More tales of London & the South East............

Greetings dear Readers, Since my last post I've enjoyed a very relaxing visit with my friends Jill & Alan who live near Hastings on the south east coast of England. Of course, Hastings is famous as the site of the 1066 Battle of Hastings, fought between the Norman French army & an English army under Harold II. This battle is famously depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry these days housed in the town of Bayeux in France. These days Hastings is a relaxing sea side town which attracts many visitors and is still home to a working fishing fleet. Hastings Old town is home to the Hastings net huts. Dating from the mid 1800's these tall wooden sheds were built to store fishing gear, however they are not used these days as modern fishing gear is made from artificial material & can be left in the open.

During my visit I also enjoyed a country walk through the lovely Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve and visited other local picturesque historic villages. I enjoyed a very relaxing few days, nice to get away from London's hustle & bustle! Thanks Jill & Alan for your company & hospitality.

Back in London, I've enjoyed a week exploring the many treasures London has to offer. The high light of the week was a visit to the Tate Britain Museum to see their British Folk Art Exhibition. The exhibition includes an array of folk art genres from the 17th to mid 20th century. It showcases the mysterious, the imaginative & the wacky including ships' figureheads, giant trade signs, elaborate embroideries & quilts, paintings and collages. As well as for their aesthetic qualities these pieces are treasured as an important record of the social history of their time.

A ships' figurehead from the early 1800's, made for the HMS Calcutta.........

A heavily embellished pin cushion made in 1896...........

A bone cockerel from the 1800's made mostly from cast off bone pieces.......

During the week I also found time to sit & enjoy the quiet of Tavistock Square gardens located just across the road from my apartment. Dedicated to world peace the gardens are lush & green and have as their centre piece a memorial to Gandhi.

Must away as I'm off to Brussels early tomorrow on the Eurostar train & having packing to do! From Brussels I'm off to visit friends in Holland & the south of France.

Looking forward to this glorious sunny weather continuing. Hope life is sunny wherever you are!

Until the next post, K ............

Out & About in London..........

Greetings dear Readers, Yesterday I was out & about walking around London. The day started with a visit to St Pancras International Rail station to book a ticket for Brussels on the Eurostar!

Late afternoon I walked along Regent's Canal part of London's iconic canals & locks......I walked from Kings Cross to the famous Camden Markets! For decades the canals provided a vital transport system with canal boats transporting all manner of goods around the London area & beyond. 

These days the locks & canals are largely devoted to leisure with people still living on boats on the canals! In fact I saw a house boat passing through the St Pancras lock system. As I meandered along I encountered walkers, runners, bike riders, fishermen, sunbathers, revellers, lovers, the prim, the proper & the very inebriated.....all enjoying the remains of a glorious summers day in London!

The famous Camden Markets still operating........still attracting tourists & shoppers like bees to a honey pot, just as they have been doing for decades!!

Later today I'm off to Hastings to spend a few days visiting friends. Back in London for a few days next week before heading off to Europe for a couple of weeks in Belguim, Holland & France, again enjoying the company of friends.

Until the next post, may the wind remain always at your back......... K

Farewell Morocco............

Well dear Readers the Travelling Wanderers have said their farewells & are homeward bound. Fiona to India via Paris for a few days well deserved R&R! Sue, Michelle & Bev to Australia via Madrid. I, on the other hand, have arrived in London to embark on the next stage of my Gap Year adventure!

Spain & Morocco provided us an extraordinary adventure! Thanks to our able tour leader, Fiona Wright & Creative Arts Safaris. Check out their website: http://www.creative-arts-safaris.com

In the final days of the tour of Moroccco we visited the UNESCO listed Ait Benhaddou, ruins of a fortified city or ksar along the former caravan route between the Sahara & present day Marrakesh. This site has also been the set for many a movie including Lawrence of Arabia & Raiders of the Lost Ark! 

As we travelled the winding roads of the High Atlas Mountains to Marrakesh we encountered local women using traditional methods to extract argan oil from the kernels of the argan tree which is endemic to Morocco. The oil is prized for it's nutritious & cosmetic properties. We all purchased the oil on promise of looking years younger............

Along the way we also encountered ruins of outposts of the mysterious French Foreign Legion......

From the slower pace of village & rural life we arrived in hot, bustleing Marrakesh home to markets packed with refreshing fresh orange juice vendors, spices, leather goods, carpets, embroidery, beautiful tea glasses & all things bling!!!!

We celebrated the completion of our 2,900 km journey around Morocco with dinner at the iconic Rick's Bar in Casablanca. This gorgeous bar & restaurant is based on the Bar made famous in the cult movie Casablanca! 

The next morning we bid farewell to what has been an extraordinary adventure through Southern Spain and, the deserts, mountains & cities of the very exotic Morocco....... All that remains is to thank my fellow travellers for their company & wish them a safe homeward journey. Finally a very special thanks to Fiona Wright, our tour organiser & leader and, Hischam our very reliable & caring driver. 

I'm enjoying a few days rest in sunny London before embarking on further Gap Year Wanderings. Stay posted for future updates!  K.........

Camel trekking in the Sahara Desert on the border with Algeria............

Greetings dear Readers! What delights Morocco has provided the Travellers since our last post. Leaving Fez we headed into the dramatic landscape of the snowed capped Middle Atlas Mountains stopping at the delightful Swiss style village of Ifrane for morning tea. Continuing up through the mountains & the Ziz River Valley we arrived at Erfoud our staging post for the Sahara Desert, the largest hot desert in the world!

Departing Erfoud the following morning, we headed into Rissani where it was market day. We checked out the donkey parking lot and markets selling a vast range of produce including date, dates & more dates....... The local sheep sale was about to get underway!

Even encountered a thread & yarn shop..........a weaver's delight!

After a refreshing tea in the market we transferred to a 4 wheel drive vehicle for a "bone jarring" journey into the Sahara Desert. Driving through flat arid desert surrounded by sand dunes we crossed dry river beds & lunar landscapes to reach Merzouga, a village located on the edge of the Sahara. 

Our home for the night was the charming Hotel Nomad Palace nestled at the foot of the sand dunes. The mud brick hotel offered delightful rooms - the light shade in my room was a tin bucket!!

In days gone by Merzouga was a staging post for a 52 day trip by camel to the intriguing Tombouctou in neighbouring Mali, a place I have long dreamed of visiting! Maybe in the future when the political situation is less volatile and my camel riding skills have strengthened............

At sunset we had a memorable camel trek in the Sahara Desert close to the border with Algeria! We were lead by Youssef, our trusty guide........

The sun slowly setting on the Sahara with the Algerian border in the background......

This was a truely unforgettable experience, easy to imagine yourself taking a step back in time & go adventuring with Lawrence of Arabia........

Leaving the desert behind we shook off the sand & headed south through the "Valley of 1000 Kasbahs" into the High Altlas Mountains and the dramatic landscape of the Todra & Dades Gorge for a much appreciated rest day! But more of that to come........... Until the next post, the Travelling Wanderers