Posts Tagged ‘northern Africa’
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.…
Read MoreGoats 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…
Read MoreThe 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…
Read MoreEarly 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…
Read MoreFive ‘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…
Read MoreThe 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.…
Read MoreSnake charmers, donkey carts, and couscous in Marrakech, Morocco – Part 2
Okay, there are just so many great things to see on your visit to Marrakech, that I couldn’t fit it into one post. So, if you’re planning to take a trip to Marrakech, be sure to read Part 1 of this post as well. And, plan more time than we had, because Marrakech is located…
Read MoreSnake charmers, donkey carts, and couscous in Marrakech, Morocco
Long, long ago, on an ‘important’ birthday, I decided not to get hung up on growing older, but instead to book tickets to a destination where I’d never been before. After all, I love travelling and exploring a new destination each year as I added another candle to the cake seemed the best way to…
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