Morocco’s stunning coastal fortress of Essaouira

Morocco’s spectacular Atlantic Ocean coastal town of Essaouira – formerly known as Mogador – has witnessed much over its long history. Founded as a base in the 7th century B.C. by the Phoenecians, six centuries later it had grown into an important commercial center for the manufacture of purple dye. By the 15th century A.D.…

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Goats grazing in the trees? Morocco

Strangely for a city girl, I spend a fair amount of time surrounded by goats. I’m often out in Italy’s Abruzzo region, which once was widely known as a region with more goats than people. And way back in the days of yore, becoming a shepherd was among the most popular career choices for local…

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The doors of Essaouira, Morocco

I’ll definitely focus a future post on the picture-perfect coastal city of Essaouira, in central Morocco, with its impressive walls, its position as an outpost on the Atlantic, its windy coastline, and its past as a Portuguese colony. But today, I want to concentrate primarily on the colorful doors of Essaouira. This is one of…

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Early morning jogs on the beach of Agadir, Morocco

Last week, work found me in the coastal Moroccan city of Agadir, to the country’s south. It was my first time to this city, which was destroyed by an earthquake in 1960 and rebuilt in a new and modern style. The beach is lined with hotels and the straight,white lines of the modern town have…

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Five ‘must-sees’ on your Tunisia visit

The north African country of Tunisia is tiny, but has so much to offer visitors. We were last there just before the Arab Spring, when it was a popular destination for European tourists wanting to explore its beaches and deserts, its cosmopolitan capital city, its ancient desert trading posts, its impressive Roman ruins… Unfortunately, tourism…

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The blue doors of Sidi Bou Saïd, Tunisia

On a trip to Tunisia just before the Arab Spring that swept the region, we took the 20 kilometer train trip north from Tunisia’s fascinating capital of  Tunis, to the lovely seaside town of Sidi Bou Saïd. I’ve already written about my penchant for destinations with exotic-sounding names, and this one definitely fit the bill.…

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Paradise in the Indian Ocean: The Seychelles

Okay, full disclosure: this is not a recent trip. I was in these tropical islands seven long years ago for a February get-away. But since it’s February once again and it’s awfully cold and dark when I get up and out in the mornings, I decided to relive distant memories by posting about a long-ago…

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Nairobi National Park and Elephant Orphanage

On a business trip to Nairobi, I had the luck to have a Sunday free. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough time to fly to one of Kenya’s spectacular game parks, but it did provide enough time to see all the big game, all within the city limits. The 117-square- kilometer Nairobi National Park is mere kilometers…

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