Essaouira

After a day and a half in Marrakech, we rented a car and took off to visit southern Morocco. Here is a map of the route we followed.


Our first stop: Essaouira on the Atlantic coast. 
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Here is a link to more photos from Essaouira

Marrakech

Arrival in Marrakech is flawless. We are met at the airport and whisked to the center of town where Francoise, the owner of the Riad Argan, meets us and guides us through the narrow alleys to the place that will be our home for our stay in Marrakech. After a refreshing cup of mint tea, we venture into the center of town. It is difficult to describe the overwhelming sights, sounds and smells of the Jemaa el Fna, where musicians, snake charmers, storytellers, healers, fortune tellers, and food stands compete for attention. Patrice has put together a slideshow to give you a taste for our stay in Marrakech.

Morocco preview

We have just returned to rainy Paris from warm, sunny Morocco and are sorting through hundreds of photos. Here is a brief sample of what is to come . . . 

Koutoubia mosque in Marrakech

Aït Benhaddou

Guide in Tamegroute

On the road through the Atlas mountains

Morocco

Patrice and I are on our way to Marrakech. We'll be spending eight days in Morocco, taking lots of pictures and eating lots of couscous. Please stay tuned for pictures and stories from a different part of the world.

Invalides at night

Last night we attended a sound and light show at Les Invalides. The spectacle recounted the history of the building with stunning colors and animation. The photos below hardly do justice to the dramatic effects.
The ticket also included a visit to the interior of the dome and the tomb of Napoleon.

Paris Marathon

Today's running of the Paris Marathon through our neighborhood provided an opportunity to experiment with shutter speeds and camera angles.

Musée des Arts et Métiers

Often overlooked by tourists, the Musée des Arts et Métiers (Museum of Arts and Industry) is worth a visit if you are interested in scientific instruments and inventions. It was founded in 1794 and is located in the church and monastery of Saint-Martin-des-Champs. Not interested in science and industry? The building itself is worth the visit. See for yourself.
The museum houses the original Blériot XI - the first airplane to cross the English Channel in 1909. We visited the spot where Blériot landed near Dover last January.

The museum also houses the original pendulum of FoucauldIt's a stunning presentation of past treasures.
If you'd like to see more you, can check out the website or take a virtual visit.