Ouarzazate

On road to Ouarzazate

Ouarzazate

Picturesque Ouarzazate

Souk in Ouarzazate

Kasbah in Ouarzazate

 

Several studios in this city

Ouarzazate- Gateway to the Desert

Ouarzazate is a city south of Morocco’s High Atlas mountains, known as a gateway to the Sahara Desert. Its huge Taourirt Kasbah, home to a 19th-century palace, has views over the rugged local landscape, which features in several movies. Northwest is the fortified red-earth city of Aït Ben Haddou. Northeast is the rocky Todra Gorge. A road winds southeast through the Draa Valley’s lush palm groves to the desert.

Merzouga Dunes

We get up very early 4 AM, and head out to the Sahara Desert by jeep to the Merzouga Dunes, part of the western Sahara. We watch the sunrise as some people go on a camel ride.

Camel ride predawn

Sunrise on the Sahara

Sunrise on the Sahara

Beginning of the new day on the dunes

Ifrane, Medelt, Erfoud- traveling south in Morocco

Ifrane  is a Swiss-type Moroccan town, located 1600 meters above sea level. The entire area is surrounded by magnificent monkey-inhabited cedar forests. The town also hosts the Peace University, where members of three monotheistic religions were supposed to have studied together.

Ifrane- Lion

Ifrane- Swiss architecture

Waterfall outside Ifrane

Cedar forest

Monkeys in the forest

Following the old caravan trail south, we visited Midelt, a market town set in the high plains between the Middle and High Atlas mountain ranges.

Medelt

Medelt

We continue along the palm-fringed Ziz Valley, famous for date cultivation to Tafilalt oasis on the edge of the Sahara Desert. We ended the day's journey in Erfoud, where beautiful views across the shimmering Sahara have made this a popular location with filmmakers.

Erfoud

Erfoud

Meknes- The Versailles of Morocco

Mansur Gate- built by Sultan Ismail in the 17th century

Mansur Gate- leads into the Imperial City

Mansur Gate

Meknes is a city in northern Morocco. It’s known for its imperial past, with remnants including Bab Mansour, a huge gate with arches and mosaic tiling. The gate leads into the former imperial city. The Mausoleum of Sultan Moulay Ismail, who made the city his capital in the 17th century, has courtyards and fountains.

Meknes was a lively Jewish center until its Jewish inhabitants made aliyah with the founding of the State of Israel

Morocco

Fes- handicrafts

Marrakech- colorful market

Atlas Mountains

Essaouira- port

Rabat- capital city

Sahara Desert- at dawn

 

Casablanca- Rick's Cafe

Magic of the Orient

This summer we entered a world of mystery. Morocco is an initiation into the magic of the Islamic, Arabic, African world of medinas, minarets, desert and mountain, and yet retains a European patina. Imbibe the spirit of Morocco; wander the streets of the great cities.

Fez is a stunning array of medieval buildings; the world-famous souk of Marrakech sells a bewildering array of goods; Casablanca, is a thriving commercial center, and Rabat reflects its modern French origins. The snow-capped Atlas Mountains lie inland. Beyond them are the fringes of the parched Sahara. Whether scaling distant ridges, haggling for exotic artifacts, gazing at ancient wonders or marveling at the pink of a desert dawn, in Morocco, we were mesmerized

More ART inspired by the American West

Mountain Grandeur 1

Mountain Grandeur 2

Mountain Grandeur 3

Big Sky 1

Big Sky 2

Big Sky 3

Big Sky 4

How can an artist capture the grandeur and greatness of nature?? The sky so big, the vastness of the mountains, the vivid colors- I try to create what is in my mind's eye- how I remember the scene, what struck me the most, what I take home with me.

ART Inspired by travel to the American West

See America Singing 6

See America Singing 7

See America Singing 8

See America Singing 9

See America Singing 10

My trips to the National Parks and other places in the American West inspired several series of mixed media works on paper.
I will be sharing them with you over then next few days.