><br /><br />(drum roll, please)<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMVIsy2p1aI/AAAAAAAABk8/67oouYO20qA/s1600/DSCN2341.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 352px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMVIsy2p1aI/AAAAAAAABk8/67oouYO20qA/s400/DSCN2341.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531907651696973218" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Nana</span> says that <span style="font-style: italic;">Anna</span> talks a lot and changes subjects so quickly. Wonder where she gets that?<br /><br />After brunch, we headed off to the "scooter park" before turning home.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMn5zxNmY4I/AAAAAAAABls/gEdDvUCw3gc/s1600/DSCN2345.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMn5zxNmY4I/AAAAAAAABls/gEdDvUCw3gc/s400/DSCN2345.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533228284980388738" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMVKYp172yI/AAAAAAAABlU/WduBMSR4-Tc/s1600/DSCN2347.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMVKYp172yI/AAAAAAAABlU/WduBMSR4-Tc/s400/DSCN2347.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531909504703912738" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMVKY2Q6AsI/AAAAAAAABlk/Gxh9tiPW89c/s1600/DSCN2369.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMVKY2Q6AsI/AAAAAAAABlk/Gxh9tiPW89c/s400/DSCN2369.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531909508038263490" border="0" /></a><br />A bientot,<br /><br />KimKimberly Hulthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16185690418428726394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091492510524014181.post-53455635567149990122010-10-24T03:03:00.001-07:002010-10-24T08:31:40.641-07:00The City of Light in Autumn<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMQH2dd5C0I/AAAAAAAABi0/VL2PeBNuW_M/s1600/DSCN2174.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMQH2dd5C0I/AAAAAAAABi0/VL2PeBNuW_M/s400/DSCN2174.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531554874522143554" border="0" /></a>Bonjour,<br /><br />While in Paris, we spent a day at the Louvre.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMQKJCGQjyI/AAAAAAAABjU/4ObbYyYGxEc/s1600/DSCN2187.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMQKJCGQjyI/AAAAAAAABjU/4ObbYyYGxEc/s400/DSCN2187.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531557392616034082" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMQH2GoyuVI/AAAAAAAABis/pbCNUs86NWo/s1600/DSCN2162.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 393px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMQH2GoyuVI/AAAAAAAABis/pbCNUs86NWo/s400/DSCN2162.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531554868393851218" border="0" /></a>The Louvre has over 10 miles(!) of gallery space, and it would take months to see everything. But we braved the crowds to see some of the masterpieces, including The Slave sculptures by Michelangelo, the Venus de Milo, Winged Victory, the Mona Lisa (of course), and the wonderful Vermeers.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMQH12w_K4I/AAAAAAAABik/iVpwe0kPqmI/s1600/DSCN2154.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMQH12w_K4I/AAAAAAAABik/iVpwe0kPqmI/s400/DSCN2154.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531554864133254018" border="0" /></a>We also visited "Cour Marly", where the grand statuary was initially commissioned for the park of the "Chateau de Marly," a small French royal residence outside of Paris.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMQKIYs_R1I/AAAAAAAABjE/5T5ghqrf73g/s1600/DSCN2178.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMQKIYs_R1I/AAAAAAAABjE/5T5ghqrf73g/s400/DSCN2178.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531557381504190290" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMQKIBDlpXI/AAAAAAAABi8/cF2kyGomEig/s1600/DSCN2181.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMQKIBDlpXI/AAAAAAAABi8/cF2kyGomEig/s400/DSCN2181.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531557375156528498" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMQKI_DW-YI/AAAAAAAABjM/gUoRlSXtHQM/s1600/DSCN2182.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMQKI_DW-YI/AAAAAAAABjM/gUoRlSXtHQM/s400/DSCN2182.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531557391798565250" border="0" /></a>Here's the view from the Pyramide du Louvre (the glass entrance for the Louvre designed by I.M. Pei and opened to considerable controversy in 1989) as we left the museum that night.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMQKJYP0YVI/AAAAAAAABjc/9Js8eQr_G4A/s1600/DSCN2190.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMQKJYP0YVI/AAAAAAAABjc/9Js8eQr_G4A/s400/DSCN2190.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531557398561710418" border="0" /></a>On our last day, we made our way to Musee D'Orsay, which is housed in a beautiful old train station and features 19th century French art by artists like Monet, Manet, Rodin, and Seurat. We ate lunch in the lovely old dining room that was originally part of the station hotel.<br /><br />Alas, no cameras are allowed in the Musee D'Orsay...