Adam and I talked this week about how every Foreign Service Officer posted abroad is having a not normal tour and will forever look back at this time as say “Oh, that was my corona tour” as an excuse for why she didn’t see much of France/Kazakhstan/Nicaragua/Senegal, or wherever the posting is. No exception hereContinue reading “Weekend Trip to Tipaza”
Category Archives: Africa
Revisiting Madrid & Rabat, and a Moroccan Yoga Retreat
First, some news: I am no longer Algiers’ foremost lady of leisure. (As much as this city lends itself to leisure, anyway). I have traded my well-worn pajama pants for pants with a zipper and a button as I have again found myself having a real pants-wearing job. This job is both a real, asContinue reading “Revisiting Madrid & Rabat, and a Moroccan Yoga Retreat”
Roman Ruins, Italian Food, and a Museum with a Sad History in Tunis
The three of us – Adam, our friend Sarah, and I – recently shuffled across the epic mosaic floors at the Bardo National Museum in Tunis, Tunisia and gazed at the intricate tile walls depicting ghoulish sea creatures or fertile signs of the Zodiac. “Can you imagine how long this must have taken?” Adam said,Continue reading “Roman Ruins, Italian Food, and a Museum with a Sad History in Tunis”
A Desert Party from a Magazine Spread
It’s officially the holiday season here in Algiers. Our Christmas tree is up, our house is aglow in twinkle lights, we are going to lots of parties and eating our weights in decadent foods. We are preparing to host our Fourth Annual Holiday Spirit Cocktail Contest Party in just a few short days and I’mContinue reading “A Desert Party from a Magazine Spread”
The Hippy Artist Vibes of Essaouria
We have arrived to our new home in Algiers and I’ll start providing updates real soon. Our house (you read that right, house) is incredible. It is big and interesting and has a ton of windows. It’s built into a hillside and has a patio on one level, and a yard up above that. IContinue reading “The Hippy Artist Vibes of Essaouria”
Emily’s Guide to Rabat
Rabat is often skipped over on the tourist agenda when traveling to Morocco. And it’s a shame, because Morocco’s capital city has a lot to offer visitors (and even more to offer those of us lucky enough to live here). It’s bright and clean, has just the right amount of shopping at much lower pricesContinue reading “Emily’s Guide to Rabat”
Oulja Artisan Village: A Moroccan Decor Paradise
When I first moved to Rabat, I heard whisperings that there was a “pottery village” across the river in Salé and I was intrigued. When I finally checked out Oulja Pottery Village, or as I call it Oulja Artisan Village (because it’s more than pottery), I was gobsmacked. There exists a peaceful complex filled withContinue reading “Oulja Artisan Village: A Moroccan Decor Paradise”
Volubilis: A Perfect Day Trip from Rabat
Readers, I’m sorry posts have been sparse this past month. The thing with living in a place as cool as Morocco for just nine months is everyone wants to visit! So we’ve had a revolving door of family and friends and it’s been fun (repeat trips to Chefchaouen, Marrakech, Fez) but hasn’t left me muchContinue reading “Volubilis: A Perfect Day Trip from Rabat”
The Pirate City Across the River
Rabat/Salé is one of those city duos separated by a river, like Minneapolis/St. Paul, or Budapest. The Bou Regreg river divides Rabat and Salé and empties into the Atlantic at the edge of both cities. Here is how novelist Edith Wharton described the two cities in her 1920 guidebook “In Morocco:” Salé the white and RabatContinue reading “The Pirate City Across the River”
Travel Scams (And How to Not Let Them Ruin Your Trip)
I recently read this article about the most common scams on travelers in Morocco and how to avoid them and it got me thinking about how much I hate, loathe, despise and abominate being at the receiving end of an attempted scam. There’s something uniquely sucky when someone tries to scam you when you’re in the open-heartedContinue reading “Travel Scams (And How to Not Let Them Ruin Your Trip)”