New Year - New Plans

Several options opened up this week for the year. 

First, we have a couple of trips lined up.  Munich for my birthday on Monday; Vienna for Valentine's weekend (Feb. 10-13); and Sicily with dear friends the first week of March.  Peter has a hankering to visit Olomouc, Czech Republic where we taught for several summers so that might enter the line-up as well.

Coffee House on the Odeonsplatz, Munich

And then, there were positive conversations with McGraw-Hill about a future with Robert Feldman's P.O.W.E.R. Learning textbook(s) for first year students;  Cindy Wallace and I have been involved with this project since 1999.  Both of us love working with first year college students and Bob Feldman is a very talented writer, faculty member, and university administrator (UMass-Amherst).  Our part of project has been to write the instructor's resource manuals and to provide workshops for faculty and administrators.  Being part of McGraw Hill's efforts has allowed us to meet incredibly interesting people. 

Life continues to be good.

New Year - Normal Days

Sometimes it is a magical to live a normal day.  You know - the kind of day that consists of sleep, conversation, readings, a walk, and three simple meals.  The kind of day that is lived over and over because it is familiar and enjoyable.  Nothing spectacular happened and nothing disastrous did either.  Here is to the normal day.

A January walk in the fields of Erlstätt

South Tyrol - walks and talks

Only 2 days after we returned from Marrakesh, we found ourselves back in South Tyrol. Nadja and Merko returned from Vietnam and we picked them up from the airport in Munich and drove them to Sterzing. Following a good night's sleep (we arrived at 1 am), we drove to Afers. Emma - as always - welcomed us and we stayed from Monday through Wednesday. It would have been longer but the weather report suggested that Thursday would be 0 degrees and precipitation --- not a good day to travel. During our brief stay, we managed a walk to our favorite Alm. The return trip required a little sledding time on our butts since it was simply too icy to try and walk down. A beautiful day in the Alps.

Pietler Kofl in the Dolomites

Peter bei Schätzer Hütte- he worked there as a teenager and as a child herded cows on the Alm

Joni at the Schätzer Hütte with Ortler Alps (Italy) in the background.

Skiers on the Plose.

The end of the run.

Marrakesh - El Bahia Palace

The Royal Palace reflects 19th century wealth.  Built in two periods by a father and a son, the El Bahia Palace is an irregular rectangle.  The internal gardens are lush - we saw banana, lemon, and orange trees.  The fountains and flowers were intoxicating - jasmine, bougainvillea, cypress, and poinsettias.  The tile work is astonishing and the jeweled glass work delightful.

Banana Tree

Poinsettia trees!

Courtyards

Fountains in the inner courtyard

Jeweled glass in the windows

Reflections on the walls from the glass windows

Marrakesh - The Saadian Tombs

We are easy to spot.  We are tourists seeking the Saadian Tombs in Marrakesh.  We are all walking around with sunglasses, backpacks, and maps.  There is NO signage to this amazing discovery and guidebooks warned us... "you will be approached by seemingly friendly residents who will lead you to the tombs and expect payment once you are at the door."  How hard can it be to find this extraordinary archeological discovery by pilots flying over Marrakesh in 1917?  Apparently - very hard.

We eventually stumbled upon a business man who was willing only to point the way - and paid the 10 Dirham entrance fee (less than 1 euro) each.  We are talking about a cemetery.  I have problems with the notion that I should pay someone to show me where the cemetery is... and that might be MY problem, not theirs.

The Tombs are an astonishing site of solitude and peace ... beautiful, quiet, calm and restful in this tumultuous city.

We shared the secret pathway with the next tourists we saw -- backpack and map in hand - and we did not ask them for money.

 

Marrakesh - Jemaa El Fna

Okay - I have written about the Jemaa El Fna before, but there is more to say and show.  It is the heart of Marrakesh and the world crosses through it.  Innumerable languages; cacophony of drums, flutes, and bells; jumbled traffic of cars, pedestrians, motorcycles, bicycles, donkey carts, trucks, horses, and carriages.  Smoke and fire from food stalls selling temptingly roasted chicken and french fries.  Clearly, my favorite place.

Yep - that's us at the edge of Jemaa El Fna

People, people, people headed towards the Jemaa El Fna

Woman bargaining for her fresh vegetables

Leather goods

Clothing for all

The Mosque at sunset

Jemaa El Fna at night

Marrakesh - Joni and the camel

The only item on my Morocco "wish list" was to ride a camel.  Don't know why this was such a big deal except I didn't have any idea of when I would ever be able to do it again.  So here are the pictures of my personal favorite Moroccan moment.

Procuring a camel is easy - these are down from the Menara Gardens and Pavillion on the outskirts of the old city.  I had help getting on and once I was up, it was easy for me (don't know about the camel).  It was a bit like sitting on an old couch and swaying along.  My camel (we called him Figaro) was sweet tempered and kind.  It was rather thrilling and I would definitely do this again!