<br /><br />And here we are, all set to go cruising down the Seine at sunset on that last night in Paris.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMQFsCo3vbI/AAAAAAAABh0/1fn7joo25R8/s1600/DSCN2219.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMQFsCo3vbI/AAAAAAAABh0/1fn7joo25R8/s400/DSCN2219.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531552496498490802" border="0" /></a>Here's what you see as you motor along under the full moon and the lights come on throughout Paris.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMQM7mPVCwI/AAAAAAAABjs/P31ftE9Hw4Y/s1600/DSCN2228.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMQM7mPVCwI/AAAAAAAABjs/P31ftE9Hw4Y/s400/DSCN2228.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531560460334467842" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMQFuWv_UvI/AAAAAAAABiE/VSLFAu_23cQ/s1600/DSCN2236.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMQFuWv_UvI/AAAAAAAABiE/VSLFAu_23cQ/s400/DSCN2236.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531552536256795378" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMQH1asMpMI/AAAAAAAABiU/gBp2eB_3mSo/s1600/DSCN2274.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMQH1asMpMI/AAAAAAAABiU/gBp2eB_3mSo/s400/DSCN2274.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531554856596972738" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMQM7UGaptI/AAAAAAAABjk/DzPJOM41zV4/s1600/DSCN2263.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMQM7UGaptI/AAAAAAAABjk/DzPJOM41zV4/s400/DSCN2263.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531560455465248466" border="0" /></a> I know I posted the photo below before, but the Tour Eiffel is just so beautiful.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMQFsv3mTJI/AAAAAAAABh8/DMTm3cxJi8U/s1600/DSCN2258.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMQFsv3mTJI/AAAAAAAABh8/DMTm3cxJi8U/s400/DSCN2258.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531552508639857810" border="0" /></a>Afterward, we headed to our favorite neighborhood cafe, where we had a little wine, a salade de chevre chaud (green salad with chevre and honey toasted on baguette slices), a cheeseburger (Mom, only) and some good pommes frites (french fries). Dinner was followed by some chocolate from a fancy chocolatier.<br /><br />Ahhh, the City of Light.<br /><br />A bientot,<br /><br />KimKimberly Hulthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16185690418428726394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091492510524014181.post-63829524116896605982010-10-22T10:22:00.000-07:002010-10-22T12:56:59.026-07:00To Climb or Not to Climb...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMHKgfy3p-I/AAAAAAAABf8/9Fl6dYeSDl4/s1600/DSCN2202.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMHKgfy3p-I/AAAAAAAABf8/9Fl6dYeSDl4/s400/DSCN2202.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530924477027166178" border="0" /></a>That was the question.<br /><br />Bonjour,<br /><br />Mom (aka Marlys or Nana) and I have now returned to/arrived in Morocco. I am very happy to be back.<br /><br />But first, more about Paris:<br /><br />As you may have heard, France has had some trying times of late, although it looks much worse on CNN than it felt to us. In fact, despite the labor strikes and terrorist "alerts," we didn't notice much out of the ordinary.<br /><br />We saw a few strikers, but they mostly looked like high school students who seemed happy to be skipping school. They sometimes marched down our street (see photo below).<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMHM2QjXPSI/AAAAAAAABhE/cWVndYJQw_E/s1600/DSCN2144.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMHM2QjXPSI/AAAAAAAABhE/cWVndYJQw_E/s400/DSCN2144.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530927049915972898" border="0" /></a>And we were not deterred from visiting key places in Paris (more on that to come in the next post). But many (outside of France) expressed concern about whether we should climb the Eiffel Tower since that has been frequently mentioned as the site of a possible attack and has been evacuated a few times in recent weeks.<br /><br />We decided we better go there and check the scene out for ourselves. Below, another picture I took of the Eiffel Tower (or Tour Eiffel) at night, when it is all lit up.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMHsKLGkkXI/AAAAAAAABhc/VsHMZAjg8ik/s1600/DSCN2256.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMHsKLGkkXI/AAAAAAAABhc/VsHMZAjg8ik/s400/DSCN2256.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530961476910879090" border="0" /></a>So what did we adventurous travelers decide to do?<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMHKifHB04I/AAAAAAAABgU/CbWLuWcXgTo/s1600/DSCN2213.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMHKifHB04I/AAAAAAAABgU/CbWLuWcXgTo/s400/DSCN2213.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530924511203021698" border="0" /></a>We climbed, of course. (Well, took the elevator).<br /><br />While there, we took these shots of Paris.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMHM0dWnpRI/AAAAAAAABgk/SoOgp0Mypn8/s1600/DSCN2204.