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Imlil – High Atlas Mountains, Morocco

A perfect day to head into the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains! Gorgeous snow capped views along the route.
We navigate the mountain roads — above the Ait Mizane Valley — to the village of Imlil.
We find a rooftop cafe in Imlil for some coffee before beginning our hike up to the snowy High Atlas Mountains.
We trek – climbing the cascading waterfalls for about an hour to the traditional Amazigh (Berber) village of Aroumd — on a tourist office postcard perfect day. (this is our photo!)
A herder follows his sheep to the valley floor through Aroumd, with Mount Toubkal presiding — North Africa’s highest peak at 4,167 m (13,671 ft).
A panoramic photo of Mount Toubkal. That is ‘panoramic’ indeed! The local children have rounded up some downhill skis and found an area to have snow-play fun in the high altitude sunshine.
We caught up with the sheep grazing peacefully on a freshly watered green meadow.
Enjoying the sunshine on the last day of 2025…
…And appreciating we’ve explored another corner of the world near Toubkal National Park.
We found a great spot for having a picnic lunch and savored the view — near Aroumd with majestic Mount Toubkal as a backdrop.
Back at our condo’s balcony in Marrakech with its view of the snow capped range — we will remember our fabulous journey to the High Atlas Mountains!
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Marrakech Medina, Morocco

‘Koutoubia Minaret’ is the center of Marrakech and visible throughout the city. The 12th-century, 250ft-high minaret with it’s Amazigh square design — it’s the prototype for the Giralda tower in Seville, Spain and Le Tour Hassan in Rabat (Morocco’s capital).
Within the Medina — the old historic walled town — are the Souks (marketplace) with their labyrinth of narrow streets. Every step brought us face-to-face with colorful handicrafts and bazaars. Every craft has its own special zone — a souk within the souk — each selling specific types of wares.
We discovered ‘Le Jardin Secret’ — created when several courtyard mansions (riads) from the 16th-century were combined. There were exhibits explaining the complexity of the water distribution system and its extensive restoration.
We browsed this alluring Souk — one of many specializing in spices! And wandered through endless souks — metalworkers, carpenters, tailors, cobblers, and Imazighen carpets — on our meandering way to…
…Ben Youssef Madrasa, a school established in the 1500’s for Koronic scholars. The restored building is beautiful, with carved stucco plasterwork (gibs), carved cedar, and the special Zellinger mosaic tile artwork. The large main courtyard — framed by two columned arcades — opens into a prayer hall.
All the intricate carving — with Andulusian inspired details — are to assist the scholars in paying attention to the details of their studies. The details are elaborately decorated with rare palm motifs as well as more customary Islamic calligraphy. Ben Youssef Madrasa
Each of the up to 900 scholars had a room — resembling monk’s cells — which would be furnished with some of these useful items to further their studies. Ben Youssef Madrasa
We found the ‘Le Mart’ rooftop restaurant for a tasty lunch of Meat Balls with egg (Kefta) Tagine and a fall-off-the-bone Chicken with fluffy Couscous Tagine. It’s as yummy as it looks!
The 19-century ‘Bahia Palace’ was our outing for another day. Once the home to a harem, it’s a marvelous display of painted wood, ceramics, and symmetrical gardens.
Looking up at the carved archway in the middle separating two intricate carved-cedar painted ceilings with gibs cornices. Each room in Bahia Palace varies in size according to the importance of each wife or concubine.
There was an exhibit by artist Aicha Aherdane whose work was as detailed as the ceilings.
Stunning painting by Aicha Aherdane
Exiting the garden at the Bahia Palace through an intricately decorated gate, we head back to the Medina…
… And a rooftop lunch at Kasbah Andalussiya of a Fish Tagine and a burger (not a tagine!) while enjoying this minaret next door…
…And the local stained glass lanterns above sparkling in the sunshine at Kasbah Andalussiya.
Our condo just south of the Medina feels a world away from the old walled town and we appreciate the tranquility. Prestigia Jade at Montgomerie Golf Course.
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YSL Marrakech and Jardin Marjorelle, Morocco

