The  sights and sounds of Morocco remain with me to this day.  While there, I felt that I was on sensory overload.   Nothing had prepared me for the beauty and expanse of the Atlas mountains where for two days every turn in the road unearthed spectacular scenery,  for the clarity of the night sky in the desert,  for the resounding  call to prayer, or for the kaleidoscope of color in the markets.

The resort and fishing area of Essaouira was ablaze with blue boats. The  weekly animal market attracted buyers and sellers from near and far. Many travelled for days by cart or camel, which were housed in a special "parking lot" while attendees bartered and bid for goods and services.

Near Essaouira, I was fortunate to encounter an annual horse competition called "Fantasia" where the team  that  puts on the best show in appearance, tracking and precision shooting wins.  Entrants represented the entire country.

The city of Fez is a blanket of white buildings dazzling in the sun. Its medina is hundreds of years old and teeming with vendors, shoppers and mules transporting ware while navigating maze-like narrow alleys.  Its old leather tannery  where hides are still dyed in stone vessels on rooftops  dates to the 13th century.

Marrakesh is vibrant. Volubilis, with its two thousand year old Roman ruins and  mosaics is memorable; the nearby city of Moulay Idriss is a perfect backdrop. 

The isolated setting of our  tented camp in the Sahara near Daya el Maider was hauntingly beautiful;  a sand storm added to the atmosphere.  The nomadic and semi-nomadic people we met were warm and friendly, often inviting us inside their tents, showing off their electronics and sharing their food and fables.

The incredible architecture, tile and scroll work are worthy of a separate page;  the doors, windows and ceilings are unrivaled.. 

.These  photos are just a sampling from an incredibly rich and diverse culture.