Kizhi Island

Kizhi is a site for gathering and worship long before Christianity came to Russia. Most of the buildings (not all) were built here. Mist significant is the cathedral of the transfiguration with its 22Okumaya devam et
St. Cyril on the White Lake Monastery

St. Cyril on the White Lake was founded in 1397 by Kirill Belosersky on the shore of Lake Siverskoye. The monastery had wide trade in the 15th to 17th centuries and was used as a fortress to protectOkumaya devam et
Moscow--Red Square

Center of Moscow. Red in old Russian means "beautiful" and was applied to the most beautiful square in every Russian city. Red here is not a reference to the color I always associated with RussianOkumaya devam et
Moscow

Overview of the city. Wonderful place and interesting. More "Russian" than St. Petersburg. I wish I had more time to stay and explore. First pic is the Bolshoi. I wanted to attend a performance, but IOkumaya devam et
GUM

Pronounced GOOM, GUM is an acronym for government department store. This is the famous store going way back in Russia. Today it isn't really a department store in the sense we use the term. It isOkumaya devam et
Moscow Metro

The Metro, or subway for us New Yorkers, has a reputation of being extraordinary. If anything, that is an understatement. Here are some pics to give you a sense of what the stations are like. EachOkumaya devam et
Moscow at night

Speaks for itself. At least this part of the city becomes almost a fairy land after dark. First is GUM outlined in white lights (although the bright lights for Red Square up top wash out the smallerOkumaya devam et
Kremlin

Kremlin, in Russian, simply means fortress, and historically, every town and city had one. Today, saying "Kremlin" implies this one in Moscow that is the seat of government. All the pics are takenOkumaya devam et
The cruise

Some general pictures from along the way. First is the Zosima Shashkov, the ship I sailed on. Then the bell tower of a church flooded as a result of building the extensive waterway system, connectingOkumaya devam et
Casablanca

Casablanca sits on the Atlantic and is a cosmopolitan town. The two most interesting places are the Hassan II mosque (another post) and the media or old city. The first pic is the clock tower at theOkumaya devam et
Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca

2nd largest in the world, holding up to 20,000 worshipers
Meknes granary and stables

A former capital. The granaries from the 12th century that were large enough to feed 10,000 people for 10 years and stables for 12,000 horses. The granary had canals underneath to keep the rooms cool.Okumaya devam et
Meknes medina

The old city starting with the gate to the royal palace facing the main town square and the medina, followed by a view down one hall, an arrangement of spices and lunch st a tiny place in the mediaOkumaya devam et
Volubilis

Roman ruins in Morocco
Fes medina

First, Fes is a city. Fez is a hat.
Classic medina from the 9th century. A typical stall, a madrassa, a cannery from the 12th century still active where they tan by hand and pass on leather from lamb,Okumaya devam et
Fes

Fes is an old capital city that I found particularly appealing. It is understood to be the intellectual center of Morocco, hosting the oldest continuously active university in the world, founded rightOkumaya devam et
Fes ceramic workshop

Fes was founded in 808 as a capital city. Ceramics is a main product the city is known for. This workshop still makes mosaics by hand from refining the clay to shaping, glazing, cutting all the timesOkumaya devam et
Berrem village and gorge

A traditional rural village named for the nearby gorge. A few pics of the village, a bit of traditional irrigation and the gorge itself
Visit to Berber nomad family

Had tea with a traditional Berber nomad family. Wonderful folks. Pics show a couple types of dwellings they use, our group sitting at tea inside a dwelling and our hosts.
Auberge de Jaabar

Wonderful meal in a small out of the way restaurant near Berrem village. Even though Iago had the night off, a local family provided traditional Berber music, singing and dance.
Just call me Indy

An overnight camp in the Sahara Desert. I can now say, based on experience, that it does rain in the Sahara. Unfortunately, we did not get to see any stars. But a camel ride gave a sense of sand andOkumaya devam et
Macaques in the High Atlas Mountains

AKA Barbary Apes.
"Black Marble"

Stone loaded with fossils that is turned into furnishings
Kasbah Agoudal

A Kasbah is a fortified house. This one appeared on Moroccan currency at one point. It also has appeared in movies. The pics are of the whole complex, the view used on currency, the gardens, one of 4Okumaya devam et
Thingir

A gorge and mountain hike. Tea with a nomad family who over winter high up on the mountain