Both ways, to Portugal and from Morocco, we had Amsterdam layovers long enough to leave the airport and explore a little bit of the city. First, let me say, getting to and from the Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam is super … Continued
The medina of Marrakesh is comprised of several historic districts including the central area full of souks or markets, the kasbah district where the palaces and other royal structures stand, and the Mellah or Jewish quarter. Walls enclosed the medina, … Continued
Ait Ben Haddou sat at the top of my list for a trip to Morocco. This nearly 1,000-year-old village is iconic in its North African style. It evokes a sense of time and place like few other places can. As … Continued
Fez el-Bali – the Medina Fez el-Bali, the older and more culturally and historically significant section of the Fez medina, climbs up from the Fez river on both sides. The narrow river originally divided the settlement into two competing cities. … Continued
What can I say about Fez, Morocco? It is a place that can only be experienced by walking the narrow labyrinth of its historic medina. One must squeeze through tiny alleys, breathe in the fumes of its ancient tanneries, and … Continued
Rabat Morocco Rabat, Morocco, the political heart of the country, records just as layered of a history as Tangier, despite only being the capital city since the French protectorate era of the early 20th century. King Mohammed V chose to … Continued
On another day trip from Lisbon, we went a little farther to the lovely town of Evora, Portugal. This 5,000-year-old university town preserves remnants of many of its previous occupants including a Roman temple, aqueducts, medieval city walls, and more. … Continued
The mountains just north of Lisbon abound with the fantastical architectural gems of Sintra. We took a day trip experience them. There were two main places I wanted to see, Pena Palace and La Quinta da Regaliera, but we got … Continued
Lisbon’s Sights This list of Lisbon must-sees, sights that you need to see and place you need to go to truly experience the city, is extensive. Here are some that I visited while there. I would love to return and … Continued
During 2019, I was fortunate enough to have one of my brothers and my sister and niece come visit me in Beijing. Both of their visits were lots of fun. I took them to many of the sights I’ve written … Continued