Marrakesh

So, we're not exactly renowned for our punctuality. I believe the term is called Storckie-time. Nonetheless, here is the distilled version of 3 weeks in Morocco in June 2007. Enjoy.

Marrakesh is a city that should be on everyone's list of places to go before they die. It is magical in every possible way, including its annoyances. By far, the best destination we've been to in a long time.

OJ everywhere ten times a day. Freshly squeezed before your eyes, no sugar, no preservatives, as much or as little pulp as you like. Djemaa El Fna. The UNESCO world heritage village square. Like the Stampede on steroids, 365 days a year. Dining out.
Eating out took on a whole new meaning.

Hiking the Atlas and more to come....

More Morocco

The Atlas mountains are a high but narrow range with plains on one side and the Sahara on the other. We set out on a multi day trip with Omar, our tight-lipped guide, our mule (which I fretted over constantly - "is it carrying too much?"), and our muleteer, who didn't speak a work for 4 days.
A Club Alpin hut built by the French at 3000 m. The mule slept outside.

Toubkal Refuge was a bit like I imagine Everest base camp; littered with various mini tent-nations waiting to make a summit bid (albeit on a much smaller mountain).

King of the Atlas.

Our poor mule, Eeyore. They are all so depressed looking. Hell, wouldn't you be depressed if all you did was carry heavy stuff up and down mountains for your entire life?

Omar, Berber guide (un)extraordinaire. On snow at nearly 4000 m.

Now, doesn't he look like he is enjoying himself?

The highest summit in North Africa reflected in cheap Mexican sunglasses.

Rocky was an understatement in the Atlas. Descending Toubkal, the highest summit in North Africa at 4100m.

Sunrise clouds over the Sahara. As seen from Toubkal summit.

Mountain man pose.

Berber truck (mule) stop. Coca cola cold on the trail. Ahhh.

A change of pace after cement floors and Berber villages. I thought I had died and gone to heaven in this hotel. Divine.

Seaside at Essaouria.

Morocco at its finest

We lingered in Essaouira and then along the remote southern coast. It was so hard to leave. Some random shots...

Kitesurfing in Essaouira

The South Atlantic Coast - near Western Sahara

Like Northern California, only warmer, and deserted. And Muslim.

Coca Cola everywhere. Always safe to drink.

A better nutrition choice. Fresh squeezed OJ at $0.40 a tumbler x 6-7 per day. You just had to plan carefully as public bathrooms were limited (or disgusting). The carpet bazaar in Marrakesh. All the Berber nomads are auctioning their wares to the carpet middlemen.

Sunset in a berber village (where we spent a rather uncomfortable, but memorable night).

An oasis of agriculture in a dry dry country.