Yves Saint Laurent’s history with Marrakech began in 1966 when he first visited. This museum was completed in 2017 — the design and fantastic brick work plays homage to the rich textiles he used in his fashion designs. The architects, Studio KO, also played with the contrast between curves and straight lines.
Like his fashion designs, there are aspects in the architecture just to delight your senses. Musée Yves Saint Laurent
1965, he gave us the Mondrian Dress! See a detailed biography of his career here. We saw a unique personal collection of YSL fashion by Hamish Bowles — editor of Australian Vogue.
Dessert at Le Studio was another sensory delight! Date infused ice cream, date cake with a caramel sauce…  Musée Yves Saint Laurent
A very popular attraction with limited capacity, we were first in line for our timed tickets to enter Jardin Majorelle.
Designed in 1922 — purchased in 1980 by YSL and Pierre Bergé, Jardin Majorelle — is an oasis of cactus and palm trees.
Jacques Majorelle (1886-1962) was a French orientalist painter and son of the famous Art Nouveau furniture designer, Louis Majorelle. He arrived in Morocco in 1917, was seduced by Marrakech, purchasing a vast palm grove in 1923 that by 1947 would become the Jardin Majorelle we know today. Photo of Lily Pond reflections.
Loved these terracotta lantern sentinels! Fun also to see Islamic water features among cacti from all over the world. Jardin Majorelle
Majorelle’s artist studio — 1931 art deco style by architect Paul Sinoir. The walls were painted in the now famous “Majorelle Blue” and are still captivating everyone today.
It is now called Villa Oasis and was YSL home and studio. Currently exhibiting the Pierre Bergé Museum of Berber Arts since December 2011 — the jewelry room was spectacularly lit as if under a sea of stars.
Such fun attention to details. And the sky is Majorelle Blue today as well.
The sun was a welcome performer — giving us some interesting shadow patterns.
So colorful as is much of Marrakech and the designs of YSL.
Pierre Bergé was YSL life long partner — he created a foundation and donated this home, their garden, their art collections, and built the new museum — really a gift to the world.
A fabulous day in Marrakech!  Inspirational design every where we looked! Even the nature patterns of the cactus – in Jardin Majorelle
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Ouzoud – Borj des Cascades, Morocco

On the road to Ouzoud. Look at the majestic snow capped Atlas Mountains! We picked up our rental car at Casablanca airport for our four hour drive on mostly very decent roads.
The impressive Hotel Borj des Cascades is our destination for three nights — feels so exotic and what we envisioned Morocco to be.
As we hike down to experience the waterfalls — we paused to look back up at our Hotel Borj des Cascades — set high on the cliff.
Cascades d’Ouzoud are some of the tallest in North Africa. The heavy rain storm we had while in Casa was much more significant here.
The 360-foot drop of Cascades d’Ouzoud makes us feel a bit insignificant. The local Amazigh (Berber) communities used the river’s flow to power traditional grinding water mills.
We hiked up the other side of the Al-Abid river gorge and enjoyed the panorama view — along with one of the native Barbary Macaque. Gorgeous!
This cute young Barbary Macaque was very acrobatic and active. Considered an Old World Monkey — it is the only primate in Africa that survives north of the Sahara Desert — and one of only two monkeys without a visible tail, the other being the Japanese Macaque.
Back at the Hotel Borj des Cascades, we could appreciate the waterfalls more after having hiked to its base and back.
To Infinity and Beyond! Too cold to swim but enjoyable just relaxing and reflecting poolside. Hotel Borj des Cascades
‘The pinch me’ view from from our room balcony! Hotel Borj des Cascades
We had an amazing Fish Tagine dinner as room service — since other guests were not dining in — very special and delicious. Hotel Borj des Cascades
Morning sunshine on our balcony. Hotel Borj des Cascades
We took a day trip to UNESCO Global M’Goun Geopark Museum, in Azilal — which exhibited the fascinating geological history of the M’Goun Massif. Built in 2017, the museum illustrated the area’s geography beginning from the creation of the universe. It unraveled all the phases this region went through as it revealed the complete history of our planet. This skeleton of the Atlasaurus imelakei, — named after the Atlas Mountain ridge — it’s  one of the largest known dinosaurs, discovered in 1979.
We had more appreciation of the complex geography of these rolling red hills on our drive back to Ouzoud. We did not detour to see dinosaur footprints but we did detour to a natural bridge…
…A local guide led us on the hiking trail under the natural limestone bridge to this spot where the opening forms a perfect outline of the African Continent. With the recent rain storms — just a few days ago — this area was impassable with a torrent of water reaching up above my head level. Demnate – Imi n’Ifri Natural Bridge
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Casablanca – Rick’s Cafe – Play It, Sam! Morocco

