Category: Europe and Africa Spring 2024

Demnat to Bine el Ouidane

Demnat where we were last night used to have a large Jewish population. Apparently in the 1940s and 1950s most of them migrated to Israel. The place where we stayed, Kasbah Ait Oumghar, must have been owned by some of these people at some point. The picture below is of the railing on the internal balcony.

Railing

When we were ready to leave this morning our host encouraged us to walk up the road a bit to see the natural bridge. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a road go over a natural arch before.

You can’t see the other side from here but this is one side of the natural arch
A closer view of the entrance to the arch

From Demnat we drove to Ouzoud Falls. The falls are the second highest falls in Africa. We hiked down to the bottom. We also got to see monkeys on the way.

Ouzoud Falla
Brian with one of the monkeys

Tonight we are staying at Widiane Resort on the edge of Bin El-Ouidane reservoir. The resort is absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately the reservoir is very low.

Widiane resort
Playing cards
One of the pools

Marrakesh to Demnat

This morning after breakfast we went for a walk and did a bit of shopping. The narrow streets, stores and people of Marrakesh are a wonderful kaleidoscope for your senses.

Shopping in Marrakesh
Looking at the pet turtles for sale
Snake charmer

At 11:30 someone walked us from our Riad out of the Medina and we met a cab that took us to the airport where we rented a car.

Walking to our cab
Our rental car

We navigated our way out of Marrakesh and drove east a couple of hours to the town of Demnat.

Along the way we stopped to buy water
The terrain along the way was arid

We are staying at a place a bit outside of Demnat called Kasbah Ait Oumghhar. After our welcome tea we played cards in the garden.

Welcome tea
Playing cards
Demnat from the place we are staying

For dinner we had chicken tagine in the salon of the place we are staying at

Our chicken tagine
The door of our room

Gran Canaria to Marrakesh

This morning we checked out of our hotel, drove to the airport and caught a plane to Marrakesh, Morocco. Duke had arranged for a driver to pick us up. We will be traveling with Brian and Jo Ann for the next couple of weeks. They arrived in Marrakesh yesterday and spent last night at a hotel near the airport. Our driver picked us up and then drove to Brian and Jo Ann’s hotel and parked at the shopping mall where the hotel is. We walked to the hotel to find them.

Going to find Brian and Jo Ann

Then he took us all to our hotel in the Medina. He drove as far as he could then we walked.

Driving to our hotel
Then we walked

We are staying at the Riad karmela, the hotel that we stayed at last time we were in Marrakesh. It a wonderful haven right in the Medina.

The Riad karmela where we are staying

After a short rest we went out for a walk through the market.

Dyes

For dinner we went to Le Foundouk, a restaurant recommended by our hotel.

The four of us
Lamb Tagine – the lamb is under the vegetables
Orange salad for desert

Gran Canaria Day 2

Casa Leon Royal Resort is so nice that we spent most of the day here relaxing and reading

The view from the pool.

Mid afternoon we decided to go out for a hike. We drove inland about 30 minutes and then hiked over a dam and along the shore of a reservoir.

Reservoir
Duke wants to balance on every rock we see.

Back at the hotel we were going to swim in the infinity pool but we decided it was too cold so we sat in the hot tub.

The pool was too cold
The hot tub was just right

Tomorrow we fly to Marrakesh and meet Brian and Jo Ann.

El Hierro to Gran Canaria

Today about noon we caught a plane from El Hierro to Gran Canaria

Leaving El Hierro

On our way to the airport we watched a helicopter hovering over a boat and lowering swimmers into the water. You may have read about African migrants landing on El Hierro. We don’t know but we thought what we were seeing might be a migrant boat being intercepted. On the other hand it might have been a training mission.

The helicopter and the boat

Our flight was short, less than an hour. Once we landed we picked up our rental car and drove to Casa Leon Royal Resort where we are tonight. It is an absolutely stunning place to stay. It’s all inclusive with stunning views and an infinity pool that we will have to try out tomorrow.

The lobby
Welcome drinks