Desert trip details
#23
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Thanks everyone!!
If anyone has suggestion for a great destination for our next trip, we'd love to hear your ideas. We were thinking of Chile or Turkey or Slovenia. Such a big world...I wish we had more vacation time!
I'm plan to post some of our Marrakech photos... all of our non-desert shots from our trip. I hope everyone who took the time to read this very long trip report was able to find the photos that go along with the story. They are posted under "Ali Babba and Fatima's Desert Pictures".
If anyone has suggestion for a great destination for our next trip, we'd love to hear your ideas. We were thinking of Chile or Turkey or Slovenia. Such a big world...I wish we had more vacation time!
I'm plan to post some of our Marrakech photos... all of our non-desert shots from our trip. I hope everyone who took the time to read this very long trip report was able to find the photos that go along with the story. They are posted under "Ali Babba and Fatima's Desert Pictures".
#25
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Thailand is my next one in Sept. Belle I'll have to pick your brain. Sorry for the hijack er. Am enjoying your report and looking forward to the new pix. Already checked out the great desert shots.
#27
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Thailand sounds wonderful! Unfortunately our vacation time is limited this year--our next trip can only be 10 days long including travel days. I need a location that is easy to travel from the east coast of US. Any suggestions??
Would still love to hear more about Thailand. Feel free to hijack. I'll have the pictures up later...just wanted to add some captions before I post them.
Would still love to hear more about Thailand. Feel free to hijack. I'll have the pictures up later...just wanted to add some captions before I post them.
#29
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Okay.... finally the rest of our Morocco pictures!!
http://www.photoshopshowcase.com/Vie...24355&AT=3
http://www.photoshopshowcase.com/Vie...24355&AT=3
#31
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Love your pictures, you got lots of great shots. That chicken tagine made me hungry. I miss those yellow potatoes and the carrots. Someone said the potatoes are cooked in turmeric and turn yellow.
Did you ever have bastilla? The shreded chicken & almonds in layers of luscious pastry?
The little boy with the kitten is wonderful!
You are really fortunate to have a husband who wants to travel. I was amazed at the number of couples I met (after returning from a trip) at how many wives or husbands have no interest at all in traveling outside the U.S. while their spouses yearn to go. I find that really sad.
It is a big world and you have to do the best you can with your vacation time when you're working. When I had only ten days a year I worked my time around the holidays to stretch it. I flew Thanksgiving day a few times and picked up Thursday, Friday & the weekend before my vacation time kicked in. Thanksgiving is a great day to fly because there's plenty of space on the flights and the fares are about as low as they get.
Chile and Patagonia is on my list, as is Nepal/Kathmandu now that it's safe again, but both would be too far for your ten days. You could do Europe easily but I second Laartista's vote for Turkey. Go for the exotic.
Keep on traveling -- and writing and taking photos.
Did you ever have bastilla? The shreded chicken & almonds in layers of luscious pastry?
The little boy with the kitten is wonderful!
You are really fortunate to have a husband who wants to travel. I was amazed at the number of couples I met (after returning from a trip) at how many wives or husbands have no interest at all in traveling outside the U.S. while their spouses yearn to go. I find that really sad.
It is a big world and you have to do the best you can with your vacation time when you're working. When I had only ten days a year I worked my time around the holidays to stretch it. I flew Thanksgiving day a few times and picked up Thursday, Friday & the weekend before my vacation time kicked in. Thanksgiving is a great day to fly because there's plenty of space on the flights and the fares are about as low as they get.
Chile and Patagonia is on my list, as is Nepal/Kathmandu now that it's safe again, but both would be too far for your ten days. You could do Europe easily but I second Laartista's vote for Turkey. Go for the exotic.
Keep on traveling -- and writing and taking photos.
#32
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Unfortunately we did not have a great deal of variety in our Moroccan meals. I definately regret not having tried more Moroccan dishes. It seemed that when the menus were in french the waiters spoke little or no english... so we just stuck to the "safe" choices since my french is so limited. Then when we arrived in the desert we were served "safe" dishes as well (tagine and couscous).
I must say I do feel very lucky to have a husband who enjoys traveling. We have had some wonderful adventures over the last few years. Most of our friends, family, and co-workers either don't travel or just stick to popular US destinations. I think it is so much fun exploring this big world...I wish I could convince them to travel somewhere out of their comfort zone.
I received great advice from an older co-worker many years ago that I really took to heart. She was near retirement and loved to travel but was limited in where she could go because of her husbands chronic health problems. She told me to travel while I was still young and healthy...travel to all the exotic spots I've ever dreamed of...do all the activities that require good health...and save all the wonderful spots in the USA for when I was old, had health issues and may require handicap access.
