Portugal ~ A Photographers Worst Nightmare, Convent of Christ, Castelo de Vide and Wildflowers

Posted on May 28, 2016 by Tim and Joanne Joseph

May 20th – Convent of Christ and Castelo de Vide, Portugal

We started the day in Tomar with a visit to the hilltop Convent of Christ with its famous Manueline window. The convent was founded by the Knights Templar in 1118. Following the dissolution of the Templar Order, in 1319, Pope John XXII instituted the Order of Christ. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

We had just arrived at our first stop and I start snapping away when NOOOOOOO, my camera battery had died. Now I always carry a spare with me, but being still only half with it taking cold meds, I had left it on the bus. So I turned to Tim and asked to use his camera. Well, the camera God’s were frowning on me – his battery was ALSO DEAD!!!!  Continue reading →

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Portugal ~ Coimbra and Surprising Fatima

Posted on May 27, 2016 by Tim and Joanne Joseph

May 19th – Coimbra and Fatima, Portugal

Fatima, Portugal

Fatima, Portugal

Convento de Santa Cruz do Buçaco is a former Carmelite monastery in the Mata Nacional do Buçaco (Buçaco forest). Built in 1628, it was closed in 1834 at the end of the Portuguese Civil War when all religious orders were suppressed in Portugal.  Continue reading →

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Stairway to Heaven

Posted on May 27, 2016 by Tim and Joanne Joseph

May 18th ~ Medieval Portugal Tour

Guimaraes, Portugal

Guimaraes, Portugal

Editors note: In “Real Time” I am now recovered from my cold and a week has passed by in the blink of an eye. I simply needed to conserve my energy, go to bed early, enjoy the days, and take a ton of pictures. Hopefully I can recreate some of the amazing days we experienced on the balance of our time in Portugal. Continue reading →

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Under the weather, so just a brief Porto city tour

Posted on May 19, 2016 by Tim and Joanne Joseph

May 17th – Porto, Portugal

Luis I Bridge

Ponte de D. Luis (Luis I Bridge)

Today’s post is short. I have fallen victim to a cold. Tim has made several trips out to local pharmacies to get something to dry up my runny nose and watery eyes. I’m not completely miserable, but not feeling perky either.  Continue reading →

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Start of Gate 1 Portugal Trip in Porto

Posted on May 18, 2016 by Tim and Joanne Joseph

Mon, 16 May 2016 ~ Porto, Portugal

Living room of our Airbnb apartment

Living room of our Airbnb apartment

We have enjoyed four days of R&R in a small apartment that we rented through Airbnb. This allowed us a chance to get caught up on some rest, sort through hundreds of photos, write like crazy to bring our blog posts current, wash several loads of laundry, repack and simply enjoy walking the beautiful city of Porto with no particular agenda. Continue reading →

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Porto ~ Our introduction to Portugal

Posted on May 17, 2016 by Tim and Joanne Joseph

May 15th ~ Porto, Portugal

Porto, Portugal

Porto, Portugal

This is our first time in Portugal and we find it easy to get around. Arriving a few days ago, we hopped on the metro right at the airport and were able to get within a few blocks of the small apartment we had rented for four days. I will show pictures of our place in the next post.  Continue reading →

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Casablanca is More Than the Title of a Classic Movie

Posted on May 17, 2016 by Tim and Joanne Joseph

May 11th ~ Casablanca, Morocco

The city of Casablanca at our feet

The city of Casablanca at our feet

Well, we were down to the last leg of our trip which included the bus ride from Essaouira to Casablanca. We were sorry to not have had more time in Essaouira as it was so charming and our free day got partly eaten away with lousy weather.  Continue reading →

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Essaouira, my new favorite city in Morocco

Posted on May 16, 2016 by Tim and Joanne Joseph

May 10th – Essaouira, Morocco

Main street through the medina of Ess after a rainstorm

Main street through the medina of Essaouira after a rainstorm

A full day of free time in Essaouira to explore to our hearts content – and it rained. No, wait, it poured…

But, there were some breaks in-between the cloud bursts and we headed out twice to walk the streets and narrow back alleyways. I have become enchanted by this seaside artist enclave and both Tim and I could see us returning to spend a week or two here. Perhaps renting an Airbnb in or near the medina.  Continue reading →

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Is Argan Oil a Magical Elixir?

Posted on May 15, 2016 by Tim and Joanne Joseph

May 9th – Argan Oil Cooperative, Travel to Essaouira

Along the water front

Along the water front in Essaouira

We have a leisurely morning before departing Marrakesh. The only thing scheduled was for a henna tattoo artist to come to our hotel to paint anyone who was interested. Here is what I ended up with.

Henna tattoo

Henna tattoo

Continue reading →

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Ourica Valley, Berber Foot Bath, Majorelle Gardens and a Reunion

Posted on May 14, 2016 by Tim and Joanne Joseph

May 8th – Ourika Valley and Marrakesh, Morocco

Majorelle Gardens

Majorelle Gardens

Only seven of us chose to take the optional tour to the scenic Ourika Valley. It seemed a shame to take our large bus for so few of us, but it did allow us plenty of room to spread out and be comfortable for our drive into the Atlas mountains.

The first small village we visited was rustic and basic.  Continue reading →

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