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!

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.

Ifrane, Morocco

In the distance are the three hills of Ifrane! This is like traveling into Central Oregon and seeing who spots Black Butte first! We are about to enter into the cedar forest--where the cow sign is... Ifrane is at an elevation of about 5,600 feet. It is on what I would call, a plateau. When you descend to travel to Meknes or Fes, you immediately drop about 4,000 feet.

This is the view from my livingroom window. We are looking toward Azrou. Perhaps if you enlarge this you can see some sheep herders at 12 o'clock. I took this on the day I arrived.

This is my school--from a window in my flat. The building to the left is EC, PK and K; the center building is Administration and the teacher work room and a building behind that is the rest of the school. Music--along with p.e.--is way back in a corner!

A look at the Early Childhood, PK and K center out a window from my flat

--as well as one of the hills of Ifrane.

These teachers and I had fitor together: Linda (English/History), Fatima (French)

and Maha(Art).

In this photo, you can sort of see where I live. It is the building straight ahead and farthest away! The other buildings that you see are empty. They are either summer residences or they are buildings that are unfinished.

This is some of the Early Childhood class! There are 15 students in all. Ms. Rachida (L) is the helper and Ms. Mammah (C) is the lead teacher.

My buddy Zouheir.

This is a wall the workers built in the Early Childhood classroom.

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The next two photos are of the traveling souk--which is located a mile or so down the road from where I live. Again, it's improper to blatently take photos, so I pretended to take photos of my friend Julia Reimer --who speaks fluent French and Arabic. Hopefully, you can get an idea of what the souk is like.

This is Al Akhawayn University. The building to the left is the main building. Faculty and student residences are straight ahead.

This is the theatre where the choir rehearses each week. I will perform here as pianist several times this fall. Great facility! The ceiling is incredibly decorated.

I took these photos early one morning and the sounds of the birds were amazing. You can see the top of the mosque and the third building down is the library.

Casablanca (October 07)

The hotel where I stayed is posh and richly decorated --unlike this view from my hotel balcony! There are several typically Moroccan things about this photo. The streets are narrow and the buildings are high; wires hang down the outside of the buildings; and clothes are hung to dry on the tops of the buildings.


Here I am at Hassan II Mosque. The following photos are of the outside of the mosque.

Walking the streets, I came across this interesting theatre....

Food

Ski Resort Outside of Ifrane

My first hike in September was to the ski resort outside of Ifrane. A fellow teacher--Julia--drove. (See the September newsletter for the full story!)

On the way to the ski resort, right outside of Ifrane.

This meadow is where apes come down.... Right over the rise (about 11.00) is where men were digging a new well.

This photo is for Grady. Here I am standing in front the the ski club building!

Sitting a on sled with "Dino" --the only dog in the residences.

Hopefully, I will get up here when there is snow and will then take photos of the ski areas!!!