Explaurie
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Explaurie's Trips
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Europe via Spain, Morocco and Italy
Photos
The rooftops of Tangier
Old wall next to man-made lake in Meknes
A local selling goods in Fes medina
wine on riad's rooftop overlooking the Fes medina
Narrow souk streets in Fes medina
In the metal "souk" -- craftsmen bang away continuously as they make the products they sell
Beautiful intricate designs on the interior of an ancient religious school in Fes medina
View outside of Fes of one of the seemingly few lakes in Morocco
Ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis 2nd century
Stork family on 2,000 yr old Roman column at Volubilis
Main Gate at Volubilis
Moulay Idriss -- any mode of transportation is possible
Ancient palace is Meknes
Mausoleum Gate in Meknes -- not sure whose body lies there as Moroccan history is very complicated
Rooftop bar in Fes medina -- we were treated to a great jam session. The music and singing were excellent!
the chaos of the souks in Fes
London, England
John Webber with grandson Richard
Betty Webber with grand-daughter Kate
The Webber Family enjoying a meal at a favourite pub with Canadian relatives
Walking the towpath at
London skyline from Primrose Hill
London's
Nerja, Spain
Pedestrian Path "Calle Carabeo"
The Jesus float in the Easter Sunday parade
Our little private patio at the condo in Nerja
Trying to work on the deck but the view distracts!
Burriana Beach--the beach at the bottom of the hill from our condo
Looking back towards our condo--look hard! We are two houses to the right of the orange umbrella
Torres (Tower) de Maro
The Guinness Book of Records stalagmite in Nerja Caves
Looking back towards Nerja from the hill we climbed to get to the Torres de Maro
The entrance to our condo, which is down below
view from nearby town on Maro--the tree with the stunning purple flowers is a Jacaranda tree
The "secret" beach in Maro
Pedestrian walkway in the beautiful hill town of Frigiliana
A Frigiliana home entrance--stunning!
Frigiliana--you have to love white!
Walking in the hills above Nerja
Old abandoned sugar mill, of which there are many along the southern coast of Spain
Spanish dancers entertaining for "El Dia de la Residencia"
Burriana Beach on a not-so-busy day
the picnic site at the end of a hike in the hills. Apologies for the "selfie"!
Interesting historic bridges on the way to Maro. The upper bridge is an 19thc aqueduct designed to bring water to the town
Malaga seaport from Gilbralfar castle
Stadium still used for bullfighting
The Alcazaba (palace) in Malaga
Malaga,Spain
"Sentry" at post at the Alcazaba, Malaga
Malaga Cathedral
What kind of tree is this?!
Kara and Len enjoying tapas
In the Torcal de Antequerra
Torcal de Antequerra
The "new" bridge in Ronda
White Hill Town of Andalucia, Spain
Juzcar or "Smurfville" - a wee bit surreal
Sorry -- couldn't resist!
Old Tower along the Spanish coast north of Nerja
We've got wheels!
Stunning but deserted beach in Cabo de Gata National Park near Almeria, Spain
We enjoyed an evening of flamenco dance on our last night in Nerja
Waiting for the parade of San Isidro
Beautiful traditional costumes on parade for the San Isidro procession
Cabo de Gata Park beach town near Almeria, Spain
San Isidro himself going home!
One of the floats of the San Isidro parade
A happy guy enjoying the festivities of San Isidro
Young women in "fiesta" style--it was surprising how the young people of Nerja embraced the cultural traditions!
Dancing in the plaza to celebrate San Isidro--we had to jjoin in!
Fes, Morocco
First Moroccan dinner of tangine and cous-cous in Tangier
The Tanneries- they use the same method to dye leather that has been used for centuries. Visitors are given a sprig of mint to
Merzouga, Morocco
coming out of Fes
The barren landscape of the plateaus in the Middle Atlas mountain
ksar...is it inhabited? We''ll never know
No washing machines...when it rains,its laundry day at the stream
Potential tour guide... what a nice young man
contemplating dinner at the local town market
at a local market
Full of Berber Pizza
Lining up for the tourists
Our home in the desert for the night
abandoned dwelling in the desert
The quintessential desert photo!
Our Berber guide at the desert camp
""One of these things does not belong..."
