adventures in the desert

My first week of January was spent in Marrakech with Tim's family &his brother's American girl friend. (definitely not a bad way to start off the new year!)

(here the two of us 'girlies' are, hanging out on the roof of our riad)

We had a brilliant time (despite 3/6 of us getting tummy bugs!) and it was a truely magical and unusual place. I may never go back (there are SO many places to explore..!) but I would highly recommend it.
we stayed in two fantastic riads and were served up some delicious traditional moroccan food. We were a five minute walk from the main square where we enjoyed vendor and restaurant food. But most important to explain was the complete sensory overload we experienced in the main square: like nowhere I've been before ~ the smells, the sounds and the SIGHTS: food/fresh OJ vendors, snake charmers, monkey trainors, dancing, henna-tattooists, beggars, motorcyclists, horse and carts, donkies and of course the people selling all the material crap: shoes, clothes, souvenirs, pots, lights...and so much more. As I said, like nowhere I've been before! Brilliant.

Aside from anything else, it was so brilliant to feel the sunshine (real, warm, 25 degree sunshine!) on my skin again...&warm up my bones. Now, two weeks later... I have been manic at work and I miss it already. I want to plan another trip somewhere, anywhere! Just somewhere with sunshine! Something to look forward to!



In front of the square by the market place


Me and my lovely Tim :) enjoying the sunshine at lunch time (over another tagine!)


Me mucking around with Vanna, we are two very different girls, but it's so nice to have someone who I get on really well with... Imagine my fiancee's brother having a g.f who I really didn't like..dont like the thought of that at all!

So, whilst I dont have more holiday plans as of yet, there will be some made soon!

What about you? what are your plans?