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMHM0dWnpRI/AAAAAAAABgk/SoOgp0Mypn8/s400/DSCN2204.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530927018992444690" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMHM1exAC4I/AAAAAAAABg0/enVHa83jsLI/s1600/DSCN2209.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMHM1exAC4I/AAAAAAAABg0/enVHa83jsLI/s400/DSCN2209.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530927036551400322" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMHM0og4AJI/AAAAAAAABgs/Vla3oOSovjE/s1600/DSCN2207.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMHM0og4AJI/AAAAAAAABgs/Vla3oOSovjE/s400/DSCN2207.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530927021988249746" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMHKhek62aI/AAAAAAAABgM/FpZF6GcEOoc/s1600/DSCN2206.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMHKhek62aI/AAAAAAAABgM/FpZF6GcEOoc/s400/DSCN2206.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530924493880088994" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMHKi095QSI/AAAAAAAABgc/kqxxNXP_NeY/s1600/DSCN2214.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TMHKi095QSI/AAAAAAAABgc/kqxxNXP_NeY/s400/DSCN2214.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530924517070291234" border="0" /></a>A bientot,<br /><br />KimKimberly Hulthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16185690418428726394noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091492510524014181.post-53011036264023948732010-10-18T14:13:00.000-07:002010-10-18T15:26:35.388-07:00Marlys Takes Paris<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLy_j4aONAI/AAAAAAAABfs/XjQyN_s5k1s/s1600/DSCN2119.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLy_j4aONAI/AAAAAAAABfs/XjQyN_s5k1s/s400/DSCN2119.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529505065662821378" border="0" /></a>Bonjour,<br /><br />So I'm off to Paris for nearly a week with my Mom. We've had two days here so far, and Marlys (Mom) is certainly getting around town. (Above, in the Tuillerie Gardens).<br /><br />Here's her first stop, just outside Eglise St. Sulpice.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLy58a4vo-I/AAAAAAAABeM/3xlnF858Nss/s1600/DSCN2066.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLy58a4vo-I/AAAAAAAABeM/3xlnF858Nss/s400/DSCN2066.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529498890164741090" border="0" /></a>And now she's off to Cathedrale Notre-Dame.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLy59Tq7Y6I/AAAAAAAABek/mxdrXQQfs-k/s1600/DSCN2083.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 249px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLy59Tq7Y6I/AAAAAAAABek/mxdrXQQfs-k/s400/DSCN2083.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529498905407611810" border="0" /></a>Wait, isn't that her at the Arc de Triomphe?<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLy9T725YqI/AAAAAAAABe8/eTRVGOVHQS8/s1600/DSCN2096.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLy9T725YqI/AAAAAAAABe8/eTRVGOVHQS8/s400/DSCN2096.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529502592687235746" border="0" /></a>Wasn't she at Pont St. Michel too?<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLy58vCXbSI/AAAAAAAABeU/clIYYSzVmNI/s1600/DSCN2068.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLy58vCXbSI/AAAAAAAABeU/clIYYSzVmNI/s400/DSCN2068.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529498895573806370" border="0" /></a>But now she's moved on to the Louvre?<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLy9UTrljII/AAAAAAAABfE/6sSUbFVsbYI/s1600/DSCN2126.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLy9UTrljII/AAAAAAAABfE/6sSUbFVsbYI/s400/DSCN2126.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529502599082249346" border="0" /></a>And isn't that Pont Neuf and Isle de la Cite in the background?<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLy9VVSbLGI/AAAAAAAABfM/koIm8xSQJtc/s1600/DSCN2129.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLy9VVSbLGI/AAAAAAAABfM/koIm8xSQJtc/s400/DSCN2129.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529502616693451874" border="0" /></a>Look, now she's even taking over Anna and Tommy's favorite park in Paris after she chased away some little kids. (No, actually she waited patiently for them to finish so she could have her turn).<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLy59NRQffI/AAAAAAAABec/PQ-t-aH_Q_Y/s1600/DSCN2090.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLy59NRQffI/AAAAAAAABec/PQ-t-aH_Q_Y/s400/DSCN2090.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529498903689330162" border="0" /></a>That's definitely a Marlys-sighting at the Seine.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLy593HsgDI/AAAAAAAABes/D03yu6sc2p8/s1600/DSCN2071.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLy593HsgDI/AAAAAAAABes/D03yu6sc2p8/s400/DSCN2071.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529498914923511858" border="0" /></a>And now she's moved on to the Pompidou Center.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLy9Tl0om3I/AAAAAAAABe0/jR5SpaQCfZM/s1600/DSCN2094.