Blogs from Africa - page 3369

We were here... read more

Bread rolls and croissants with preserves and café-au-lait and orange juice pursued us throughout the rest of Morocco. Rolling through the countryside was a delight to me. Jean and I usually sat together on the bus, and she didn’t want the window seat. For long periods of time, I looked out the window at the not-quite-desert landscape. I could see “forever” across a barely undulating landscape of a dull cinnamon colour, touched by scrub bushes. Sometimes indifferent goats wandered across my view. Occasionally, in the distance, I saw a large Bedouin tent encampment. Their long, dark tents blended into the landscape, as if they were a natural feature. As we drove through villages and towns, I was intrigued by the variety of women’s dress. Some wore traditional dress and some wore Western styles, even amongst professionals ... read more

This is a continuation of my putting our old travel journals onto this blog site. See previous ones: Guatemala 1988, which is the first in this series; Costa Rica 1989 (w/Christmas in Cozumel, Mexico and last days in Guatemala), which is the second; Cuba & Mexico 1989, the third; Argentina (w/Uruguay, a bit of Brazil & Paraguay) 1989, the fourth; Chile & Bolivia (including Mendoza, Argentina & Tacna, Peru), the fifth; Peru, Ecuador & Galapagos Islands 1989, the sixth; Ecuador Part II & Bogotá, Colombia 1989, the seventh; Brazil Part I 1989, the eighth; Brazil Part II 1989, the ninth; and this will be the tenth. YOU CAN CLICK ON ANY PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT, THEN GO BACK TO THE JOURNAL OR GO THROUGH THE PHOTOS (CLICK ON THE NUMBERS AT THE TOP) IN THAT ENLARGED ... read more

This morning, I was taken to the airport by Habib and Kamel. I am flying back to europe to get a connection to Australia. I had been dreading this moment when I would have to say goodbye - would I end up making a scene, falling into a sobbing mess on the airport floor? I was already choking back tears, but they had no idea. So I just said a quick goodbye and went through customs without looking back. I thought that once I was on the plane I would be 'safe'. Habib must have wondered why I left in such an abrupt and cold manner. But it was the only civilised way I could manage it! sorry! But the customs officer stopped me and wanted to go through my bags, and as he was carefully ... read more

This morning we went for a walk through the date groves, plucking off fresh dates and eating them. Then it was time to pack up to catch the bus to El Oued, but the bus was delayed two hours, so we went and had lunch, but the restaurant was dirty and full of flies. The bus trip was only an hour and we passed more scenery of sand dunes, date groves and mud hut villages. At El Oued, we went to our hotel "Hotel Souf" which was a beautiful building of arches and rooms all around a swimming pool and carefully tended gardens. We had a really nice dinner in the restaurant and they made such a delicious creme caramel that I had two portions. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 21st November Today we went to Biskra and swam in ... read more