TEN

Luke turned ten (10!!!!! - don't even get me started) while we were abroad.  10 seems like a big deal.  Double digits.  Big kid.  Ten.  Luke did not open a single gift on his birthday but he got the biggest birthday gift we have ever given.  The type of gift that he will hopefully remember for a lifetime.     So, there was nothing tangible to open but his 10th birthday was FULL of gifts.  For Luke's 10th birthday we went to AFRICA! 

We flew from Lisbon to Marrakech (only a 90 minute flight!).  Morocco is a beautiful country that has so many varied terrains.  The Atlas mountains alone blew our minds!  We stayed in a tiny but gorgeous Riad within the spice market of Marrakech.  I'm not kidding, our riad (hotel) was through a bit of a narrow maze of spice vendors everywhere.  A wonderland for your senses and such a cool place to be, definitely right in the heart of the souk action!  We were only in Morocco for 3 days but we spent our time in awe and at times overwhelmed by a culture so incredibly different than our own. It is a magnificent place full of visual wonders, vast open spaces, friendly people, and a confusing and in some senses unfortunate political state.  We learned so very much in our time here.  We embraced and learned from our differences and we recognized and were made aware of how fortunate we are.  All good things!

HAPPY 10TH BIRTHDAY, LUKE! 
We just knew that a trip to Africa would blow his mind and we found a wonderful private tour led by two young Berber gentlemen that simply made the day so incredibly special!  They were knowledgeable, funny, fun, and up for anything!  Thank you to Ishmael and Mohamed (it was Mohamed's birthday too!)  for for making Luke's special day unforgettable!! 

At the base of the Atlas Mountains riding camels.  How's that for a birthday treat?!

We visited a Berber family home to have breakfast with their family.  The grandmother and granddaughter taught us how to prepare the bread for the fire.  It is an incredibly long and labor intensive process to get the dough to the desired consistency.  They do this daily, multiple times a day.  Respect.

Our mules and our mule guides!  We rode these mules for miles and miles through Atlas Mountain trails leading to yet another Berber village to have lunch.  The young man in the middle - it was actually his family that hosted us for a delicious tagine lunch.

Our birthday lunch spot, a rooftop eating area of a sweet Berber family home.

The narrow road of our Riad.  Too narrow for cars but not too narrow for motorbikes (INSANE driving) and mules and horses.

The riads often have an open air atrium in the center and the guest rooms on the perimeter.  Because of this there were 2 resident turtles that we found and greeted each day.

The riad plunge pool!  Such a great little feature.  It was actually not that hot while we were in Morocco.  I think maybe it got to 92?  And no humidity. 

Our square before entering into the spice market maze to our riad door.

Marrakech.  A truly bustling place full of action.  You really had to pay attention!  Seemingly very few traffic laws. We stayed in and explored the old city....inside the medina wall that stretches about 20km and has 14 different entrances.  We did venture outside the medina wall for our amazing Moroccan adventure!

One of MANY mosques.  The calls to pray were such a surreal event in Marrakech and even the rural villages that we visited.  Time seems to stop.

We visited some tombs of past Moroccan royals, again the tilework and artistry were mind blowing.

Exterior tombs

Obvious tourists!

Another mosque outside of the Jemaa el-Fna square...Marrakech's most famous souk

Jemaa el-Fna - full of vendors, snake charmers, trained monkeys. An overload of sights and sounds

Citrus galore!

The riad rooftop, living his best African life!

Atlas mountains in the morning mist

The home where we had breakfast had 2 cows, both living inside the home in indoor stables.  Luke thought this was the greatest thing ever

Higher altitude Morocco

Our sweet breakfast host! Isn't she beautiful?! She made us delicious mint tea that we had also had when we arrived at our riad but she had a whole ceremony around the preparation that was so fun to watch, Luke was even quizzed on it later in the day. :-)  There was a huge language barrier between us and our hosts so when our guides were chatting elsewhere there was a lot of body language and smiling and sometimes that is all you need to get across gratitude and love. 

Breakfast...delicious!!

I had mentioned to Mohamed when booking our adventure that it would be on Luke's actual birthday.  This is the car they picked us up in...already decked out to celebrate our best guy!  SO thoughtful!

Luke and his birthday camel....who happened to be the mama to that baby camel in the background.  The little guy (or girl?) followed her mama the whole way.  Adorable.

I love my husband but camel riding his not his forte.  You can't be good at everything, L!

Happy Birthday!

Getting into a higher and drier spot.

The trust that you quickly put into a mule is astounding.  Luke mentioned this at one of our breaks...that at first he was nervous but by mile 2 or so you just put your trust into this creature that is leading you up and down "trails" that are barely there.  Mules are incredibly sure-footed and thank goodness for that!

One on one time with Ishmael....such a great guy!!

Making our way to a waterfall

Amazing!

The Berber village where we had lunch

Luke's mint tea test!  He did great!  Ishmael's only critique is that Luke was a little skimpy on the sugar! Ha!  Luke QUICKLY rectified that! :-)

The rooftop balcony and view of our lunch spot.  Sometimes we have to pinch ourselves...we were here, we did this, we are grateful.

Rooftop lunch

On to the desert for an action packed late afternoon!

Quad bikes for the Birthday win! 

Luke was not old enough to drive his own but our awesome trail leader slowed down once we were outside of the rental place's sight and asked Luke if he wanted to drive his bike...it was an immediate YES from our 10 year old!  Birthday quad biking through the African desert.  AWESOME!

L on a camel makes me laugh out loud!  It was hilarious!

Our bread making teacher

The grandfather manned the "oven"

Just the sweetest and warmest family.  They opened their home, their arms, and their hearts to share a piece of their lives with us.  Incredible.  Such a wonderful lesson in people, humanity....such different cultures and ways of life yet warmth and kindness are universal.

Ishmael and Mohamed arranged for a birthday cake to be dropped off at our riad after our day was done.  Our sweet waiter found this candle/firework and presented Luke with it after our meal.  This photo was taken at about 10pm and our birthday boy started and finished his day with a mile wide smile.  Happy Birthday, Luke!  We love you infinity!
And thank you, Morocco!