Rabat - the capital.  Quiet and easy-going compared to the rest of the country.  We took four days here at a beautiful old hotel for a much-needed break from Morocco madness.  Everyone here speaks French much better than I do... how embarrassing.  I have spent most of my time patronizing the zillion and one pastry shops along the main drag, and watching the bustle of the street below from our fourth-floor balcony.

Here I am in Fez, the cutural and artisanal capital of Morocco.  We are here for only a couple of days, then its on to Rabat and Casablanca.  The culture shock is beginning to wear off, but our experience is still pretty bizarre by comparison with anywhere else we have been.  Here, we spent some time in the packed souqs, watching smiths hammering out metal plates or master leatherists creating fine vests and cushions.  We also fended off crazy carpet ...

Culture shock.  Thats the word Im looking for... whoever came up with that phrase really hit the nail on the head. We have been in Morocco for about three days now, and it has left me reeling or enchanted by turns, sometimes both at once.  Not since semester at sea have I felt so disoriented by the difference between my own culture and that of my surroundings.  And now is even harder, since we are basically on our own. Our entry into the country involv...

Not much to report, just a beautiful beach with more kite surfers than Ive ever seen in my life.  We are as close as it gets to Africa: I believe this is the southernmost point in all of Europe (unless you count Cypress, but lets not get bogged down in details).  Probably the best part of our stay here has been the guests and staff at our hostel, who came from all over Europe and the Americas.  I cant help thinking how boring it will be once Im hom...

(No, they don't really run the bulls here - that's in Pamplona - but it's the best picture I could find in the STA.com archive. If I ever find an internet cafe that lets me haul in my approximately 5 pounds of camera cables and connecting equipment, you'll be able to see my own pictures... I promise! In the meantime, please enjoy this photo of the bull's revenge. I sure do!)Well, we're still in Spain, and moving steadily south towards one ...