Moving in Morocco

Moving transit, 7 hours to Midelt

Saying goodbye to Ouargui, local hanut

Midelt, middle/high Atlas

'Hiru', kitty love......

Breakfasts on the roof with PCV and friend, Leslie; also, 'Leila'

Proud owner of a wood burning fireplace

 My apartment is connected to a mosque

Hiru on his favorite chair

Mounaim in salon with Hiru

On the way to suq market

    

Rainbow on the way to Itzer, a rural village nearby

What can I say? I made it to Midelt and have been getting settled over the past few weeks. Midelt is definatley city living with almost everything at my finger tips. The suq and food is abundant and community spread throughout with 60,000-65,000 people. Midelt is a gateway to Ouarzazate and the High Atlas mountains with a major road going to both. As it is considered a touristic town, there is an industry of local crafts, exporting of apples, fossils and environment national parks and education. Needless to say, Midelt is growing and is a overall healthy city with many locals interested in sports. Everyday I have been busy going different places, meeting new people and getting my apartment in order as well as getting together with other volunteers in rural communities just outside of Midelt. There have been many house repairs but things are getting fixed. There is so much opportunity here and I am getting a schedule together. I will be updating you on all the wonderful experiences that I will have in my third year in Morocco. In addition, I have a fabulous site mate who lives in the same apartment building who is from Lafayette, Colorado and we have a lot in common. We enjoy one another's company and have been sharing our healthy food recipes and doing our workouts together. Here's to celebrating one more year in Morocco with a whole new focus, friends and kitty!  

Family Celebration of New Baby

Baby Saad

The feast begins

Host sister, Ghezlane

Host sister, Aziza with newborn, Saad

Host father and grandson

Hanging out with host family and the motorcycle

Host grandma

Aziza's mother in law

Festival horse and riffle

Cute girls in jilaba's

Welcomed by men on horses, my host family celebrated the new son of my host sister, Aziza and, Saad. It was a large party with food and all the family. A typical gathering for the addition for a new family member and male circumcision. Music, tounge trilling and riffle shooting was all apart of the tradition. I am happy to have this opportunity and fortunate to have seen the pregnancy and welcoming process. New life always brings hope and happiness.

Tauoma Visit and Ouzoud

Monkey see, monkey do, Ouzoud

Rainbow at the cascades

Donna and me

Man and donkey

Boat

Men fishing at falls

Alex, Mounaim, Donna and me in Azilal

Kids walking home for lunch, Tauoma

Mount Toubkal, from Tauoma

After hiking, yoga on the mountain, Tauoma

Tajine in Tauoma

It has been nice to spend time with friends working on project ideas in Tauoma and then visiting the cascades in Azilal once again. It's been well over a year since my last visit.

Exploring Morocco by Bike

Our group

The beginning, Col Agdz, Ouarzazate

Biviouac, Zagora

Camel guide, Ouarzazate

Me on the camel-December 25, 2012

Happy camels

Bivouac

Moonlight on the sand dunes in the Sahara, African Nights

Bivouac candle set up

Yoga at sunrise

Driver and friend, M'hamed

Ich Ben Haddou casbah, Ouarzazate

On the route

Guide at Ich Ben Haddou

Dinner at Hotel

Woman on Tik Fist Hike, Ouirgane

Tin Mal Mosque, oldest in Morocco, Ouirgane

Tea demo at hotel in Ouirgane

Essaouira

Essaouira sunset

Eye spy in Essaouira

Scarf tying demo for guest on New Years eve, Essa

Photo at Marjorelle Gardens, Marrakech

Famous guide, Mustapha, Marrakech

At Riad El Fenn, Marrakech

Marrakech shopping

Another bike tour in Morocco from Ouarzazate to Essaouira to Marrakech. It's always different as each tour has something special in store. It was fun cycling with other American's on Christmas and the New Years. We enjoyed lots of scenic cycling, riding camels on the Saharan dunes, fine food and drinks, music, visiting co-ops such as carpets and pottery and Argan oil cooperative as well as an old Koranic Library and shopping for unique jewelry. During our time together, we learned about one another as well as Moroccan culture, which didn't leave a lot of time for rest. Alas, my experience is proving to be better with each tour. I am fortunate to be enjoying this opportunity in being able to teach about Morocco and my experiences in Peace Corps and learning from those that join me in their special journey to Morocco.