The knitting photos are at the bottom of the post, for those of you that are sick of the cruise photos.
In case you hadn’t guessed, the final photo in the last post was of Rick’s Cafe in Casablanca (there are actually two, neither of them authentic). We didn’t stop there, but drove by, and got one of those lovely out-the-bus-window photos. Casablanca was something of a letdown. It’s mostly a dirty, underdeveloped mess of a city, with a few exceptions. The new mosque is huge, probably one of the largest in the world (third-largest, actually, I just checked). We weren’t allowed to go in, but the next couple of photos give you an idea.
This out-the-bus-window photo gives you an idea of the contrasts in Morocco. It’s definitely a Muslim country, but one of the most liberal and diverse. There is extreme poverty, and later on we saw some of the poshest seaside resorts you can imagine. The three women on the street under that billboard made me giggle, for some reason.
We took a bus tour to Rabat, which took us through part of the Morocco countryside. I saw lots of sheep and goats, but no yarn shops. This handsome guy standing guard outside one of the local sights let us get photos, for a fee of course. I’d have handed him my sock for a photo, but I think he would have charged extra for that.
This one proves that we were in Morocco together. The royal palace is in the background.
The Hassan tower:
The next two photos are at the Mohammed V mausoleum.
And another whizzing-by-in-the-bus photo. The billboards here just cracked me up.
The next day we were in port at Agadir, a bit south of Casablanca. Agadir was destroyed by a tsunami in 1960, and has been completely rebuilt. It has very little local character, and mostly looks like a seaside playground for wealthy tourists. We took a little side tour to a smaller village, Taroudant, with a more traditional flavor, and got to see goats in trees on the way.
No yarn shops there, either.
On the way to the market we got to watch of couple of fine fellows playing and dancing. The guy in the red hat is our tour guide, Ahmed. You’ll see more of him later.
The market was fascinating. You can buy almost anything here, and bargaining is the order of the day. Taroudant is called “Little Marrakesh”; lots of shopping, less hectic than Marrakesh, which was too far to travel on a day-trip from the boat.
Here’s the seaside part of the bus drive.
When we got off our bus back “home” at our ship, I handed my sock to Ahmed for a photo. He reached up and took John’s hat, and put his on John’s head. Then he proceeded to put on a great show of knitting, wrapping the yarn around and around the needles. I was a bit worried about that sock and its survival, but figured the photo would be worth it. This is one of the few times that I wished I had a video feature on my camera.
And another sunset for all you sunset-lovers out there.
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Finally, the knitting part. There has been no button-sewing going on around here. I just want to knit warm wool sweaters, and have them done now. It has been just freaking cold here, with this stuff on the ground.
You’d think that I’d be able to handle a bit of snow and cold, given that I’m from one of those deep-freeze prairie states originally. Yesterday I had to put on two pairs of heavy wool socks just to get warm.
I grabbed an orphan ball of Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Aran out of the stash and started a hat. Yes, that’s homemade bread. Sometimes I’m so domestic that I can’t stand it.
After a few inches, I decided it wasn’t warm enough, so I ripped it out and started over, adding more yarn. I am knitting it together with a strand of King Cole mohair from a past project. This will fit an adult with a small head, or better yet, a cold kid someplace. I have three more skeins of that mohair stuff in the stash, so I’m going to see what else I have in the orphan ball stash to combine it with.
Last but not least, is the Jo Sharp sweater that’s been in time-out for months. This is the back. Or the front. It’s a boxy sweater with no shaping, so it doesn’t matter, as long as I remember to knit two of them.
I’m off to find more warm stuff to wear.
I am really enjoying the pictures! I love the one that proves you were there together! Usually, I wonder if I ever went anywhere, since I’m the picture taker, not the takee.
Lovely travel pictures. One of the most interesting contrasts we saw was at Harrod’s in London. We watched women in heavy burkhas picking out Ferragamo shoes and spangled evening dresses. Love the sunset pictures! We have about 6 inches of snow here with more coming tonight. And cold, cold! Stay warm and safe.
