Adventure to the Atlas Mountains of Marrakesh, Morocco– and that Camel Ride....

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After hearing that our camel ride was going to be around 3 hours in duration – so we understood – and were warned that a half hour was more than enough, we were delighted to find out that our ride was to be 30 minutes only – and on the flat too!! In fact it was the subject of our first stop. After partaking in some local tea - the Morocco tradition, we were dressed in the local garb - all blue  - and hoisted on to the back of our friendly camels.  It took a few minutes to work out how to balance and relax on the camels’ back then it was time to enjoy the sunshine, fresh air, and peacefulness of the balmy countryside.  Then it was off to the majestic Atlas Mountains – huge alps looming an hour away high in the sky. We detoured to a natural health and beauty products place where all was made from oil by a women’s collective, a quick stop to inspect the outside of Kasbah Tamadot -Sir Richard Branson’s place  - the base of his mother’s Eva Branson Charity – offering projects to enrich the lives of the local people of Morocco  - and at the movie location for a recent Tom Cruise Mission Impossible  – now to be the location for a war movie, then past a place that Meryl Streep set up to educate girls in the area.  More ‘names’ to come…  The scenery of the alps is dramatic –  reminding one of Central Otago Scenery – redder, more trees, precarious roads red river valleys with much greenery and higher mountains in the distance. Plus many small terra cotta neat villages everywhere. We trekked up through villages past the Kasbah du Toubkal  - a ‘premier’ mountain retreat – and National Geographic Unique Hotel. It was the film set for the Dalai Lama Movie and has hosted Martin Scorsese, Lady Gaga and others.  The local villages, unlike others nearby in the Alps, thrive on Tourism (The Kathmandu of Morocco)  - walking and skiing. – with mule deliverers – the local 4 x 4’s, Air BnB’s and tour guiding being the most popular jobs.  A typical Moroccan lunch accompanied by lots of laughs from our fellow travellers, topped up this highlight of our trip to the Atlas Mountains by Marrakesh, Morocco. Well worth the trip!

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More snow in Milano and our last day there

On our last morning in Milan we awoke to even more snow. Thick coatings everwhere!

A different type of winter magic to St Petersburg.

Once again we trudged along in the crunchy and even thicker snow to see the Last Supper fresco. We had booked well in advance, as one must, to see this particular work of art, and the viewing was very controlled. Our group stood silently in awe, gazing at this famous work, painstakingly restored, along with a nearby fresco from the same era, by Olivetti. Well worth the visit.

On the way back to the hotel to await the taxi to take us to the station - too far away to walk trundling our suitcases, I espied a couple of dresses - on sale, of course, in a shop window. ¨Wait here¨I said to Chris. ¨I will not be long.¨

In I went and said to the shop attendant. ¨I want to try on these two dresses and I am in a hurry.¨

¨Let me take your coat¨ he said.¨
Acutally I have three¨I replied.

Önly three? He demures....

A few minutes later Chris and I are back to the hotel, yes, with a dress, and waiting for a taxi to take us along the very snowy streets to the station for our new adventure in Venice. We had originally planned to drive there with friends, via a business call by Chris at Frienze, but this was now not possible because of the snow.

Milano looed even more spectaular today. The traffic, both moving and stationery, had about half a metre of snow on top, the telegraph and tram wires were lined with snow, the large Christmas tree and the statue in the square looked even more dramatic, and the Duomo, with the extra coating of snow all its whitte and gold parapets, looked like a huge fancy Christening cake.

When we finally shused our way to the Milano railway station, the train timetables had been turned topsy turvy by the snowfalls. Some trains to Venice had been cancelled, and ours was delayed by an hour. The Milano Railway station is probably the worst station to stand in in the very cold. There is no shelter, no bars, or shops to pop in to to keep warm. There are only 2 - 3 stand up cafes where you can purchase a roll and a hot drink. These were kept very busy by people, like us, buying food to warm up!

At last, our train was ready and we were off!! And in good time, too, as we found out in the following days, as Milano got colder and whiter. The snow covered ground, as we travelled east towards Venicia, gradually changed from white christmas card scenery to fields and villages lightly covered with snow. Maybe we will have a white holiday in Venice!!

We arrived late in the afternoon at the Venicia Station. This station is like most other European ones - all from the same drawing board, most likely, and Venice is the the end of this particular line.

So it is a great pleasure and change to step out and gaze onto the Grand Canal with some of Venices. beautiful old buildings behind. And the sound of absense motor traffic! Apart frome th quiet purring of canal ferry traffic, of course.

Chris found, on the interet, a lovely hotel just around from the Venice Railway station, and it was very easy to find. In the past, we have stayed in the middle of the city, however the numbering of the buildings of the narrow streets can be rather confusing to new visitors to Venice.

To be continued.....

Travelling in winter from London to Milan

We flew from London to travel to Milan Italy (and left the last of my cold behind, thank goodness!!!) and had spectacular view over London city before flying into clouds.

Then we flew over the Swiss Alps. What a spectacular view!! There were narrow blue lakes following the contour of the land, snow covered mountain ranges which looked as if they had been combed, sharp snow covered peaks, some of which seemed to have large footprints on them, and snow covered towns nestled in white valleys. As we descended into the Po Valley we flew closer to the alps, as close as we sometimes fly to the Remarkables Mountain Range, in Queenstown, New Zealand.

Then we flew lower into the Po Valley, over many snow covered villages and fields - uh oh -
what is that up ahead? A very large and low bank of thick cloud was smearing its way towards us. We knew the clouds were low because there were several tall chimneys belching out snow through the top of the clouds.

We few into the clouds, and according to the captain, had 20 minutes before landing! It seemed to take a very long time to fly, around and around, just above the clouds. Round and Round. Was the pilot looking for Milan? How would he know when and where to land? After a very long time we slowly descended into this mass of grey cotton wool. It took 20 seconds, because I counted, to go through the clouds, which were as it turned out, at ground level.
Welcome to Milano Italy! And to our next adventure....