Back at Villa Vanille...

Posing with our antique teapot and tray

Walking Like an Eqyptian

Henna Time...

After walking past the henna artists several times, the girls asked if they could get a hand decorated.

At the last minute, Jimmy negotiated for the lady to do my hand as well. While the girls picked out their designs from a photo album, she did my design from memory.

New Experiences in the Souk...

Shopkeeper Abdul lived in California for over 20 years before returning to Marrakech. When he found out that I was a California girl, he invited us for tea. Of course, he also invited us to buy bags for the girls and stone camels for friends and he helped Jimmy to find an antique teapot and tray from other vendors.

The fellow that sold Jimmy the tray, then invited us to see the looms where bedspreads and drapes are made.

Lunch in the Souk...

The food was good and the view was fantastic at this little restaurant right in the middle of the action.

Back to the Souk...

We started the day with breakfast on our patio. Rather than hanging at the villa, we all wanted to go back into the city to do some shopping in the souk. It was a bummer that Vivynne and family never had a chance to really explore the souk as we were happy to wander it for hours. Luckily the owner of the villa had a special arrangement with a taxi company so it was easy to get there and back.

Jimmy enjoyed playing with his GoPro

Veronica chose to wear a headscarf, but she still stood out

A Beautiful Ending to our Journey...

After the tour of Marrakech, Vivynne, Tony, Ariana and Max were dropped off at the train station to catch a train to Casablanca, where they were catching a flight home the next morning. We were then dropped off at our next hotel, where we’d be spending two nights. I’d chosen a location outside the city so we could relax. I didn’t realize just how far outside the city until we reached the dirt road that led to Villa Vanille. It was time to say goodbye to Khaled and enjoy our final two days on our own.

The Toubkal Suite was amazing and unlike any place we’d ever stayed before. The Villa was built in the 90s as a private home and converted to a hotel a few years ago with eight rooms and two swimming pools.

The girls opted to sleep in the little reading room instead of the main room that had two twin beds. Jimmy and I were happy to see that the bath could fit two.

Djemaa el-Fnaa...

The main square was pretty chaotic with a variety of performers. We tried our best to pass through it quickly.

Apparently this square is quite a sight to see in the evenings as dozens of food stalls set up, but we missed seeing them.

It was a bit disconcerting to learn two days before arriving in Marrakech that there had been a bombing of one of the restaurants in this square in April 2011 that killed 17 people. Luckily, other than the rock thrown through the window, we never felt in any danger.

Back to Marrakech...

It was quite a shock when we arrived in Marrakech and heard what sounded like a gunshot. For some crazy  reason someone threw a rock through the back side window of our minibus. It grazed Khaled, but luckily he wasn’t injured.

After we took Khaled and Hussein out for a traditional Moroccan lunch, we went on a 2-hour tour of Marrakech with a local guide (as a mountain guide, Khaled is not allowed to give a city tour and vice versa). Unfortunately, the guide wasn’t good with the kids. The most interesting place he took us was Ben Youssef Madrasa, a Islamic college built in 1565 and closed in 1960. The mosaics and intricate carvings were beautiful

Storks in Morocco...

Similar to when we walked around Marrakech, we saw several storks above the buildings in Ouarzazate. This nest was undoubtedly the strangest we saw. I’ve heard that the taller the nest, the more years that the storks have returned to it.

We viewed this stork on the minaret during a quick walk around the kasbah and then again from the rooftop terrace of our hotel. It was too chilly to eat dinner outside, but we enjoyed a wonderful breakfast on the terrace in the morning.

Final Night Together...

We spent our final night with Vivynne, Tony, Ariana and Max at Dar Kamar, a lovely hotel with 14 rooms in an old house in the middle of the Taourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate. Our room was simple yet classy and very comfortable; the hot shower was especially appreciated after our night of camping.

Pottery Cooperative...

Our next stop was the village of Tamegroute where we glanced at a 17th century zaouia (a Koranic school). We then went inside the medieval library that held over 4,000 ancient texts including a 14th century Koran and walked through the ancient medina before finally coming to the pottery cooperative.

Over half of the villagers take turns working in the pottery factory in exchange for housing. Green is the predominant color.

Vivynne bought a plate and we bought a spice holder. We also gave a soccer ball to some of the village boys.

Another Camel Caravan...

The girls were excited about getting back on their camels. Jimmy and I both opted to walk back so we’d be in better positions to shoot video and take photos. The journey back took less than an hour as they led us on a more direct route back.

Morning at Camp...

The other kids were still asleep when we returned, but not for long as Khaled wanted to start taking down the tents.

Hussein made us one last breakfast. Once again we got to be lazy while the others packed up the camp and reloaded the 4x4.

Photographing Another Sunrise...

Veronica and Jimmy got up early again in an effort to photograph the sunrise in the Sahara.

Once again, I didn’t wake up as early, but didn’t want to be entirely left out so I set off in search for them. Can you see them perched on the big rock?

I’m not much of a rock climber, but there was pretty easy access so I climbed up and joined them. There wasn’t any pink left in the sky by then, but it was fun watching the sun creep across the sand towards our camp.

Moon Shadows...

We anxiously anticipated the full moon rising, but it took a long time before it made it over the hills behind us.

Our camp was getting darker by the minute as most of our candles had burnt out.

What a shock it was when the moon finally made its appearance and we could see once again. Believe it or not, but this photo has not been adjusted (although it was a long exposure). The moon was so bright that it was actually casting shadows. If you look carefully, you can see Orion in his full glory in the night sky behind us. It was truly surreal and a definite high point of the trip!

Evening in the Sahara...

In the afternoon we had a snack of tea and cookies. Once it started getting dark, Khaled lit some candles.

Our girls were thrilled that Hussein made pasta for our final picnic dinner. We were really lucky with the weather. We’d heard that two nights before was very cold and windy, but the temperature was perfect and there was no wind.

We forgot to bring flashlights, so we tried to use the candles sparingly.

Berber Bread...

The camel caretakers made us traditional Berber bread for dinner.

We were rather shocked when they buried the dough under the sand and covered it in hot coals.

After about 15 minutes, they unburied the bread, flipped it over and reburied it. As you can see, it came out black. Luckily it was yummy and didn’t taste at all sandy.