My favorite picture had to be the one of the goats. That is so cool! I wish I was a goat. OKay maybe not they smell, but still, what fun a goat must have hanging out in a tree. Wonder if they were playing “king of the tree”. Anyway, loved the pictures. Looks like you guys had a fabulous time.
The billboard is most excellent!! Heh, love the transition from initial navy blue hat to lovely hat o’ delight! And the color of your Jo Sharp sweater is such that I would steal it from you if I could…
I’m loving all these trip pictures! Keep it up!
Thank you for taking us on your trip….I can’t get myself to fly so I only travel through the pictures and movies of others.
thanks for taking us on a vicarious tour of Morocco–cool photos, cool knitted hat, cool husband. Cool vacation!
Ummm… There were goats in the tree… I want to ask how they got there, but I’m afraid the answer might be too simple to grasp… 🙂
Love the pics! Thanks so much for sharing.
But… how did the goats get in the tree? And why? I am confused.
I’ve actually been around goats, and have never seen one in a tree before…..
And isn’t it amazing how quickly your body forgets how to adapt to cold weather?
Goats in trees. Who knew?
Your travel photos are the best! It’s a little like being on your exciting vacation with you–okay, not really like that, but great to see anyway!
The hat looks so pretty and warm. And the bread so yummy! Great photos!
Superman’s “cousin” is my favorite picture. Never in a million years would I have believed that such a take on blatantly western culture could stand 8+ feet tall in that neck of the woods. Any idea what the sign was actually advertising?
Thanks for the photos. I used to live in Morocco – fun to see what you saw. The goats climb into the trees to eat the nuts and leaves. I believe they are Argan trees, the nuts are used to make Argan oil, expensive but supposed to be the cure for everything. And the superman billboard is an advertisement for a bank (sorry, not very exciting).
Great photos! I love the window and those billboards–especially the “Superman” one.
The Ahmed/John picture is hilarious. Boys!
Ok, I just can’t respond to both!!! 😉 The goats in the trees take the cake! I will never get sick of your cruise pics..Morocco is a place I would love to go. I love how the man looked at your knitting…glad no slipped stitches!HA! Love how they traded hats, too! I can just imagine the sounds, too! Was their any music in the background anywhere?
Your bread and knitting is perfect on that cold day…I bet that made the house smell so good!
What a great assortment of pictures. I liked the one of John and Ahmed with each other’s hats and your bright pink sock. Is that Hot Flash?
Your mohair tweed hat is really pretty. I love the colors in those yarns.
It doesn’t matter where you’re from, when you’re cold, you’re cold! (Believe me, we both know I know :0)
Love the hat and sweater progress. Great pictures!
Beautiful pictures! They make me wish the internets were smell-o-vision capable just to smell new smells. (For some reason, I imagine the air there had a somewhat spicy smell)
Wear the sweater without the buttons. I always end up sewing them on AFTER it’s been worn a few times since they never seem to get buttoned up anyhow. @@
I’m really enjoying viewing your trip! What fun!! I wish I could get my dh to go on a cruise with me…ah well, one of these days 🙂
Brrrr. Warm trip, cold backyard.
wow, what an incredible trip!
Well I’ll be. I didn’t know goats could do that! What awesome photos you two take! I really had fun on your tour! Thanks so much for sharing these beautiful sites with us. The hat is so cute! Nice new sweater too! Nothing wrong with being domestic, makes for the best domain;)
sounds & looks like a wonderful trip! Lots of inspriation too!
Your photos brought back many happy memories… I loved everything about Morocco, especially the souks in Marrakesh (although Casablanca was a letdown for me also- high expectations I think)!
Have you read “Stolen Lives: 20 Years in a Desert Jail” by Malika Oufkir?
I have always wanted to go to Morocco. Thanks for reispiring me!
Love the pink sock pic. It is a classic. And the bread looks yum-a-licious.
Fantastic pics!! Gotta love Superman!! Thanks for sharing!
🙂
Love your photos!! I was without a digital camera when I was in Morocco, but your pictures brought back memories of my trip there! All of your pictures make me want to take another cruise of the Mediterranean.