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLy9Tl0om3I/AAAAAAAABe0/jR5SpaQCfZM/s400/DSCN2094.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529502586772167538" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLy_kKTStjI/AAAAAAAABf0/QZpOGPDjELU/s1600/DSCN2138.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLy_kKTStjI/AAAAAAAABf0/QZpOGPDjELU/s400/DSCN2138.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529505070465594930" border="0" /></a>Wonder what her favorite color is (in the Pompidou's contemporary art collection or elsewhere)?<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLy9VoiIN9I/AAAAAAAABfU/aRtvRgUAHrE/s1600/DSCN2143.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLy9VoiIN9I/AAAAAAAABfU/aRtvRgUAHrE/s400/DSCN2143.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529502621859592146" border="0" /></a>Her rental car in Paris.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLy_jX5f_0I/AAAAAAAABfk/Pl8A-X6p-9A/s1600/DSCN2093.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 195px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLy_jX5f_0I/AAAAAAAABfk/Pl8A-X6p-9A/s400/DSCN2093.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529505056935640898" border="0" /></a>(Just kidding).<br /><br />The view from our apartment in Paris.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLy_jOxWkmI/AAAAAAAABfc/8qE3C6qnIYw/s1600/DSCN2062.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLy_jOxWkmI/AAAAAAAABfc/8qE3C6qnIYw/s400/DSCN2062.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529505054485549666" border="0" /></a><br />(Not kidding).<br /><br />More adventures to come: Tomorrow, Marlys spends the day shopping!<br /><br />A bientot,<br /><br />KimKimberly Hulthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16185690418428726394noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091492510524014181.post-38113646409024430222010-10-16T23:42:00.000-07:002010-10-17T00:20:25.503-07:00Un Petit Cafe'<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLqc-HpmnrI/AAAAAAAABdc/LBjA4B7Ij4c/s1600/DSCN2049.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLqc-HpmnrI/AAAAAAAABdc/LBjA4B7Ij4c/s400/DSCN2049.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528904083570073266" border="0" /></a><br />Bonjour, <p class="MsoNormal">Lest you begin to believe that I spend most of my time on this sabbatical shopping (in medinas, markets, or lovely, boutique-y stores), I wanted to assure you that I also spend a great deal of time hanging out in cafes, drinking lattes (or café crèmes, as they are called here).</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">In fact, one the best things about this sabbatical has been the opportunity to spend quality time with Anna and Tommy and indoctrinate them into the coffee culture.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">For the entire year, Tommy and I have spent every Monday morning getting coffee (or, in Tommy’s case, usually the' a la menthe (mint tea) and pain au chocolate) at a café near the school.<span style=""> </span>In the photo below, however, he was actually drinking an apple milkshake at our cafe.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLqc-YwpQEI/AAAAAAAABdk/lwVvhx1pr0w/s1600/DSCN2048.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLqc-YwpQEI/AAAAAAAABdk/lwVvhx1pr0w/s400/DSCN2048.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528904088163008578" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">And beginning this fall, Anna’s schedule now allows her to join me for coffee every Thursday morning (Anna’s school schedule is now much more like that of a "true" college student than a student in middle school -- called "the college" in the French system-- but more on that later).</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLqc--DIkSI/AAAAAAAABd0/jLVy9au9QS8/s1600/DSCN1960.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLqc--DIkSI/AAAAAAAABd0/jLVy9au9QS8/s400/DSCN1960.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528904098172670242" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLqc-rXTfOI/AAAAAAAABds/Wradj9ogEQs/s1600/DSCN1956.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLqc-rXTfOI/AAAAAAAABds/Wradj9ogEQs/s400/DSCN1956.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528904093156998370" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">Like mother, like daughter: Anna has discovered lattes while she finishes her homework.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLqjQDDRgNI/AAAAAAAABeE/NW_BPh_8W-Q/s1600/DSCN1958.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLqjQDDRgNI/AAAAAAAABeE/NW_BPh_8W-Q/s400/DSCN1958.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528910988642975954" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal">Sometimes, I even find myself at the café with this interloper.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLqev99OvpI/AAAAAAAABd8/Saquf4vEY64/s1600/DSCN1954.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLqev99OvpI/AAAAAAAABd8/Saquf4vEY64/s400/DSCN1954.