Girls Trip to Morocco

Fez

Day 6

We were supposed to have a hammam and a cooking class today, but some travel changes needed to be made, cutting into our time here in Fez, so we cancelled the cooking class and got a guide for the afternoon instead. But first, the hammam, or Turkish bath. It started with a steam in the most beautiful steam room you ever saw, marble domed room with mosaics tiles decorating it. So pretty. Next we were scrubbed with a glove that took off a gross layer of skin and dirt, then a massage. Pure bliss! We had a lovely lunch after our hammam, and then off with the guide!

Fez is quite different from Marrakech. It’s less touristy, though there are lots of tourists, but it feels more like a functioning, breathing city than Marrakech did. Also, there were more layers of history her to be found, and varied architecture and crafts from all of the different influences around. Between the Ottoman, Spanish, French, Arab influences that have come through, the city has incorporated them into a beautiful, ornate tapestry of a town.

After our tour, we decided to go to a restaurant with some live entertainment and found it. There was live music, belly dancers, Berber drums, and they even reinacted a traditional wedding with jade dressed as the bride. It was fun for sure. When we finished dinner, Jade and I sat on the roof with two of the men who worked at our hotel and had some more wine and finally went to bed.

Day 7

Tomorrow we make our way back to Marrakech to catch our flight home, so today we thought we would take it easy. We woke up late, had breakfast, lounged by the pool, and slowly got ready to have a leisurely day.

We explored the Medina and got a little lost, had lunch, and then, when my mother had enough, we dropped her at the hotel and jade and I decided to do a little hike up to the ruins we saw from the rooftop. It was a short hike but worth it! The views from that vantage were stunning.

For our last night in Morocco we decided to splurge on a fancy dinner, it was a lovely dinner but I was exhausted and we had an early car scheduled, so we head home and hit the sack!

Girls Trip to Morocco

Marrakech

Me, Jade and Mom in Marrakech

Day 1
So at Thanksgiving dinner Jade said she was trying to plan a trip to Morocco with Tarek, but it wasn’t getting anywhere. I told jade that I always wanted to go to Morocco, but it was never really on Jason’s list so let’s go together. Then my mom chimed in that if we were going she was going to come.. so here we are! Three generations in Morocco!

We arrived in the evening, exhausted from the trip. Assuming this would be the case, I had prearranged for our riad (our private home for the next two nights, to pick us up and to prepare dinner for us. The drive from the airport to the riad in the walled old town was quick, and somehow watching the city go by from the car, it was not what I expected, but yet actually what I expected at the same time.  Somehow I thought it would remind me more of Istanbul, but instead it reminds me of exactly what you picture when you picture a Middle Eastern or North African city... clay colored, short, rectangular shaped, nondescript buildings; palm trees; crowds of people walking, riding mopeds, and sitting in groups chatting... it was an absolute maze, and we were totally lost in it.

I wish I had taken photos of our dinner, but Miriam made us the most delicious traditional Moroccan lamb Tagine. The lamb was cooked so perfectly, it melted in your mouth. The vegetables, the spices, were all so good, we have high hopes for our culinary experiences that lie ahead!

Tomorrow we’ll have breakfast at the Riad, then Youssef, our tour guide for the day, will pick us up to explore Marrakech!

Day 2

There was so much today, I forget where to start! Well, let’s start with breakfast. Our hosts made us a delicious breakfast poolside, then we head out with our tour guide for the day, Youssef. He picked us up at our door and whisked us off to learn all about this city.

First stop was Jardin Majorelle, names after French painter Jacques Majorelle who designed it. It was later bout by the great Yves Saint Laurent, where he lived until his death, upon which he had his ashes scattered here because he loved it so much. It really was beautiful.

Next stop was the oldest mosque in Morocco, Koutoubia Mosque. We weren’t allowed in because it’s not for tourists (my mother couldn’t contain her disappointment). So we pushed on.

The Saadian tombs were next, where the royal family was buried along with their most trusted and honored servants and soldiers. The women were in one tomb, the children in another, the chosen civilians in the gardens around them, and the king and royal men in the center tomb. The kings tomb was surrounded in Italian marble and had a glistening gold ceiling. Quite the expense and show of wealth!

Speaking of wealth, our next stop was Bahia Palace, named after the kings favorite wife (of 4 wives and countless harem women), hard to wrap your head around that.

We stopped for lunch, then hit this little shop where they explained how Argan oil is made, along with countless other natural remedies and natural herbs and ointments.

Making Argan Oil

We explored the markets, learned about how the community uses the markets for everything in life like the Hammams and community oven, very interesting.

Youssef, our guide, was so informative, such a gentleman, and took great care of us. We said goodbye and headed home to freshen up for dinner. With a better understanding of the city, we ventured off on our own to see La Mamounia Palace Hotel, the most beautiful hotel you've ever seen. We had one very expensive drink there and walked to dinner, walking through the Medina. During the day the Médina was pretty tame, but at night, it was unbelievably crowded!

We found our way to dinner at a place called Nomad, which had a more modern take of Moroccan cuisine. It was very good, but our favorite meal was still the one Miriam made us at our riad. After dinner we walked home, which was a little scary as the streets around us were closing and we had to turn around a few times, but we made our way and finally got to bed.

