From: Diana Thompson [mailto:tory.thompson@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2006 4:57 AM
To: Tom & KC & the ZoiBoyz; Murray Thompson; Nikole Y. Krause-Thompson; Drew Skinner
Subject: Greetings and salutations!
hello everyone and greetings from Marrakesh ! This place is supposed to be the retail therapy capital of the world, so I am definitely looking forzard to winding my way thru the street performers, snake charmers, dentists, henna painting people and etc to get to the souks and serious business of bargaining -- I just have to make sure not to stray too far from a public facility....! Im looking forward to the tumble of smells and sounds and sights -- is supposed to be unique to the world and not to be missed!!
I have to tell you the mountain village I stayed in zas an absolute dream. It is populated zith approx 95 families and has only had electricity since the early 2000s. They continue use their central oven for each familyùs individual bqkery needs, plus the public hamman for bathing. There zere no stores or shops, just a mosque and a small school for the elementary age set. The village is set into the side of a mountain and the trek there left us pretty tuckered -- two in our group rented mules at 50 dirham or about 6 dollars -- but I took my chances on foot. We gained perspective as we walked, ascending from the valley into the mountains, being passed on the trail by locals burdened with enormous stacks of grass and straw, small children as young as 5 or 6 driving goats and sheep, and others on donkeys. The eveningùs entertainment program took the form of a group of 6 local girls who sang for us -- they made up for tunelessness by sheer exuberence, but couldnùt always remember the words in their excitement. Their tag-a-long younger brothers provided the dance portion of the program. The youngest at around 3 will be a break dancer before he is a ballet star. What a total delight!!
After we hiked back down from the village I asked my tour group to drop me directly in marrakesh , rather than continuing to the coast for two days before they will finally make their way here. I have been able to get a good deal zith expedia out of Casablanca, and my existing ticket from Paris to the States changed for a nominal fee. The itineraryùs not great but will still get me home earlier and in plenty of time to get all my excellent pics developed and share details of my adventures! As much as Iùve enjoyed the ups and downs of this exciting and bumpy adventure, the draw of my own pillow, in my very own bed, -- not to mention cottony soft toilet paper --is irresistible!!
Hereùs my revised itinerary:
9/16 Luftanza flight 4117 leaving Casa at 1250am Switch in Frankfurt to 4210 arriving Paris at 835am; spend night in paris then
9/17 Air France flight 38 leaving Paris at 355 pm, arriving Houston at 735 pm; quick night in Houston -- zhere I hope to eat mcdonalds -- then
9/18 Delta flight at 745am arriving Seattle at 1019am -- HOME!!
I zill try to catch an earlier flight to Seattle out of Houston to avoid the 12 hour layover but Iùm not too bummed to NOT have three long flights all stacked up on top of eachother like they zere zhen I flez out here.
anyzay, thatùs it! I zill spend one more night in Marrakesh then tomorrow morning will make my way by train to Casa, and will fly out that night, right after midnight. Thank you so much for your lovely notes and letters! Cant wait to shoz you all the goodies and pics from my adventures!
love t
Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2006 4:57 AM
To: Tom & KC & the ZoiBoyz; Murray Thompson; Nikole Y. Krause-Thompson; Drew Skinner
Subject: Greetings and salutations!
hello everyone and greetings from Marrakesh ! This place is supposed to be the retail therapy capital of the world, so I am definitely looking forzard to winding my way thru the street performers, snake charmers, dentists, henna painting people and etc to get to the souks and serious business of bargaining -- I just have to make sure not to stray too far from a public facility....! Im looking forward to the tumble of smells and sounds and sights -- is supposed to be unique to the world and not to be missed!!
I have to tell you the mountain village I stayed in zas an absolute dream. It is populated zith approx 95 families and has only had electricity since the early 2000s. They continue use their central oven for each familyùs individual bqkery needs, plus the public hamman for bathing. There zere no stores or shops, just a mosque and a small school for the elementary age set. The village is set into the side of a mountain and the trek there left us pretty tuckered -- two in our group rented mules at 50 dirham or about 6 dollars -- but I took my chances on foot. We gained perspective as we walked, ascending from the valley into the mountains, being passed on the trail by locals burdened with enormous stacks of grass and straw, small children as young as 5 or 6 driving goats and sheep, and others on donkeys. The eveningùs entertainment program took the form of a group of 6 local girls who sang for us -- they made up for tunelessness by sheer exuberence, but couldnùt always remember the words in their excitement. Their tag-a-long younger brothers provided the dance portion of the program. The youngest at around 3 will be a break dancer before he is a ballet star. What a total delight!!
After we hiked back down from the village I asked my tour group to drop me directly in marrakesh , rather than continuing to the coast for two days before they will finally make their way here. I have been able to get a good deal zith expedia out of Casablanca, and my existing ticket from Paris to the States changed for a nominal fee. The itineraryùs not great but will still get me home earlier and in plenty of time to get all my excellent pics developed and share details of my adventures! As much as Iùve enjoyed the ups and downs of this exciting and bumpy adventure, the draw of my own pillow, in my very own bed, -- not to mention cottony soft toilet paper --is irresistible!!
Hereùs my revised itinerary:
9/16 Luftanza flight 4117 leaving Casa at 1250am Switch in Frankfurt to 4210 arriving Paris at 835am; spend night in paris then
9/17 Air France flight 38 leaving Paris at 355 pm, arriving Houston at 735 pm; quick night in Houston -- zhere I hope to eat mcdonalds -- then
9/18 Delta flight at 745am arriving Seattle at 1019am -- HOME!!
I zill try to catch an earlier flight to Seattle out of Houston to avoid the 12 hour layover but Iùm not too bummed to NOT have three long flights all stacked up on top of eachother like they zere zhen I flez out here.
anyzay, thatùs it! I zill spend one more night in Marrakesh then tomorrow morning will make my way by train to Casa, and will fly out that night, right after midnight. Thank you so much for your lovely notes and letters! Cant wait to shoz you all the goodies and pics from my adventures!
love t
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