Reynisfjara Beach, Dyrhohary Arches – Iceland
Reynisfjara Beach, Dyrhohary Arches We hit the southernmost part of Iceland today and will begin heading north tomorrow. The area is most visited for its black beaches and black basalt stone pillars and arches in the Atlantic. The sites are otherworldly. One of the weird things to watch out for is “sneaker waves”. Apparently there […]
Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss Falls
Everybody goes to the Golden Circle. Beautiful wildflowers along the road on the drive. Lots of flat-topped mounds make we wonder if they are archeological sites in waiting. Fog descending and a light drizzle. Very atmospheric drive through green tundra. Finally mastered the car WiFi – did I mention our car is more like a […]
Rejkavik, Iceland
Spent much of yesterday dealing with jet lag. But an afternoon stroll took us past The Phallus Museum which was quite well done — a biological collection of “members” from different animals with a number of lamps illuminating the rooms made of walrus scrotum. Interesting fun facts — some carnivores who engage in repeated matings […]
Adios, Oaxaca
The zocalo at night, a Church in Ocatlan, restored by an artist, Morales who restored that and twelve others, some artwork around the hotel. . .. . And the market in Ocatlan, selling everything, including grasshoppers. I had my fortune told by a bird sticking its head out of a little bird house and picking […]
Oaxaca, Mexico – Historic District
In terms of art galleries, art centers, and art education Oaxaca is sort of the Santa Fe of MesoAmerica, mostly due to the generosity and activism of artists who achieved some fame (Toledo) and founded film and painting libraries and schools to train young artists. Paper making,weaving, pottery, woodcarving, textiles, painting — all have a […]
Mitla and Teotitlan DelleValle, Mexico
Pablo, our guide, bemoaned the cultivation of agave on the fields that used to be devoted to raising corn which is indigenous to the region. Mezcal has become so popular that on the drive to Mitla all we saw was field after field of agave and production plants next to one another. Apparently Mezcal has […]
El Jadida, Morocco
Another fortified Atlantic Coast town, at least the old city. Only, unlike Essaouira, this is not a tourist destination — strictly Moroccan. The only Church I saw in Morocco was here, a 16th century structure built by Portuguese settlers designated as a Unesco sight. It has a beautiful and unusual chandelier. The fortified sea walls […]
Argan Oil and Goats – Morocco
The Argania tree only grows in a small area of Morocco. The fruit of this tree is the source of argan oil. The tree is very thorny, but goats don’t mind and they climb the trees to eat the fruits. They expel the seeds which are collected and processed. The outer shells are removed and […]
The Saturday Market at Asni, Morocco
Market day is a major village event.
Fes, Morocco
Remnants of different centuries coexist in the Fes Medina. Huge walls line narrow alleys. Behind the walls are the riads, many in disrepair but some, like the one where we stayed, beautifully refurbished. The wooden doors in the walls open into a space that leads to a large open area, a Muslim garden specifically designed […]