This morning our travellers enjoyed free time to experience Marrakesh.

This afternoon we travelled back to Casablanca where our journey began.  During the ride, all the travellers were given a gift of a Jilaba or kaftan to take home as a remembrance of Morocco.

What a busy city Casablanca is!  With two million population, the streets were filled with people.  We saw the beautiful mosque on the water and had some free time to do some last minute shopping before relaxing in our hotel

Tonight we went to dinner at Rick’s Cafe, where the old movie “Casablanca” was filmed and we enjoyed a delicious Moroccan dinner.  Follow dinner, we went back to our hotel to rest up before our trip back home. It’s been a great and interesting trip!!!

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Today we explored the city of Marrakesh, including the splendid Koutoubia Mosque and the Saadian tombs.

Our walk continued to the herbalist’s shop, where we learned about spices, skin care products, joint remedies and Moroccan women’s kohl eye makeup.

We then enjoyed the colourful chaos of Djemma el Fna Square, where snake charmers and magicians captivate the passersby as well as taking some time for a bit of “retail herapy”.

Tonight, we enjoyed a lovely dinner cooked by a master chef with traditional Gnaoua music in the heart of the old medina.

Making our wishes and prayi At the Shrine

This is Mount Fuji, believe it or not!

Warming up around the stove…

Almost as beautiful as Canada!

All dressed up and ready for fun!

Today we travelled to beauiful Hakone where we took a boat cruise on a pirate ship across Lake Ashi. Afterwards,/we visited the Hakone Open air Museum.  using Nature as a dramatic background, it showcard masterpieces of the 20th century sculpture.

Vino`s little sister Bubbles enjoyed the cruise too

what is LUDA up to now ? :-)

After our cruise, we enjoyed yet another delicious lunch. we drove to the

Formal Gardens, an  Open Air museum and enjoyed the beautiful sculptures in a spectacular setting of ponds and meadows.

Ther was a special/Picasso exhibit.

we drove to Mount Fuji to the 5th step which is At. The mountain is over 12,000 feet high and the world`s 142nd highest mountain and the highest one in Japan. 300,000 people walk up to it every year; it takes eight hours from the Fifth step.

It was cold and rainy and we couldnt wait to get back to the warm bus and back to our hotel.Photo to follow!

At the hotel, we had dinner and enjoyed the Japanese tradition of hot spring bathing.  off to bed now!! Another great day awaits us…

  We travelled today to Marrakesh, and explored the old medina with its ancient alleyways, and shopped in the city’s souks (marketplace).

We visited an herbalist’s shop where many of the travellers purchased herbs, creams, and Moroccan kohl eye makeup.

We spent the night at Les Jardins de la Medina, located in the heart of the medina (old part of the city).

Today, we drove into the High Atlas Mountains and stopped at the dramatic Todra Gorge where cliffs rise 300 metres high.  We continued along the High Atlas Mountains until we reached the city of Ouarzazate to spend the night at the gorgeous Le Berbere Palace.

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Roman ruins at Volubulis

At the Roman ruins.

Horse stables at Volubulis

Our group at the Roman ruins at Volubulis

We are in Fes for 4 nights and are staying at the fabulous Riad Maison Bleue, with its elaborate architecture and draperies.

Today we visited Meknes, one of Morocco’s four imperial cities, driving through mountainous terrain to arrive there.

We also travelled to Volubulis, a 3rd century B.C. Roman settlement.

Lunch at Palais Didi consisted of chicken and cous cous, traditional Moroccan fare.

At dinner, we enjoyed the sounds of a traditional Malhoune singer together with a delicious dinner of chicken with parsley and lemon, vegetables and a scrumptious dessert made from phyllo pastry, milk and sugar.

This morning we took the Subway to the Tsukiji  Market, but we had some lessons first in how to make sushi at Kiyomura Juku Sushi School. GREAT FUN!

Our wonderful teacher who can make 13 sushi pieces in 60 seconds!

After lunch, we took the Subway and visited the Meiji Jingu Shrine. It is a busy, yet very peaceful place.

Yet another wedding!

We had a great day and dinner was on our own tonight, with everyone going in different directions. Our last night in this amazing city!