Lac Abbé

Djibouti

Horn of Africa

May 4, 2011

Djibouti has the modern colonial syndrome.  The French rulers departed thirty-four years ago, but here, like other places in the world, even after a generation or two, people are still pissed off.  Unlike Ethiopia, sometimes invaded, but never colonized, where everyone smiles a sparkling smile, folks in Djibouti City sneer, more or less, with a rotted out set of khat -gnawed teeth.  So what in heaven’s name am I doing here?

 I am here for the lakes.

Ah, what lakes!

Auberge du Sud

Erg Chebbi
Merzouga
Morocco

April 23, 2013

My Dear Fellow Travelers,

It was a looong van drive from Fes to Merzouga.  Here in the desert we are scheduled for a shrt camel ride over the dunes of the Sahara. 

A camel ride?   Done that a couple of times.  Not my favorite activity. 

I decided to plant my boots in the sand and admire the scenery from ground level. 

Jan

Wadi Rum

The Valley of the Moon

The Jordanian Desert

May 31, 2007

Is Anybody Out There?

I am alone.  Yes, I am sitting alone, on a mat, in the shade of an overhanging cliff.  In the middle of this sun blasted desert valley.

A few minutes ago, while I was exploring the Nabatean engravings on the hills nearby, Salim, my driver drove off in the white Jeep.  He just drove off.  I waved at him but he just drove off across the dusty desert floor, through the red hills and out of sight.  Out of sight.  Gone.