The Drâa Valley

The Drâa Valley is captivating as the bright green palmeraies mark a stunning contrast with the arid, rocky slopes rising on either side. The valley is dotted with kasbahs and stunning Berber villages. It’s an enchanting route, especially in the soft mauve light of the early evening. Please click here for more photos taken along the way.

Taroudant

From Essaouira we traveled south along the Atlantic coast to Agadir where we stopped for lunch. From there, we turned inland and arrived in Taroudant in time to capture the late afternoon light on the city walls. Taroudant is one of the oldest cities in Morocco and resembles a smaller version of Marrakech. It is completely surrounded by crenelated ramparts. Here is a view of the ramparts from our carriage.

And here is a link for more photos from our stay in Taroudant.

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.