Marrakech

After another 4 hours on the road, we reached our final destination

The Riad Samarkand

Marrakech

Here is Maisie waiting for her mint tea 

Views from the roof top terrace

The next day we hit the streets of the Medina (old city)

I was too intimidated by the crowds, snakes, monkeys and aggressive shop keepers to stop and take a lot of photos so here's what you get

The main square Jemaa el-Fnaa early in the morning

In the evening this place is jam-packed and crazy!

in our neighborhood Bab Doukkala

Typical street

Michael and Maisie walking past a food shop

A market stall near the Kasbah with lots of beautiful lamps

another shot of the same market but different stall

and the minaret of the Koutoubia mosque

This really was a dream come true for me and a trip I know we will never forget!

Morocco

 It has been a long-time dream of mine to visit Africa.

Last week, my dream came true in what was likely the most exciting vacation ever!

We flew from Geneva to Marrakech where we were picked up by our driver Yahya and we hit the road for a long but excellent road trip out to the Sahara.

OK, we didn't ride camels all the way...

but we we did have a go.

This was our real mode of transport and our guide.

After 10 plus hours of driving, stopping for photos, food and souvenirs, we arrived at our camp

We were pretty much in the middle of nowhere and about 40 km from the Algerian border.  I can't tell you how amazing this place was.  Total solitude, warmth, beauty and relaxation.  We rode camels, drove to a nearby oasis, tried some dune boarding and watched an incredible sunset followed by a perfect night sky filled with more stars than we've ever seen.

Sunset on the dunes

Dune boarding

Sight seeing

at the Oasis

enjoying breakfast in the dining tent

After two nights at the camp and after we had collected as much sand as possible in our clothes, shoes and body parts we hit the road and headed back to Marrakech.  In an effort to break up the driving we stayed in a small hotel in a town called Agdz, Souss-Massa-Draa, Morocco.  Google map it if you have the time.  The town is very interesting.

This was our hotel courtyard

This was breakfast

typical breakfast fare was bread, crepes, lots of jams and honey, coffee and as always, delicious mint tea.

We were up early and back in the 4X4 on the way to Marrakech

To be continued.... 

Vals Therme

Last weekend we boarded the Glacier Express and headed to Vals, Switzerland to enjoy the last days of Winter and relax at the Thermal Baths there.

Photography is not allowed in the baths so you'll have to enjoy the scenery and shots of the town.  Above is Michael, with Maisie up ahead as we walked along the little river that ran through Vals.

Below Maisie, Layla and I are standing on a bridge designed by Swiss Architect Peter Zumthor who also designed the thermal baths.

We discovered where all of our snow has been hiding.  We didn't get much to speak of in our town this season and it's obviously because they've been hogging it up in Vals.  This is actually a town called Ilanz where we boarded a bus to take us up to the hotel.  

Our journey was delayed due to an avalanche which blocked the entire width of the road in a 40 foot section.  It was pretty nerve-wracking for me but our bus-mates (locals) were completely unphased and a snow plow was able to have us back on the road within an hour.  I'm guessing this wasn't their first experience with avalanches.

Below is Maisie getting ready to have a go on a slide buried in snow.

And here is a cute shot of the village

and more walking...

We had an amazing time at the baths.  I wish I could show them to you or that you could experience them for yourselves.  It was a very special place and I feel fortunate to have been there.  Thanks for another great trip, MB!

Love to you all,

Carrie and Maisie

In A Sunshine State

Here is how we rang in the New Year!  

 Lots of sun, sand and super excellent family in Florida

I'll post more later.  I just had to get in a new photo for those of you who were tired of looking at the mystery fruit (wink GPH)

Wishing you all an amazing 2012

(or deux mille douze as we like to say here in CH)

Bonne Année!

Mystery solved

 Thanks to my sister, I now know what this is:

It's called a Hedge Apple or a Bois d'arc.

I don't think they're edible but it seems they are very craftable and their wood is highly desired for making bows for stringed instruments.  My favorite use for them was as a tennis ball replacement for Layla's game of fetch as we walked by the lake.  Oh, and it has been said that they keep spiders away.

I guess I should consider myself lucky for having come across one of these here in Switzerland.  Unfortunately by the time I found out what they were the fruits had fallen off the tree and been swept away by the super efficient Villeneuve municipal landscape crew.  Oh well, I'm not very crafty anyway. 

Now we can all (yes, all three of you my dear readers) rest easy knowing what we've found.

Zermatt

This is what the top of the Matterhorn looks like from a helicopter (so I'm told).

I haven't seen it for myself but I know some lucky ducks who have...

that's right, these guys!

Maisie and Denise  

Michael

 Michael's friends Denise and Lawrence came to visit this summer and they were super generous and kind enough to take Michael and Maisie on a helicopter tour of the Matterhorn with them.  Maisie couldn't stop talking about it for days.  Definitely a highlight of her time in Switzerland. 

Thanks to Denise for the photos although I can't thank her enough for sharing such a cool experience with Maisie!

more crafts and nature

While my mom and sister were here we had a crafting day (because it was cold and rainy outside).  My sister and I made little fabric flowers (for hair accessories) 

while Funny and Maisie made this guy

He turned out a little better than shameful bear, don't you think?  I think it's because they used a better quality fabric but Maisie thinks it's because my Mom was behind the sewing machine.  Further proof that fewer curse words produce better results.

As for mother nature, I found this "fruit" on my daily lake walk

It looks like this inside:

Does anyone know what this is?

And, I found this dancing leaf on the same walk.  

You can see more of the "fruit" on the ground to the right of the leaf (if you can take your eyes off of it).