Blogs from Morocco, Africa - page 226

NOTE FROM RICH: "The following blog entry comes from an article I recently wrote for an upcoming issue of Peaceworks, a volunteer produced Peace Corps periodical. Enjoy!" "High Atlas Training of Trainers Hike, September 2006" (or "Four City Volunteers Take on the Great Moroccan Outdoors") By Rich Landrigan YD Ouaouizerht, Morocco Nestled up in the Azilal region of the High Atlas Mountains there’s a sleepy little valley named Ait Bououli. The hike from the top of the pass down to the dirt road that runs along the river bed boasts some of the most awe inspiring views in the Morocco. There are towering peaks of clay and sandstone, ancient Berber mud mansions that house entire extended families (called igrams), groves of olive, apple, and walnut trees, and trains of mules and donkeys carrying the loads of ... read more

Wow this place is nuts!!! I have never experienced anything lilke it really. The closest thing I can think of is the Dominicqn Republic. We cruised down the Costq del Sol and saw Gibraltar and learned thqt monkeys live there and are cared for by the Brits. We took a ferry over from Spain to Africa. The sea is beautiful. We arrived in the early evening and thqt is Where the qdventure begins. PS The Q is where the A should be and I am paying by the minute so there will be typos. Our hotel which has an interesting humid sewer smell is right across from the beach. It is nice enough and clean enough, but very simple. Zane and I decided to check out the beqch before dinner. I was amazed at the amount ... read more

NOTE FROM RICH: "Hi everyone! This blog entry comes from an RPCV (Returned Peace Corps Volunteer) who was one of the earliest to sign up, way back when the Peace Corps was only a few years old. I've been writing too much lately so I'll just be quiet after asking you to please welcome my dad, Richard F. Landrigan (Chile '66-'68)." Richard invited me to submit a piece to add to his blog perhaps because he wanted to see a returned Volunteer’s impressions of the current generation of serving Peace Corps Volunteers. A couple of weeks after we returned from visiting Richard last August my own Peace Corps group from 40 years ago suddenly decided to have a first ever reunion. So next May nearly all 20 of us in the group are planning to return ... read more

This blog is dedicated to my good friend and workmate Terry Cronan who retired today from the NAB. Best wishes TC, you lucky bugger, and I will catch with you for a round of golf when I return to Sydney. Straight off the High Atlas Mountains and onto Essaouira (pronounced "Essawira") on the coast. Spent my time going from the outdoor seafood grills (the sardines were by far the best I have ever tasted), to the beach, to the shopping alleys, and finally to the bars and cafes. Pigged out on scrummy crepes, pastries and ice-cream. Fantastic town to chill out and rest my tender leg muscles. After a relaxing couple of days it was onto Marrakesh. On the way we espied some goats in an Argan tree. This event does happen au naturel, however it ... read more

I took a three day organized trip to the edge of the Sahara on the Algerian border. We rode camels into the middle of the desert and spent the night in Berber tents in the dunes. These are a few of the views along the way, the pictures say more than I ever could.... read more