Ven's First Two Days in Morocco January 2009

Ven was asked to report to work 5 hours after he arrived. He THOUGHT he could stay awake until then!

Ven gives Laila and Wafa gifts from Monica. They loved them!!

The birthday boy opens a gift made by a refugee from Sub-Sahara Africa. Ven is now "over the hill." Happy 20th!!

Two evenings after he arrived, I gave Ven a dinner party so he could meet my friends. Claire began a drawing and asked Veny to finish it. Very cool. Magical creatures....

Karen (Christian pastor) with daughter Claire and Bouchra (AUI professor) with son Zaid.

Ven trying to stay awake after a full day of work. He visits with Nicholas, Duncan and Kevin--all professors at Al Akhawayn University.

Sushi in Morocco???? A special gift from Dr. Reinhart. BTW, Ven seems to be loving his job!!

Lessons and Carols and More....

Rev. Karen Smith and Al Akhawayn University, hosted the annual Festival of Lessons and Carols on 14. December, which involved Christians from all denominations from all over Morocco. I played for the event and am seen here with Gerald Reimer on trumpet.

Many church groups performed.

This man is absolutely the best when it comes to performing early Christian music.

We all had a tremendous time!!!

Julia Sawicki--a professor from Lisbon--came to visit in January with her dear dog, Destino. Children always flock around Julia!

Eating dinner with my friends Wafa and Laila.

Snow in Ifrane, January 2009

We are in our third month of snow! Here are some photos from the Residences.....

Palais Al Mansour in Meknes, 17. January 2009

I had the great opportunity to travel once again with the Reimer family. We went to an art show put on by Americans from L.A., that was held in a palace that is under renovation.

The art, music, dance event was held off of this passageway in the "war room."

Part of the dance-art performance.

On the upper level is this area where the king would speak to his subjects below.

This is still the upper level. The king's quarters are to the right. They are all open air rooms and of course, nothing is left of the incredible mosaics that used to line the walls.

Julie and I were given roses. What a way to end a day!

Gibraltar Christmas, 2008

Get a piece of the rock!! I had a fabulous week in Gibraltar--a British territory on the southern tip of Spain.

It was great to see Christmas decorations....

Here I am on Christmas Eve in a pub. We had fabulous Indian and British food during the week I was there. Attended two church services: Catholic and Church of Scotland.

For several days I got up early and hiked. Notice how like Berwick-upon-Tweed this is--complete with narrow streets. The difference is that folks drive on the RIGHT.

Early morning view of the Duke of Wellington--erected four years after the Battle of Waterloo. The bronze cast was made of cannons that he had captured....

St. Michael's Cave is about 300 meters above sea level. It is one of Europe's most dramatic natural grottoes.

I pose by a canon outside of the Great Siege Tunnels, which were excavated by the British army during the Spanish/French siege of 1779-83. As you can imagine, the Rock is one big military installation. I also really enjoyed visiting the Moorish Castle.

Gibraltar has macaque monkeys--just like we have here in Ifrane.

In the botanical gardens I saw pipistrelle bats and the above orchid tree.

One "first" that I did was ride a cable car! Can you see it about mid-photo near the trees? Also, look about halfway up the photo at the right. There is a submarine docked there. We met some USA military men who serve on the sub.

My hotel room was right next door to a salvage company who was working on getting two ships off of the Rock. I thought that this was a interesing photo of a doomed ship next to a lighthouse....

You can't see how huge this ship is, but it was fun to watch three tug boats try to move it. (It didn't budge an inch.)

One of the most hilarious things I have ever seen is the Boxing Day Polar Bear Swim! Duncan posed for me as being the only one perhaps from the whole of Morocco willing to "go in" the water. Everyone was given brandy BEFORE entering the water.

Here is the crowd getting ready to enter right at noon.....

Some stayed in but most were IN and OUT! Then you got either more brandy or a hot toddy.

It is not that I didn't WANT to get in the water, but SOMEBODY had to take photographs--not all of which I can show on this blog! (I got brandy and a hot toddy anyway!)

The only other beaches on Gibraltar look like this....Hmmmm.

Ah yes, here is a photo a few hours after the "ferry experience from hell." But, really there is no reason to complain when you arrive safely!

I just loved this mini in Sebta, Spain.

We did spend a lot of time shopping along the cobbled streets AND we loaded the boot of the car with essentials that you can't get in Morocco--like brown sugar, maple syrup and a loaf of sandwich bread! I just want to PROVE to you that I was in the U.K. for Christmas, for there is nothing like these little mince pies!

Farming in Morocco--Fall 2008

Near where I live, women wash "turnips" in a stream before bringing them to the market.

You know it is fall when you see onions stored on top on stones!

Near the ocean, you see many banana plantations like this one.