Monday, October 9, 2017

Morocco in Photos

As our Morocco trip fades into the background as a happy memory as one of the very best countries we have ever visited, we thought it would be a good idea to post some edited photos before we get totally consumed by our next big thing(s).  The link here is only 15% of all the photos we took, and only about 30% of those that we edited and saved.  

What remains are our better shots that still manage to hold a narrative of our trip together.  We started in Casablanca; explored the northern area of Chefchaouen and Tangier; the central area of Fez, the southern area of the Sahara Desert, then Marrakech, and back to Casablanca.
So, sit back in front of your desktop or tablet and click here to see them.  What strikes us the most about them is how different the colors of the Sahara Desert changed during the day and with the angle of the shot.
Worth the trip!

Shanti, Alan, Ron, Kathy
After Morocco, we spent a few days in Paris with Shanti and Alan from London.  However, I was really sick from a stomach bug I picked up our last two days in Morocco, so it was hard to be surrounded by all  the Parisian food and the beauty of Paris without my usual appetite and enthusiasm.  It was, however, a not-so-fun way to lose five pounds!  Kathy and I climbed the 243 steps to the top of the Arc De Triomphe and caught the lighting of the Eiffel Tower at sunset.  Worth the effort!  Here's a short clip of this inspiring moment:   https://youtu.be/MU8xkjAjk3s

Long before we left for Morocco, Kathy had been organizing a unique Airstream rally, called 'Airstreams on Main Street.'  The purpose was to bring some economic activity to the charming but struggling town of Independence, OR.  We lined Main Street with 18 Airstreams and hosted a public open house for tours. It was a huge success and a lot of fun!  Some restaurants ran out of food and the town wants to do it again next year.

Here's a very good article published in the Statesman Journal just before the rally.  It now doubt, had a big role in drawing the crowds to the event.

Main Street, Independence, OR



Our trailer "Jackson" in the foreground
We're on the big countdown to our retirement on November 2.  Our original plans were to kick off our Central America trip with a kayaking and hiking trip in Puerto Rico with the Sierra Club.  But for obvious reasons, that trip had to be cancelled.  So now we are targeting a later departure in early November to Nicaragua for Spanish immersion classes, then traveling around with Nati Zavala, a special person in our lives for the past 22 years.  He's now a Peace Corps volunteer there.  Then to Columbia for a few days before wrapping everything up with a one-day cruise of the Panama Canal in Mid-December.  At least that was the plan as of a few hours ago.  Kathy's back is really bothering her ever since we got home, so our departure may be delayed until we can get a good diagnosis and she starts to feel better.  Oh well, schedule flexibility is one of the perks of being retired!

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