marrakech to sevilla

 

 

 

 

Picture notes:
- We were served mint tea on the roof of a home in the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Oarzazate (an classic oasis on the edge of the desert in Morocco)
- Sunday morning at the market in Marrakech. It was still early in the morning and the market was just coming to life.
- Night time market with snake charmers, charlatans, food stalls, and hawkers of every stripe in Marrakech. This amazing scene happens every night!
- Guiralda Tower on the cathedral in Sevilla. It was originally a minaret for the call to prayer but was repurposed by the Christians in 1248 as a bell tower for the cathedral. (Sevilla boasts the 3rd largest cathedral in Europe)

It seems that the differences between Marrakech and Sevilla especially in terms of architecture is not so large. We're still seeing the tile mosiacs, cities divided into sections according to religion not to mention the same stiffling heat.

more from morocco

 

 

 

 

These are some pictures from:
- the mosque in Casablanca
- the market in Fes
- the ruins at Volubulis

salaam from morocco

 

 

 

 

Morocco is a fascinating place. We've been to a mosque, kasbah (fortresses), multiple royal palaces as well as medinas (the old part of the city which now serves mostly as the marketplace). Some highlights:

-Voluboulis (sp?)- a Roman ruin outside the city of Meknes which was an astounding ruin of a city that was abandoned by the Romans. There were many in-tact mosiacs still in place across the city.

- Fez medina- we visited the marketplace today and wandered across, through, between and all the winding streets of the old city. We got to go to a pottery tile maker and see how they make all of the mosiacs we've seen. We went to a tannery and saw (and smelled) that whole process. We went to the weavers, the brass works as well as the regular food parts with the butchers, spice sellers and fruits/veggies.

more later...

toledo

 

 

 

 

Holy Toledo! I can't believe we're here... this a crazy and beautiful town.

holy toledo

 

 

Segovia

Today we visited the Palace in Madrid and then hopped the train (a milk run... stopping at every wide spot in the road) to Segovia. It is a beautiful town that boasts a huge Roman aquaduct, labrynth-like streets and Moorish and Spanish architecture. The highlight of an already great day was finding a restaurant that served gluten free bread (!) and chocolate cake (!!). I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. :)

 

 

 

 

viva espana!

 

 

los campiones del mundo!

It was great to be here in Madrid for the World Cup final vs. Hollanda (bajos paises). The city erupted with vuvuzela horns, drums and fireworks when the one and only goal in the game was scored with something like 2 minutes left. We're only 2 blocks off the Plaza del Sol where which is the center of the celebration here in Madrid. We were down at the square to see all the craziness.