Jean Nguyen

  • Spain

    Alhambra de Granada

    May 2, 2016 - By 

    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 those fortress’s ruins were rebuilt into a palace in the 13th century by the Moors. This renovated palace became a royal palace, but by the end of the 15th century after Christian reconquest, the royal palace became the Royal Court of Ferdinand and Isabella. By the 16th century, the palace/fortress was given a bit of Renaissance flair. Although further renovation…

  • Spain

    Torcal de Antequera

    April 28, 2016 - By 

    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, we ended up hiking the next day. Millions of years ago the sea carved out these rock formations, and millions of years later snow, wind, and rain continued to carve the same formations into what we see today, called a karst topography.  These rock formations are considered to be some of the most impressive rock formations in Europe, and remind us of formations…

  • Spain

    Ronda

    April 27, 2016 - By 

    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 more than some European countries have to offer. Seville, Andalusia’s capital, is a dazzling city in not just Andalusia but all of Spain as it prides itself as Spain’s flamenco capital. What makes the region historically fascinating is the Islamic reign from the 8th to 15th centuries, as evident in Cordoba’s famous mosque and Spain’s most grand monument, the Alhambra de Granada.…

  • Spain

    Gibraltar

    April 26, 2016 - By 

    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 British territory. Yay, English! Weather played a significant role for our visit to Gibraltar.  Knowing that the highlight would be to gaze across the Mediterranean at Northern Africa, the sun had to be shining.  I planned to enjoy Gibraltar either before or after our excursion to Morocco, and due to unpredictable weather earlier on, we saved Gibraltar for after. I’m so glad…

  • Morocco

    Asilah

    April 26, 2016 - By 

    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 tourists.  We felt the Moroccan towns of Asilah and Chefchaouen were very much comparable, except instead of mountains Asilah had beaches.  The lovely architecture of the old quarter, the blue paint, the cooler temperatures, and the relaxed atmosphere–these were all the reasons why we loved Asilah and Chefchaouen. Arguably the classic image of Asilah is from the ancient rampart walls, with the…

  • Morocco

    Hassan II Mosque (Casablanca)

    April 25, 2016 - By 

    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 the city, except for the famous Hassan II Mosque, the largest mosque in Morocco. If passing by when traveling along the western coast, the mosque is definitely worth the detour, but the city itself is not worth a multiple-day excursion. Thanks to the relatively new toll road between Marrakech and Casablanca, the pleasant drive took less than 3 hours and…

  • Morocco

    Marrakech

    April 23, 2016 - By 

    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 open, widespread, and sprawling. We didn’t do our research about what it meant to drive in Marrakech, but we’ve obviously survived the experience to be able to share it today.  To add to the suspense, we drove around the notorious Djemma el Fna.  During the evening.  On a Sunday.  With our oversized vehicle.  And this was after an exhausting day…

  • Morocco

    Dades Valley

    April 21, 2016 - By 

    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 with Todra Gorge and then Dades Gorge.  Following these two gorges, we spectated three kasbahs (traditional Moroccan desert forts) in the following order: Kasbah Amerhidil, Taourirt Kasbah, and Ait Ben Haddou.  These were our final days in the hot, dry deserts of Morocco before venturing into Marrakech and back to the lush valleys of the north. First things first, we got…

  • Morocco

    Merzouga

    April 19, 2016 - By 

    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 the berbers may be not just the highlight of Merzouga, but perhaps all of Morocco. Even the twisting drive from Fes to Merzouga over the mountains through high desert towns offered fantastic views of North African country. Before we arrived at our hotel/motorhome park of choice, we made a wrong turn and ended up getting stuck in a sand pit just…

  • Morocco

    Fes el Bali

    April 18, 2016 - By 

    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.  Unlike American cops, the Moroccan traffic officers were laid back, friendly, and humorous.  We’re fortunate that we were able to shrug off the fine and continue our journey to Fes. Some cities are more fascinating than they are beautiful, and Fes is exactly that.  The city as a whole is a giant, modern suburb with plenty of public transportation, students, and even big…