Sunday, November 18, 2007
Hike Near Ifrane, November 2007
Spent a lovely day hiking along the river in Ifrane with my professor friend, Julia. The following two photos do not represent the hiking, I realize! We did get on some horses, and we met a 16-year-old boy who showed us his farmhouse. His dad is the "forest chief." His mother gave us a mug of yogurt--which I'm holding. I'm conversing with him because he could speak a little English!
Saturday, November 17, 2007
November in Tanger
Greetings from the Bourne Supremacy set! I had the great fortune to be able to tag along with the Smith family on a pastoral trip to Tanger in early November. Tanger is a five hour drive from Ifrane.
View from my hotel window....
Here is Pastor Karen, Professor Kevin and Claire on my balcony! Claire seems to always want to "play" with me by singing songs and making me watch Harry Potter movies with her...... I love to travel with Karen and Kevin since they both speak Arabic and French fluently.
Karen and I worked with some college age choir members at the French Protestant Church on Saturday afternoon--and then did the service on Sunday. These people treated me like a relative!
The next seven photos were taken at the Musee de la Kasbah. A "kasbah" seems to be a combination of a fortress, castle and palace. Karen and I took off by ourselves and it was quite a hike UP to get to this place.
Pomegranates are in season and are delicious!!
After going through the museum we walked back down through the medina. Medina means "city" in Arabic. When folks speak of a medina, they mean the OLD Arabic city--which consists of a series of interconnecting pathways with shops on the ground floor.
This photo shows where the carts come down the steps.
People call the round things "puffs." They are made of leather and you stuff them with whatever and sit on them! Also liked the lizard. Bought Veny a very interesting outfit on the black market here.....
More views from my hotel room. This was THE LIFE. Great friends, great food, great views, with the sound of the ocean waves lulling you to sleep......
I confess that Tanger was windy---but so are many other coastal towns!
Looking out of my room the other direction.
This boat is leaving for Spain--which you can't see in this photo but I could see with my eyes. Again, I am looking outside from lying on my bed. Nice, huh?
View from my hotel window....
Here is Pastor Karen, Professor Kevin and Claire on my balcony! Claire seems to always want to "play" with me by singing songs and making me watch Harry Potter movies with her...... I love to travel with Karen and Kevin since they both speak Arabic and French fluently.
Karen and I worked with some college age choir members at the French Protestant Church on Saturday afternoon--and then did the service on Sunday. These people treated me like a relative!The next seven photos were taken at the Musee de la Kasbah. A "kasbah" seems to be a combination of a fortress, castle and palace. Karen and I took off by ourselves and it was quite a hike UP to get to this place.
Pomegranates are in season and are delicious!!
After going through the museum we walked back down through the medina. Medina means "city" in Arabic. When folks speak of a medina, they mean the OLD Arabic city--which consists of a series of interconnecting pathways with shops on the ground floor.
This photo shows where the carts come down the steps.
People call the round things "puffs." They are made of leather and you stuff them with whatever and sit on them! Also liked the lizard. Bought Veny a very interesting outfit on the black market here.....
More views from my hotel room. This was THE LIFE. Great friends, great food, great views, with the sound of the ocean waves lulling you to sleep......
I confess that Tanger was windy---but so are many other coastal towns!
Looking out of my room the other direction.
This boat is leaving for Spain--which you can't see in this photo but I could see with my eyes. Again, I am looking outside from lying on my bed. Nice, huh?November Picnic in Ifrane
I am sure that my family is saying something like, "This is Africa????" Not only is this Africa but this area is just a quarter mile from the centre of Ifrane and is near to the grounds of the King's palace.
The other thing my family is saying is, "Why are you taking photos of goats, sheep and cattle instead of those exquisite exotic animals?" The answer is that sheep and goats are everywhere! I still do not know what the grazing rights are but believe me, with every flock there is a shepherd.
This is my friend Asmov--who is the school librarian. I came to this area for a picnic with the Reimers and several Moroccan families. Azmov recently decided to wear the veil and is still getting used to being "so hot."
I saw this mom lie down and she gave birth while we were there....
These cattle came right up to my blanket. No fear. I did some hiking around the area. This is fall at its best!
The other thing my family is saying is, "Why are you taking photos of goats, sheep and cattle instead of those exquisite exotic animals?" The answer is that sheep and goats are everywhere! I still do not know what the grazing rights are but believe me, with every flock there is a shepherd.
This is my friend Asmov--who is the school librarian. I came to this area for a picnic with the Reimers and several Moroccan families. Azmov recently decided to wear the veil and is still getting used to being "so hot."
I saw this mom lie down and she gave birth while we were there....
These cattle came right up to my blanket. No fear. I did some hiking around the area. This is fall at its best!Ben Smim
There is a tiny farming community a few miles from Ifrane (where I live) called Ben Smims. The most interesting thing there is a gigantic seven-story building built by the French that used to house TB patients. It has long since been abandoned but the structure is still strong.
Typical dwellings.
Note the irrigation ditches in the next two photos....
Folks get their water from places like this! Yes, you often see the "women at the well."
Men throw seeds by hand. This man stopped to acknowledge our "hello." These fields will have wheat. Folks are praying for rain.
Sometimes I feel that time is not a consideration.....
This was the first time that I had the guts to get out of the car and ask (with gestures) if I could take a photo of the donkey. The woman said "yes," and with a small sound, the donkey stopped. Note that she has a child on her back. I gave a few dirhams to her about 7-year-old son who is not in the photo.
This is a view of the whole area.
Typical dwellings.
Note the irrigation ditches in the next two photos....
Folks get their water from places like this! Yes, you often see the "women at the well."
Men throw seeds by hand. This man stopped to acknowledge our "hello." These fields will have wheat. Folks are praying for rain.
Sometimes I feel that time is not a consideration.....
This was the first time that I had the guts to get out of the car and ask (with gestures) if I could take a photo of the donkey. The woman said "yes," and with a small sound, the donkey stopped. Note that she has a child on her back. I gave a few dirhams to her about 7-year-old son who is not in the photo.
This is a view of the whole area.
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