I really hope I am lucky enough to have a long healthy life and still have the energy and sense of humor to ride a camel and trek through the desert!
I must say I do feel very lucky to have a husband who enjoys traveling. We have had some wonderful adventures over the last few years. Most of our friends, family, and co-workers either don't travel or just stick to popular US destinations. I think it is so much fun exploring this big world...I wish I could convince them to travel somewhere out of their comfort zone.
I received great advice from an older co-worker many years ago that I really took to heart. She was near retirement and loved to travel but was limited in where she could go because of her husbands chronic health problems. She told me to travel while I was still young and healthy...travel to all the exotic spots I've ever dreamed of...do all the activities that require good health...and save all the wonderful spots in the USA for when I was old, had health issues and may require handicap access.
I really hope I am lucky enough to have a long healthy life and still have the energy and sense of humor to ride a camel and trek through the desert!
#33
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<<She told me to travel while I was still young and healthy...travel to all the exotic spots I've ever dreamed of...do all the activities that require good health...and save all the wonderful spots in the USA for when I was old, had health issues and may require handicap access.>>
My sentiments exactly. You're a wise young woman to follow your friend's advice. It's not just a matter of health issues when you get older.
As for the food, it's better to be safe than sorry and lose a couple of days of your precious vacation time. I was with a group that ate at "safe" restaurants and still a couple of people got sick. I was fortunate and did not.
Keep on traveling!
My sentiments exactly. You're a wise young woman to follow your friend's advice. It's not just a matter of health issues when you get older.
As for the food, it's better to be safe than sorry and lose a couple of days of your precious vacation time. I was with a group that ate at "safe" restaurants and still a couple of people got sick. I was fortunate and did not.
Keep on traveling!
#35
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One thought was that some people's lives become more complicated. There could be family issues -- children, elderly parents who worry, who have poor health, etc.
Sometimes it's not age or health, but situational. For example, my son runs a growing company and until the last couple of years, he could hardly get away for a week.
I was also thinking that although I consider myself in very good health, and I'm certainly not afraid of traveling alone, it is getting harder -- lifting the luggage, walking up steep hills and several flights of stairs, all the flights etc. I used to run but now have knee problems so long flights are uncomfortable.
So what I was thinking was that the natural process of aging (darn it) does make it a harder, or at least more uncomfortable, to get to the faraway places.
Lastly, the world is changing rapidly and a place that's on your dream list could be changed drastically if you have to wait five or ten or more years to get there. An example for me is Prague. I had wanted to go for many years but was working and went other places on my limited vacation time. By the time I got to Prague the prices had risen a lot (this is happening in Morocco) and it was packed with English-speaking tourists. It was still beautiful, of course, but I wished that I'd gone earlier before tourism had taken off.
So go now and maybe some of the friends and co-workers who stick to the U.S. will catch your adventurous spirit and venture out into the bigger world.
Sometimes it's not age or health, but situational. For example, my son runs a growing company and until the last couple of years, he could hardly get away for a week.
I was also thinking that although I consider myself in very good health, and I'm certainly not afraid of traveling alone, it is getting harder -- lifting the luggage, walking up steep hills and several flights of stairs, all the flights etc. I used to run but now have knee problems so long flights are uncomfortable.
So what I was thinking was that the natural process of aging (darn it) does make it a harder, or at least more uncomfortable, to get to the faraway places.
Lastly, the world is changing rapidly and a place that's on your dream list could be changed drastically if you have to wait five or ten or more years to get there. An example for me is Prague. I had wanted to go for many years but was working and went other places on my limited vacation time. By the time I got to Prague the prices had risen a lot (this is happening in Morocco) and it was packed with English-speaking tourists. It was still beautiful, of course, but I wished that I'd gone earlier before tourism had taken off.
So go now and maybe some of the friends and co-workers who stick to the U.S. will catch your adventurous spirit and venture out into the bigger world.
#37
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erwench-
I simply loved your photos and your trip details! To be honest, I have never considered a trip to Morocco, but after seeing your report and photos, I'm entralled! I'm thinking I need to add it to my "short list" of travel destinations. (I also believe in getting that sort of travel done while we're young AND without children!)
How did you go about planning your trip? Did you work with a TA? How long was your trip in total?
Thanks!!
I simply loved your photos and your trip details! To be honest, I have never considered a trip to Morocco, but after seeing your report and photos, I'm entralled! I'm thinking I need to add it to my "short list" of travel destinations. (I also believe in getting that sort of travel done while we're young AND without children!)
How did you go about planning your trip? Did you work with a TA? How long was your trip in total?
Thanks!!