Tomorrow we head into the Atlas Mountains and then into the desert, so we need our rest!

Natural Beauty of Slovenia

Day 3 - Ljubljana

The view from our room! That's the castle we visited today.

So much in one day! Today we explored all there was to see in the town of Ljubljana.  Before I start into that, though, I want to say that the people here are among the nicest we've encountered anywhere.  Just friendly, happy help, everyone speaks English very well, and super accommodating.  And, they love dogs here! We've seen so many very well behaved dogs, and the city is happy to have them.  They walk off leash and are like any other residents of the city.  We saw dogs with collars just exploring around even without an owner in sight, just getting pet by shop owners and cafe goers.  Another reason to love this country.  Anyone who loves dogs that much has to be great!


Onto our day... We started with the castle on the top of the hill.  It was a steep climb to get to it, but it was fun.

The beginning of our steep climb

Once we got there, I have to say we were a little disappointed because the castle yesterday was so cool.  This one was an Epcot version of a castle, almost nothing authentic left in there, just pockets of original walls.  We did get a nice view of the town from the top of the viewing tower, though.

This castle was all gussied up for tourists with restaurants in it and lots of gift shops.

The view was pretty cool, though.

During lunch we saw these river boats and decided to take one of them after we ate, and it was a sweet way to see the city and all of it's pretty bridges.

Champagne please!

The remainder of the day was spent exploring, then stopping at a cafe for a drink, then walking and a cafe, then walking and a cafe.  It's the perfect city for this because it's small enough to get it all in without the pressure of feeling like you missed something.

This city is obsessed with dragons! They are everywhere!

In our exploring, we wanted to see the neighborhood of Metelkova Mesto.  This place is the abandoned army barracks turned punk graffiti art and outdoor party space.  The young rebels of Slovenia took it over, and the when the government wanted to take it down, the neighbors fought to keep it.  We went during the day to take pictures of the art, but I can see how it wold come alive at night.  We are too old for that, but if we were younger, it would have been where we partied one night for sure.

Dinner was spent at a little restaurant tucked into a street we didn't know existed.  Easily our best meal of the trip, Gostalina As was built around a beautiful tree.  The food was incredible and the atmosphere was so romantic.  They served us a 4 course meal (including dessert) that catered to my allergies.  They were so accommodating.

Natural Beauty of Slovenia

We leave for Slovenia tonight!

Where? You ask....  Let's start with the three questions I know you're thinking first and get them out of the way.

1. Why Slovenia?  The answer is that Jason was there 17 some years ago and still maintains it was the most beautiful place he's been, and as you know Jason's been to some spectacular places.  He's been saying he's wanted to go back with me for over 15 years and we're finally doing it.  After a few google searches returning articles calling Slovenia the New Zealand of Europe, #4 on the list of top destinations in the world, an underrated gem, where you can find the best sparking wines you've never tasted, and many more, I was totally game.
2. Where the heck is it?  Slovenia shares a border with Italy, Austria, Croatia, and Hungary.  We will fly into Venice and pick up a rental and drive just 2 hours to get to our first stop, Piran, on the Western coast.  The whole country is about the size of New Jersey! We'll be driving through the country, from Venice, to Piran, to Ljubljana, to Bled, and back to Venice in 6 days. 
3. What is there to do there?  Here are a few of the stops we plan, Google them: Piran, Skocjan Caves, Predjama Castle, Ljubljana, Lake Bled, Vintgar Gorge.  Not too shabby, huh? 

It's also where Melania Trump is from, so I'm pretty sure it will be filled with beautiful and glamorous people. ;) Seriously, though, this I do know, it's an adventure! Someplace we've never been, and wouldn't think to go in our normal list of places, so why not? Looking forward to updating you along the way! I'll post each night if I can.  

Cheers, 

Sue

Quick trip to San Fran

This year's December miles trip was to San Francisco! (See other December miles trips to New Orleans and to Maui) and I'd never been, but Jason always said I would love it, so we finally went!  I could probably split up the trip into 3 highlights: 1) Alcatraz, 2) Biking Trip and 3) Around San Fran.

1) Alcatraz - we did the requisite trip to Alcatraz and I wasn't really expecting to learn so much or find it so interesting, but it was a real highlight of the trip.  The idea that these prisoners could hear the partying happening on the shores of San Francisco from their tiny cells was chilling; seeing all of the escape attempts were mind boggling; and learning how the prison system was run was so interesting.

Ferry to Alcatraz island

Tiny cells...

...stacked on top of each other

The only way to see visitors

One escape included a fake head and tunnel out.

2) Biking Trip - probably our favorite part of the trip was the 5 hour bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge, into Sausalito, through Old Mill Park and along the beautiful bay to Tiburon where we took the ferry back to San Francisco while watching the sunset over the bridge.  It was absolute perfection! 

We're off to bike across that bridge.

Reward for our hard work, lunch in Sausalito :)

The beautiful bay back.

Waiting for the ferry.

Sunset on the ferry back... 

3) Around San Francisco - We really loved just walking around the city and seeing all it had to offer.  We did everything touristy and didn't care.

The food was delicious everywhere.

What a beautiful Christmas tree.