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528906039473127058" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">Many of the cafes in Morocco appear to be men-only (not officially, of course, but I have gotten a few annoyed looks at some).<span style=""> Throughout the city, t</span>he men seem to while away hours in cafes, drinking coffee and smoking, while the women scurry through the streets, managing work, household tasks and children.<span style=""> </span>Many Moroccan women just don't seem to have much leisure time.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">But, luckily for me, there are some cafes, like my favorite near the school, that are happy to welcome women who enjoy their lattes.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">A bientot,</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Kim</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>Kimberly Hulthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16185690418428726394noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4091492510524014181.post-72785936407015231612010-10-15T10:02:00.000-07:002010-10-16T01:34:35.813-07:00A Weekday in RabatBonjour,<br /><br />It's a weekday, and Bob and Kim are each doing their own things.<br /><br />In Bob's case, that means that unless you are surfing, you sit at a table for most of the day working on the index to your new book (<span style="font-style: italic;">Metaphysical Themes, 1274-1689</span>, now available for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Metaphysical-Themes-1274-1689-Robert-Pasnau/dp/0199567913/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1287217947&sr=1-2">pre-order at Amazon.com</a>). Fun.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLiRkn0df1I/AAAAAAAABdU/CR4zNQ6PlVA/s1600/DSCN2023.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLiRkn0df1I/AAAAAAAABdU/CR4zNQ6PlVA/s400/DSCN2023.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528328600947621714" border="0" /></a>And then you study your Arabic flashcards. More fun.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLiPT-Ij5bI/AAAAAAAABck/YTUzgOssUVc/s1600/DSCN2054.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLiPT-Ij5bI/AAAAAAAABck/YTUzgOssUVc/s400/DSCN2054.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528326115856475570" border="0" /></a>And about three times a week, you meet with Fouad, your Arabic tutor, and review your progress (will have to substitute later with photo of Bob and Fouad and not just Bob).<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLiPTuQmajI/AAAAAAAABcc/u63pAurTt60/s1600/DSCN2035.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLiPTuQmajI/AAAAAAAABcc/u63pAurTt60/s400/DSCN2035.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528326111595227698" border="0" /></a>In Kim's case, that means that after taking the kids to school, you might go to an exercise class or a French lesson. But you also might go to hammam for an hour or two with your friend, Marie.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLiQUrWy6JI/AAAAAAAABdM/2dEb2E2d-rA/s1600/DSC04144.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLiQUrWy6JI/AAAAAAAABdM/2dEb2E2d-rA/s400/DSC04144.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528327227507402898" border="0" /></a>Then you might go shopping at a lovely store with Marie and buy some beautiful things.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLiPTAqvaXI/AAAAAAAABcU/Og9-KVHF07s/s1600/DSCN2033.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLiPTAqvaXI/AAAAAAAABcU/Og9-KVHF07s/s400/DSCN2033.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528326099356838258" border="0" /></a>After that, you might pick up a still-warm baguette from a French bakery and have leftover onion tart, soup and fruit salad (all prepared by Rachida) for lunch on the porch with Marie. (Sorry, no photo -- too busy eating).<br /><br />Then you head off to the MegaMall for some shopping at a mall with very nice stores.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLiPUo2soFI/AAAAAAAABc0/j7JTmGXMiJY/s1600/DSCN2039.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLiPUo2soFI/AAAAAAAABc0/j7JTmGXMiJY/s400/DSCN2039.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528326127324274770" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLiPUGbBHOI/AAAAAAAABcs/6HPfzxFpSdc/s1600/DSCN2036.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLiPUGbBHOI/AAAAAAAABcs/6HPfzxFpSdc/s400/DSCN2036.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528326118081371362" border="0" /></a>Or, instead, you might stay home and have coffee and oreos with your friend, Livy. The two of you might talk a mile a minute (especially after the caffeine kicks in).<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLiQT5VyDyI/AAAAAAAABc8/Aw9ZtGZ8iRs/s1600/DSCN2024.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WBkASgjroG4/TLiQT5VyDyI/AAAAAAAABc8/Aw9ZtGZ8iRs/s400/DSCN2024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528327214081380130" border="0" /></a>So who is having more fun on this sabbatical?<br /><br />A bientot,<br /><br />KimKimberly Hulthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16185690418428726394noreply@blogger.com3