Postscript - There's no place like home

[February 15, 2015]

We spent Saturday night in Orlanda, at the Marriott hotel by the airport.  We were scheduled to fly out at 9 AM, but changed to the 6:20 AM flight instead. We knew we would be up early because of the time change difference between Florida and Morocco. A hotel porter came to our room at 5 AM to help us load our 4 suitcases, 2 packbacks, 2 NG black carry all bags and a purse.  With all the things we bought, our black duffle bag suitcase weighed the most at 47 pounds.  Not bad.

We arrived in Chicago at 8:30 AM to snow and 2 degrees above zero temperatures! Welcome back to winter.

We left for Middleton at 11 AM and made it back to see Charlie, Elizabeth and Matt and Sara, Aaron, Belle and Liam.  It was so good to see everyone -- all the kids grew in the month we were away.  Charlie is now saying "Hi" to everyone and everything he meets.

So, Captain Paul sent us some interesting information about the trip:  we flew 12 sectors, including the refueling at the Azores, for a total distance of more than 34,000 surface miles. Our total time on the jet was 80 hours - how fun to do "Around the World in 80 Hours,"  rather than 80 days. Our average speed was 480 MPH.  We used 86710 US gallons of fuel and 6 US quarts of engine oil. The crew served 1320 meals, 370 bottles of wine, 30 bottles of vodka, 60 bottles of champagne, and 1500 bread rolls.  The bags were put on or taken off the plane 4400 times.  Quite an amazing trip!

I look forward to the opportunity to reflect on the many rich and varied experiences from this trip:  the sights and sounds and smells.  Most of all the natural beauty of our planet and the amazing resilience of our fellow humans.  I am so thankful to be blessed with so many gifts, such has health and peace and security and love.  I hope I have gained additional wisdom through this journey. It was a dream come true.

Circumnavigation of the World and a Valentine's Day Present

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Today we leave Morocco and fly back to Florida.  After 10 hours of flight time and a fuel stop, we will be back in Orlando, having completed our circumnavigation of the earth!

We had a nice breakfast at the hotel – splurged on eggs benedict for our last breakfast.  We were on the bus by 8:15 and off to the Marrakech airport.  I bought a few last goodies including a deck of cards and another cobra snake.

We had a final lovely surprise from the TCS staff. The crew had the plane decorated for Valentine’s day – red heart balloons, red heart confetti and pink and red M&M’s imprinted with the Taj Mahal – icon of love.  So sweet.

We had tea and pastries on the plane before landing in the Azores on the island of Terceira for a refueling stop.  We had to stay on the airplane, but they required that everyone has their seat belts OFF for the refueling. I suspect this must be in case rapid exit is needed due to fire?  The island is green and divided by rock walls into pastures – reminded Mike and me of Ireland.

Our last flight on the TCS 757 - Marrakech to Orlando, Florida, via the Azores

Happy Valentine's Day!

M & M's with the Taj Mahal - iconic symbol of love (that is, the Taj,
not the M & M's.)

Goodbye to Marrakech

The Atlas Mountains of Morocco - an extension of our own Appalacians, when you look at the ancient continent of Pangyra

NGTAW - an experience of a lifetime

In the last 2 hours of the flight, we had a champagne toast and Moroccan sweets to congratulate all on a successful expedition.  

I saw our first sighting of North American land with the coast of the Delmarva peninsula.  We also flew over Myrtle Beach and the coast of South Carolina.  We’re heading for a 4PM  landing at the Sanford airport in Orlando, where there are clear skies and it's 65 degrees.  Lovely way to end the trip.

Highlights of Marrakech and yet one more unusual means of transportation

[Friday, February 13]

This morning we toured the old section of Marrakech – the Medina. Marrakech was established in the 1100s and the whole city is designated as a UNESCO heritage site. 

 We saw the oldest building in Marrakech, La Qoubba Almoravid, which ironically is only 1000 years old. That seems young when compared to what we have seen in Europe or just saw in Jordan. 

We visited Ben Youssef Medersa, a religious college from the 14th century, the largest medersa in all of Morocco.  The college had about 900 students living in  130 dormitory cells at one time.  The student dormitory cells cluster around a courtyard carved in cedar, marble and stucco.  the carvings contain no representation of humans or animals as required by Islam, and consist entirely of inscriptions and geometric patterns.  The college was closed down in 1960, but has been open as a tourist site in recent years.

Next was the Bahia Palace, build at the end of the 1800s by a grand vizier/regent, of an underage Sultan.  It's name means "brilliance". The vizier lived there with his 4 wives and 24 concubines. Our guide joked that he was a very busy man.... 

After the Palace, we drove to the Koutoubia Mosque – whose minaret serves as the icon of the city of Marrakech.  No building is allowed to be taller than 6 stories so that it doesn’t compete with the mosque.

In the afternoon, we travelled to the Jardin Majorelle in a horse drawn carriage – yet another interesting mode of transportation.  The gardens were created a couple hundred years ago, but restored recently by Yves St. Laurent.  There is a rainforest/bamboo section and a cactus/succulent section.  The main building houses a tiny, but impressive Berber museum.  The building is painted cobalt blue, which contrasts nicely with the gardens and the pink color of all the buildings in the city.

We traveled to the gardens via horse carriage, racing the local busses.

Small, but very interesting museum on the Berber people and culture

Morning in Marrakech - the Souk (markets), the Medina (old city) and the Jemaa el Fna (square of death)

[Friday, February 13]

We began our tour of Marrakech this morning within the old section of the city – the Medina.  We walked around the Souk – the market area – and saw people working at various jobs.  We stopped at a communal bakery, at the iron works and welders area and near the tanners and shoemakers.  Our guide tells us because this is a religious holiday, the market is quiet and many shops are closed.  There was still plenty to see and do (and shop for, if desired -- although most of the shops reminded me of one giant Pier 1 Imports store...)

Visiting the Souk - a quiet Friday morning

Leather goods

A communal bakery - you bring your dough and he bakes it for you for a small price

Door to a nursery school

Herboriste - a pharmacy and spice shop rolled into one

Door adornments

Note the Hand of Fatima to ward off evil 

Best key locks ever

We finished our tour of the Medina at the Jemaa el Fna Square – the large open market for fruits, spices, acrobats and other entertainers.  Our guide says el Fna means death (the Square of Death) and that it's name indicates that this was the place where people were executed if their crime fit the punishment.  We tipped everyone for photos with 5 dirham, including three interestingly dressed men who were dressed as water sellers, as in the old times of the city.

Food section of the Jemaa el Fna (main square)

Traditional water sellers

The Jemaa el Fna square

Street performers in the square include snake charmers, monkeys, acrobats, and this musician - my favorite.