Trip 6: Marrakesh, Morocco

Visiting another continent was not in our original plans but we're very glad we did! Our long weekend in Morocco was amazing and it definitely kept our mind off of missing Thanksgiving at home (my favorite holiday).  The first memorable moment of our trip was when the plane started descending for landing and we were close enough to the ground that we could see the border of Spain, the Strait of Gibraltar and the border of Africa (it was like looking at a map but in person . . very surreal!).
While in Marrakesh, we stayed in the Medina, the old historic district of the city, in a traditional Riad which is a Moroccan house with an internal courtyard. It was about a 5 minute walk to Koutoubia Mosque and the main square, Djemaa el Fna, where there are entertainers by day and open air restaurants at night. Right off of the main square are the Souks or markets which was a lot of fun to stroll through to look at all the goods (spices, ceramics, etc) and to barter with the locals.
We took a Dunes & Desert excursion including Quad-biking (ATV's) and camel rides and got to stop at a little village to have tea and pastries with the locals. We also took a Moroccan cooking class where we learned to make a complete moroccan meal including bread, salads, a tajine and the special moroccan sweet patties called Msemen. This was a lot of fun and the food we made was absolutely delicious! Following the cooking class we got to experience a hammam ritual and massage at a Riad spa.
What an incredible trip and the beautiful sunny 70 degree weather was not so bad either! ;)

The internal courtyard of the Riad we stayed at - our room was in the center on the second floor

Inside our suite 

Moroccan Dinner and delicious breakfasts at our Riad 

A view of our riad's central courtyard from the rooftop terraces

A view of the main square, Djemaa el Fna, from the top of a near by rooftop restaurant  (click picture to enlarge)

snake charmers in the main square

 Food stalls in the main square

The Souks

Wandering the Souks

Shopping in the souks

Koutoubia Mosque

 Dinner at another Riad around the corner

Our Quadbiking (ATV) excursion through the Dunes & Desert

Quadbiking excursion through the Dunes & Desert

 We stopped in a little village to have tea with the locals

 Inside the house where we stopped for tea

 Next adventure . . camel rides in the dessert!

 The gorgeous Moroccan sunset during our camel ride

Moroccan Cooking Class . . probably my favorite part of the trip!

 Making our bread - & later found out that the girl to my left was from Eden Prairie, MN . . crazy small world!!!

 Making our chicken Tajine with red olives and candied lemons 

 All relaxed at the spa after our hammam and massage

 open air restaurants in the main square

 The open air restaurant where we enjoyed some chicken satay and vegetable couscous

 

We ended the night with some fresh mint tea . . . yes that is a block of sugar in each drink!!!

We did it . . . Seven Hills 15K Race!

Jamie was not very happy with me last night for signing him up for this run and it was probably the least prepared we have been for a a race but we did it!  It was a balmy 41 degrees for the 28th annual Seven Hills 15K Race with 30,000 participants.  It was a fun event to be a part of but glad we are done and warming up back home!  www.zevenheuvelenloop.nl

Carnival Season is here!

Yesterday was the opening of the winter carnival season and there was a kick-off celebration in town at Vrijthof square.  The crowds (most dressed in costumes) poured in just in time for the countdown to 11:11 (on 11/11/11) and surprisingly the security was very tight compared to all the other European festivities we have attended.  We enjoyed some of the performances in the square, an oliebollen (deep fried doughnuts - a Dutch winter specialty) and a cappuccino at a nearby cafe while listening to the music.
Today Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas) arrived in Maastricht.  
The story or legend of Sinterklaas is . . . In mid-November, two weeks before his celebrated Feast Day (December 5th), Sinterklaas arrives in Netherlands by boat from his home in Spain.  Accompanies by his white horse and his helpers, Zwarte Pieten, he arrives in the Netherlands to signify the start of the holiday season. Many people from across the country welcome Sinterklaas at the harbour and watch him parade through the city's streets. during the two weeks before his "birthday", it is said that Sinterklaas rides across rooftops at night on his white horse, listening through chimneys for good children. Nice children that leave carrots in shoes for Sinterklaas' horse, wake up to shoes full of candy and treats.  However, it is the eve before his Feast Day (Sinterklaasavond) that is the most highly anticipated by children, and the busiest day for Sinterklaas.  This is the day when Sinterklaas delivers presents to good children and coal to children who have been naughty.
Today was also the day that the holiday lights were lit around the city center.  I think we are really going to enjoy the Holiday season in Europe . . excited for the Christmas Markets and events coming up in December!
http://www.vvv-maastricht.eu/winter/enlightened_city.html

Carnival kick-off celebration in Vrithof square in Maastricht

Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas) arrives in Maastricht

Trip 5: Luxembourg (a total of 5 Countries in 1 Day!)

Today we took a trip to Luxembourg (a small country nestled between Belgium & Germany that spans only 32 miles wide) which is only about a 2 hour drive through Belgium from the Netherlands.

We started out in the southern part of the country in the Moselle Valley wine region.  We took a bike tour of the wineries along the Moselle River and did a tasting of a couple of Luxembourg's white wines and also tasted some of the grapes we picked off the vines (we got our daily dose of resveratrol!).  The bike tour took us through Luxembourg, Germany and even France and we had the best tour guide, Simone, who is also the owner of the bike tour co.  If you're interested in learning more about the region and wineries we visited here is a great site:  http://www.wine-pages.com/features/luxembourg-wine.htm

After the bike tour we stopped at one of the tiny little villages, Bech-Kleinmacher, that we had biked through for some lunch at 'A Possen'.  We enjoyed a sampler of pates, salamis and hams (which of course came with fries/frites!) and a slice of their delicious cheesecake souffle . . . mmmm!  

Then we were off to the city center to check out the fortress city of Luxembourg and what is known as  "Europe's most beautiful balcony".  It was a great day trip and now enjoying a big bowl of my homemade Pumpkin soup back home!  

 A view during our bike tour of Luxembourg and the Moselle river from Germany

 Moselle Wine Region

"The most beautiful balcony in Europe"

Walking along the balcony overlooking the old city

Enjoying Fall in the Netherlands

We are back in the Netherlands and enjoying the last few days of the gorgeous Fall colors and beautiful weather.  Here are a couple of shots of the scenery during our runs in Maastricht along the Maas River.

Click to enlarge - a good shot of both new and old 13th century bridge

 The trees outside our patio door . . the last of the beautiful Fall colors