In the dunes of the Sahara and on top of the world!!!!
colours and shapes--the beauty of the dunes of the Sahara desert
abandoned "Ksar" in the Sahara
with "Omar" in the Sahara
We passed by many towns where lush green palm forests flowed through the valley like a river
The type of rock is called "Monkey Fingers"
One of the many narrow and beautiful gorges we passed through
on our way to the dunes to watch the sunset
Nomad cave woman
Marrakech
coming out of Fes
abandoned "Ksar" in the Sahara
Even though we were lost in the medina of Marrakesh, I was distracted by this wall
Berber "pancakes"---you could get them sweet and syrupy, or savoury -- YUM!
Jemaa el-Fnaa--the hub of the Medina in Marrakesh
Jemaa el Fnaa--main square in Marrakesh
Two friendly French guys who we had dinner with in Marrakech riad--such fun company
Built out of a rock--amazing!
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"Omar" of the Sahara--such a friendly man....
Sorrento, Italy
Pompeii
Main gate Pompeii
Pompeii victim -- It speaks for itself
Amphitheatre -- very clever, those Romans!
A noble Roman surveyiing the scene
Narrow streets in Sorrento, Italy. A great restaurant, Chantecleer, is on the left
Looking down at the port -- Sorrento sits high on a cliff
Ancient Greek gate leading to hidden port in Sorrento
So many lemons!!!
Capri, Italy
First images of the Island of Capri
On the trail from the Lighthouse to the Blue Grotto
the trail is often the top of a stone wall or stone steps
Natural Arches on the Island of Capri
the trail from the Lighthouse to the Blue Grotto is c
Crossing a gorge on the trail of "Little Forts"
One of the "little forts" along the trail from the Lighthouse to Blue Grotto
Lighthouse-Blue Grotto Trail--a sentry at the fort
THe Bar at the Blue Grotto
Me with Anna from restaurant in Anacapri
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Cinque Terre, Italy
Swimming and sunbathing on the rocks below old castle in Portovenere
OLd and new in Portovenere, Italy. We wondered whose yacht was parked here
Manarola from the boat
Looking down on Riomaggiore in the Cinque Terre
The trains that connect the five CInque Terre towns travel mainly through tunnels carved into the mountains along the coast
That staircase through the vineyards is how one climbs out of Manarola to take the trail to the next town
Can life get any better?
Very touristy Monterosso--nice beach but too many vacation there!
Monterosso--can you spot the giant?
St. Francis in Monterosso, telling his faithful friend to beware of the tourists
The "Lovers Walk" trail between Riomaggiore and Manarola--the shortest and easiest trail in the CInque Terre but unfortunately c
A swimming spot in Manarola--there is no beach but ladders on the rocks down into the water have been built for easy access--It
The beautiful town of Manarola in the CInque Terre
The girls ready for a night out for dinner
Old watch tower "melting" into the ocean, near Portovenere
The town of Corniglia in the Cinque Terre
The girls at dinner in Manarola
Surrounded by vines and happy!
Hiking in the CInque Terre
Slogging up the steep trail from Manarola on the way to Corniglia
Terraced vineyards on the slopes of the CInque Terre
The clever monorail to assist workers and product up and down the steep slopes
Lucca, Italy
Our lovely covered deck in Lucca
Lucca had many towers at one time--only a few remain, like this one. Notice the garden on top--we climbed many steps to enjoy th
On top of the Old Clock Tower with Lucca's rooftops behind
Riding the Old Wall of Lucca--our condo came with 2 bikes
Beautiful Old Cathedral in Lucca
Villa/Museum gardens -- Lucca was important in the production of silk and had many rich silk merchants
Many quaint shops and restaurants can be found on the narrow streets and in piazzas of Lucca
Walking the narrow pedestrian streets of Lucca
Chef Paolo at the Cooking School
The right kind of Olive Oil does make a difference! So many to choose from!
Sous-chef Laurie assisting
Enjoying the fruits of our labour at Chef Paolo's Cooking School
Inside a beautiful villa/museum in Lucca (actually across the street from where we were staying)
We cycled under this old Aquaduct for about 2 hours one day--a beautiful ride
At the end of the Aquaduct ride in Lucca--a perfect afternoon
Rooftops of Lucca in the waning sun
Look, Ma! Only one hand! (sorry)
wandering the streets of Pisa
Beautiful Cathedral on the "Field of Dreams" in Pisa
Old University Building in Pisa--still used today