2/12; Marrakech. Fly back to USA Tomorrow

Today we see the mysterious city of Marrakech. Sue has been looking forward to this. The sights, the sounds and the smells of this bustling city. We visit the older section of the city passing through the Souk several times. This is the name of the centuries old market area where merchants of all types  make,sell or trade their goods. It's teeming with life and every shop seems more intriguing than the last one. You can buy almost anything here from food to leather goods to jewelry to clothing. It's an experience you don't get anywhere else. We also visit a religious college founded in the 14 century and get a feel for the life of the students. Along our way we visit the Bahia Palace which is beautiful and the Koutoubia Mosque which is the focal point of the city.

 After lunch we take a carriage ride to visit the Majorelle Gardens which is a lush garden on many acres that was originally built by Mons. Majorette on his property from plant and tree specimens from all over the world. After his death, it fell in yo disrepair andYves St. Laurent rescued it and added his own touch of color and design. Beautiful! After the gardens I head back to the hotel and Sue is off to the Souk again. Our fair well dinner is tonight. We can't believe we are at the end. This has been a remarkable experience.

 I'll likely be doing one more post to cover a few of the highlights and in interesting details that time didn't allow for on the trip.

2/11; Wadi Rum, Jordan and Marrakech, Morocco

After breakfast today we head to Wadi Rum which is both a desert and mountainous area. It spreads from central Jodon into Saudi Arabia to the south. On our ride there we travel the Kings Road which dates back to 1000 BC. It was the major road for the silk and spice trade. We look across the Dead Sea valley over into Isreal and can see settlements on the heights. We get to Wadi Rum and transfer to 4 wheele drive 4 passenger jeeps for our ride across the desert. We race more than just ride. We have a great driver and get an education on the area. Lawrence of Arabia conducted much of his activity here and most all of the movie about him was filmed here. The sand is a beautiful red and the mountains are striking with multiple colored layers. We wish we could visit at night as there isn't light for 100's of miles and the stars are breathtaking. We stop a Bedouin tent and enjoy tea and biscuits. Then we race back across the desert to cath our buses and head to the airport.

 This is a long flight but we can all use the rest. We fly directly over Cairo and the Pryamids which we can see clearly even at 34,000 ft. We fly across the Mediterranian and then over North Africa. I'm listening to the call to evening prayers as I write. We land in Marrakech and are impressed how big and beautiful the city is. The streets are lovely and the architecture unique and beautiful. This is the most liberal of all the Muslem countries and it's diverse past with the Arab, African and Europen influences make it very unique. Oh and our hotel is again over the top. Off to dinner and tours tomorrow. Hard to believe our journey is just about over. We fly back to Fla on Thursday morning. We are so very lucky to have the experiences we've had but getting home will be special also. I want a burger!!!

2/10; The Lost City of Petra

 Petra was built by the Nabataeans centuries before the Romans came to control it in 106 AD. It was a major passage way of the silk and spice trade between Europe and Asia. It was gradually abandoned and after the 14th century it was completely lost to the west until being rediscovered in 1812. It is entered through a long Siq, which is a steep narrow gorge. You walk through this for  a little over a mile and along the way marvel at the colors and texture of the rock that towered above you and the various structures and water system carved right into the rock. At last you come upon a small opening that reveals the greatest attraction, theTreasury. This is a huge building carved into the rock. If you remember the Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade you will recognize the Siq and the Treasury. We walk further along the Siq and come upon the main city where there numerous shops, temples and civic building along with a theater carved into the mountain. Unfortunately Petra was damaged severely by an earthquake and many of the structures are in ruins. It is still only 10% excavated so one can only imagine the detail below. After lunch we start to head back the three mile track which is all uphill on the return. An enterprising mule vendor works his charm on Sue and we have a very pleasant ride back to the Treasury. From there Nat'l G has arranged buggy rides for the rest of the return. We should have stuck with the mules as the "chariot" ride was quite bumpy but the driver was quite entertaining. We did a little shopping and then back to the hotel. We have a social with a lecture tonight before dinner. Off to Morroco in the morning.

2/9; Tanzania to Aqaba, Jordan

Up at a respectable time. Breakfast and then the ride to our first flight on the little single engine. The ride to the airstrip was in our safari vehicles for a little over an hour. We were treated with some great sightings along the way most notably a cheetah. She was laying in wait for a heard of impala. We watched her creep and then rise up and walk a ways to reposition herself in the grasses waiting for her prey. So regal! Then we came upon a very large group of baboons.
 Our flight to the airport was very smooth. Once through customs and then back on board the mother ship. The flight took us over some very historic territory. We passed Mt. Kilimanjaro. Flew directly over Khartoom, the Nile, the Aswan Dam, over the SinaiPeninsula and up the Red Sea. After we land and clear customs we have a two hour bus ride to our hotel just outside the gates of Petra. Tomorrow we visit the lost city of Petra. It's been a long day so nighty, night.

Sat, 2/8. The Serengeti Plain

 This was the greatest day among a all the great days we've had. Up and out early for our Safari. We're in groups of 6 in heavy duty Land Cruisers. Roads are rough and full of bumps and mud. There are some times we travel a distance without seeing animals but as the day progresses that's not the norm. I will let the pictures speak for themselves. I took hundreds and did rush through selecting these so I hope they are ok. We say all of the big 5 but the rhino. Elephant, giraffe, lion and cheetah. Plus hippos, impala,gazelle,leopard,jackel,warthog, wildebeest, hyena and baboon. And lots more. To be so close to these majestic animals in there natural habitat is a lifetime experience. Enjoy.