“What in heaven’s name brought you to Casablanca?”    ” I came to Casablanca for the waters.”    “The waters? What waters? We’re in the desert.”    “I was misinformed…”
Everybody comes to Rick’s! This renovated Building is at one of the entries to the Ancient Medina.
The Usual Suspects dressed for a Sunday lunch reservation. The Riad is built right on the 1700’s fortification wall.
Of all the Gin Joints, In all the towns, In all the world… we walked into this one.
This renovated traditional 1930’s Moroccan Riad — courtyard-style mansion — was built for painter Abdelkrim Al Ghattas, is now Rick’s Cafe.
Here’s looking at you, Kid!
Very elegant! Fine dining with salmon and lamb, wine and dessert.
There is so much Art Deco style architecture like the magnificent Cathédrale du Sacré-Cœur — a striking 1930 landmark by French architect Paul Tournon. The flying buttresses along the roof have pronounced right angles instead of the usual sweeping curves in Gothic churches.
The façade features two rectangular towers in the local Art Deco style — a French-Moroccan blend called Mauresque. The city is a dazzling collection of white buildings (Casa Blanca).
Gorgeous interiors. The rectangular windows with modernist stained glass in vibrant red and indigo blue penetrate the upper parts of the church — reminiscent of traditional Arabic mosque decoration.
We wandered around town enjoying the sights — but took way too many architecture photos to share!
The Hassan II Mosque is the pride and joy of Morocco — completed in 1993. Purposely built on reclaimed land jutting into the Atlantic Ocean — reflecting a verse in the Qur’an saying, “the throne of Allah was built on water.”
We joined a tour after a rainy night and really appreciated the reflections on the courtyard tiles of the minaret — the world’s second tallest at 210 meters (689 ft). Hassan II Mosque
Ornate and Opulent — a masterpiece of Moroccan craftsmanship — hand-carved plaster, gilded cedar ceilings, exquisite tile work, and acres of marble! The retractable roof slides opens for cooling during Ramadan. Hassan II Mosque
Sunset over the eastern Atlantic Ocean from our apartment in Casablanca with the Hassan II Mosque tower peaking out. Excellent apartment in Oceans One.
“We’re shocked! Shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!” So we put it all on 22 and let it roll!
As Time Goes By! A great jazz trio enlivened our second visit — the manager graciously sat us at an excellent table with a complementary glass of champagne!
“Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”
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Copenhagen – Denmark

Copenhagen sparkles in the Nyhavn area. Seemed awesome to get reflections in the canal. Looks very Hansiatic to us — feels like we have come full circle from Bergen!
The Harbor Bus ferry was the most convenient method of transportation for us — one block from apartment, scenic, and went to major spots along the inner harbor.
The Royal Library, 1906, and the new, 1999 — dubbed ‘The Black Diamond’ — was the first stop on the ferry. This was worth exploring as was the adjacent Danish Architectural Center
The Great Viewpoint in ‘The Black Diamond’ library. An intricate floorplan view as well as being able to enjoy a connection to the harbor.
With an equally tantalizing view of the harbor, we enjoyed the Danish Architecture Center. Our swan chair was on display in the upper left — designed by Arne Jacobsen in the Danish modern style in 1958 for the SAS Royal Hotel. We also learned more about Danish architect Jørn Utzon,who designed Sydney Opera House — his sketch upper right.
We enjoyed the design of the Opera House and wandering around the park adjacent to it.
Of course we had to visit The Little Mermaid. We were salmon working our way upstream of all the cruise ship passengers but we waited our turn to get a photo.
We spent an amazing day at the National Museum. Very detailed, organized, well displayed — we appreciated our time there. This room of Rune Stones was good and had the translation of the carving so we could better understand what we were seeing.
The beautiful Carlsberg Glyptotek art museum was another wonderful highlight we visited — with a great French Impressionist collection. We enjoyed the Bronze Dancers by Edgar Degas, cast from the original wax forms.
We like finding these aerial views of the city. We are across the inner harbor from the main center of town, in Islands Brygge. The red dot area being the Royal Library — first stop by water bus ferry.
Our wonderful skyline view just a block from the inner harbor. This is a great apartment.
Tivoli Gardens is THE amusement park — before Disney — and we supposed a must see destination. “A Kind of Magic”…
We enjoyed the lights and the reflections. We wandered around –“Don’t Stop Me Now” — over to the Glass Hall, built in 1946 — for a bit of “Bohemian Rhapsody”…
Our “Night At the Opera” with “Killer Queen”…We Will Rock You — Another One Bites The Dust — Radio Ga-Ga — Under Pressure — We Are The Champions: performed by UK-Queen. An epic ending to our Nordic adventure with “This Crazy Little thing Called Love”.