CHRISTMAS 2017

Merry Christmas everyone!

NOVEMBER 2017 - BBC WEDNESDAY WALK - NAMADGI NATIONAL PARK - Waterhole Hut and Lone Pine Homestead Ruins Walk - 3 hour return car journey and 5 hour walk

Waterhole Hut and Lone Pine Homestead Ruins - Southern Namadgi

This walk in the extreme south of the ACT starts on the Bicentennial National Trail on the Yaouk Road west of Shannons Flat where a 2km fire trail walk quickly leads us back into the ACT.  We then start our 9 km anti-clockwise loop via Waterhole Hut (morning tea) to the intersection of the Bulls Flat and Grassy Flat fire trails and lunch just north of there at the Lone Pine Homestead ruins.  The return to the cars is 7.1 km via Grassy Creek Fire Trail.  The walk is longish but gentle, with only minor elevation changes.  About half of the walk is in open grassland and the other half more sheltered.

Although the start is a little further away than usual, the starting point gives us quicker and shorter access to this less walked area.  (BBC notes)

Walking from Yaouk Road

An echichna burrowing to defend itself

The original marker to delineate the ACT and NSW borders.

M

OCTOBER 2017 : MADRID : in transit

An afternoon flight from Marrakech to Madrid. Leaving Marrakech.

Crossing from the African subcontinent into Spain...only 11 kms from Tangiers to Tarifa.

Our hotel, Mediodia, overlooking the Reina Sofia Museum. We have a balcony on the 6th floor.

Jardin Colgate Caxiaforum

Breakfast nearby

Walking up the Paseo del Prado

National Bank flanking Spanish flags to support Spanish unity against Catalan secession.

The theatre district

Metro to see friends

Market shopping - local market inside shopping complex

New Venezuelan store. Many Hispanics moving into this area, which is reflected in the variety of products.

Claudia and Sergio’s apartment building - about 100 years old.

Enjoying Olivia..

Final seafood lunch together..until we meet again..hasta luego!

M&M

OCTOBER 2017 : MOROCCO : MARRAKECH : DAY 15

A busy time for our final day, with contrasts of the modern sophisticated Marrakech and the tribal centre where camel caravans passed through in centuries passed. We set off early in the cool of the morning.

First stop was the Majorelle Gardens.

An extensive garden featuring palms and cactus plants set in the backdrop of vivid colours.

The welcoming courtyard near the entrance

The thick and sheltered bamboo forest

Gorgeous colour scheme

Koi pond

Central pond

A few birds feeding on the plants 

The main building, now a Berber Museum, Library and cafe. This was originally Jacques Majorelle’s studio.

Jacques Majorelle (1886-1962) was an accomplished artist, who moved to Marrakech in 1917 and bought a palm grove, which Yves St Laurent purchased and restored in 1980. Majorelle was fascinated with the Berbers and most of his work is dedicated to them.

Exquisite jewellery in the Berber Museum

From the Jardin Majorelle we walked towards the main square, despite the heat and with some excellent navigating by Paul.

Palm trees fake and real abound - camouflaged communication towers

An artisan’s cooperative near the main square with the whole gammet of arts, crafts and furniture at a fixed price

Instruments

Fabrics

Lunch in one of the terraced cafes at the Jamaa El Fna Square for a bird’s eye view of the daily activity

Dates and dried fruit

Special remedies

Souks full of local crafts

A final meal with our special Aussie girls at The Grand Café de la Poste.. a colonial atmosphere with spectacular decor.

A fabulous fortnight in this fascinating country. Congratulations to Exodus touring company for providing such a solid itinerary, special accommodation and experiences...and for such a reasonable price..excellent value.

Thank you to our fellow travellers for their good company, shared knowledge and the fun we enjoyed together.

mm_smith@bigpond.net.au
M&M