Author Archives: Jean Nguyen

Alhambra de Granada

Remnants of Islamic rule can be seen throughout Andalusia, and nothing says it more than the defining piece of the grand Alhambra. Originally the structure was a small fortress built on top of Roman ruins in the 9th century, and then later … Continue reading

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Torcal de Antequera

After a day in Ronda, we arrived to the city and center of Andalusia of Antequera by nightfall.  We thought we would just be spending the night there, but instead, upon discovery of the nearby nature reserve of Torcal de Antequera, … Continue reading

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Ronda

The autonomous state of Andalusia packs an area so diverse, so historic, so beautiful that there are even travel guidebooks of the region for the Spanish. From peninsular Cadiz, to coastal Malaga, to the mountainous Sierra Nevada, Andalusia seems to have … Continue reading

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Gibraltar

Gibraltar wasn’t on my radar until I discovered the following: How cool the Gibraltar rock and its views of Africa were.  Yay, epic views! How suitable it was as a day trip.  Yay, just the right amount of time! And it was … Continue reading

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Asilah

Asilah is a pleasant beach town in northern Morocco where the locals flock to during their summer holiday.  Because it was only spring and the weather still required us to wear jackets, we were able to enjoy the laid-back town without the … Continue reading

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Hassan II Mosque (Casablanca)

You’d think Morocco’s largest city would live up to its fame from being one of America’s greatest classic movies, but that is sadly not the case. With the exception having the beautiful name of Casablanca, there is nothing spectacular about … Continue reading

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Marrakech

It was easy to assume that we’d be disgusted with another major Moroccan city after our distasteful experience in Fes, but we were wrong.  While the cramped walls of Fes el Bali allowed scammers to corner their prey, Marrakech was … Continue reading

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Dades Valley

Between the eastern desert of Merzouga and the western city of Marrakesh lie the massive Atlas Mountains, dozens of iconic kasbahs, and spectacular desert scenery reminiscent of Utah and Arizona landscapes.  Over two short days, we traveled east to west starting … Continue reading

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Merzouga

Classic images containing silhouettes of camels strolling across sand dunes come to mind during discussions about Morocco, and the excursion that allows for such photography comes from Merzouga, the itty bitty town not far from the Algerian border. Camel rides across the Saharan Desert with … Continue reading

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Fes el Bali

I never imagined that our old, janky motorhome could ever possibly go fast enough to get a speeding ticket, but she did!  As we traversed over the mountains from Chefchaouen to Fes, Chris got a 300 DH ($31) fine for speeding. … Continue reading

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