After several overseas voyages, Alex got the travel bug and opted to spend his junior year at the University of Seville.  For Christmas break, there was no chance of going home as the family insisted on traveling to Spain for Christmas – of course! So it was off to Seville and a day trip to Cadiz.  More intriguing was the proximity to Marrakech  (a short flight) so after a week in Spain it was off to Morocco …

Personally, I was not prepared for Marrakech.  We stayed in a riad in the heart of the Medina,  The market or Souk was nothing short of fascinating.  Call it a tourist mecca – no matter it was a hoot.  The combination of old city, maze of alleyways, producing goods sold in the market, friendly energetic people & wonderful food.  We ventured out of the city to the nearby Atlas mountains rounding off a wonderful time in Morocco.

           A hide merchant selling hides to local artisans who working in little shops making leather goods for sale in the market.  Vertical integration sans butchering and curing hides. And then there are the local produce markets.  I can’t really explain the fascination with produce markets, whether it is in Stone Town, Zanzibar to the canals of Venice, the array of food . . fresh . . . colorful . . .

 Our quarters in the riad We drove out to the Atlas Mountains along a stream.  The flatter terrance was across the creek bed where open restaurants were established which necessitated crude suspended walkways to provide access to paterins.   A fitting farewell photo from Marrakech.  These youngsters hitching a ride on the back of a horse drawn carriage.