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Blogs from our founders, Pam and Tina. |
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Morocco 2013 trip cancelled
Dear Friends,
We were very sad to have to cancel our February 2013 trip to Morocco. You may have seen all of the
news coming out of Mali in January. While we were cheered to see the French and Malian armies driving the Al Qaeda insurgents
out of the ancient cities of Timbucktu and Gao, Mali, those fighters vanished into the southern part of the Sahara Desert
without a trace. Sitting at the northern edge of the Sahara Desert, Moroccan officials were concerned about the safety
and security of American travelers near their borders just weeks after the AQIM insurgents had been forced into the desert.
We were heart-broken to have to cancel our trip, but, the safety and security of our travelers was our #1 concern. We hope
to be able to offer this same trip next year. Since our trip is centered around tree-planting season, the dates will most
likely be in February again. So, stay in touch if you'd like to join us!
And, if you haven't read the
posts below, our earlier blog posts give you an idea of what the itinerary will look like!
- Tina and Pam
#
Our Journey through Morocco Part 7 of 7
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| | Hello again, welcome to the final portion of ourCelebrate Morocco itinerary.
Hopefully you're hooked by now!
We told you earlier…we
couldn’t fit in all of the incredible things we’re going to do on this trip in just one email. Now, we hope you
see why! And, we hope you’ll join us. Because, now, we’re headed to magical Marrakech (our final destination,
and one of the best shopping opportunities). Marrakech’s
multi-faceted splendor certainly lives up to its hype. This is a significant destination for people from all walks of life,
travelers and locals alike. Berbers and southern tribes-people come to the city’s bustling markets for commerce and
entertainment. Foreigners come to discover the exotic
allure of a place unlike anywhere they’ve ever been, with spices, snake charmers and the lively Jemaa El Fna Square,
all back-dropped by the majestic Atlas Mountains. We’ll
examine the many sides of this cultural jewel, entranced by the charm of Marrakech’s many historical sites, tombs, and
flourishing gardens. - Visit the Menara, a flowerbed-enshrouded
pool that doubles as a desert irrigation system and a reflective surface for exquisite Moorish architecture
- Ponder the beauty of the Koutoubia Minaret, identical to Sevilla, Spain’s
famous La Giralda
- Admire the sixteenth-century
mausoleums of the Saadien Tombs
- Take in the lovely
sights and aromas of the Agdal and Majorelle Gardens
- Enjoy a farewell dinner at a Jewish restaurant in the Mellah, set to typical Andalusian and Sephardic music
Are you ready to join us? We hope so!
You can book here.
Tina & Pam Please visit our trip highlight pages detailing opportunities for: Hikes & Walks
Music & Dance
Shopping The Medina People to People
Click here for the complete itinerary
| Jemaa El Fna Square
Incredible souk shopping
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Our
accommodations in the Marrakech.
Les Jardines de la Medina
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Our Journey Through Morocco - Part 6 of 7
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| | Are you signed up yet? It’s Tina and Pam, and we hope you are seriously considering coming
with us to Morocco, February 9-24, 2013. We’ve been telling you about the incredible adventures along the way. (And, we haven’t even been
to Marrakech yet!) The next leg of our adventures
takes us to the DadesValley, By now you get it: Morocco is a land of geographical extremes and sights not to be missed. The Dades Valley is an incredible sight to behold, with the unusual
rock formations of El Kelaa De Mgouna and Boumalne and a myriad of Kasbah settlements, most of which are no longer inhabited.
At the intersection of the Dades and Draa river valleys and the High Atlas Mountains is the large desert oasis town of Ouarzazate. En route to Marrakech from Ouarzazate, the 11,000-foot Taddart and Tizi
Tishka pass divides the mountains into a harsh, arid sector and a lush, verdant side that collects moisture from the Atlantic
Ocean breeze. - Spend the night in Ouarzazate
- See Berber Ahwash Howara dancers perform in a local home
- Take an easy hike in the DadesValley
- Prepare for the unique and dazzling magic of Marrakech
Please visit our trip highlight pages detailing opportunities for: Hikes & Walks
Music & Dance
Shopping
The Medina
People to People
Click here for the complete itinerary
|  | | Kasba |
 | | Berber village |
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Our
accommodations in the Ouarzazate.
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Our Journey Through Morocco - Part 5 of 7
| | We hope you’re considering coming on our February 9-24, 2013 trip to Morocco with us.
In our earlier emails we’ve talked about our adventures in Volubilis, and Fez, and the wonderful hands-on volunteer
project, donating and planting fruit trees to help poor women farmers in Taza. Next, we’ll trek in our 4x4s to the Desert. Morocco never ceases to amaze, with its breathtaking array of drastically varying landscapes. The desert setting of
Erg Chebbi is nothing short of astonishing. In the Moroccan portion of the Sahara sit the Merzouga Dunes, one of the most
awe-inspiring sights on earth and the perfect depiction of the classic North African landscape. And on the way to Tinghir lies yet another amazing setting – the looming and impossibly
narrow gorges of the Valley of Todra. - Witness
the tribal Rokba Tagmount Dance of the Tuareg people
- Ride camels through quintessential desert scenery
- Camp under an endless sky in the Merzouga Dunes
- Watch the sun rise over a sea of smooth desert sand
- Ride along the DadesRiver, passing by agricultural plots sectioned off by rose bushes and thousands of ancient Kasbahs
Please visit our trip highlight pages detailing opportunities for: Hikes & Walks
Music & Dance
Shopping
The Medina
People to People
Click here for the complete itinerary
|  | | Heading to camp |
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Our accommodations in the Sahara.
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Our Journey Through Morocco - Part 4 of 7
| | By now, we hope you’re hooked! Music, food, shopping, exploration, hikes and walks, travel
in 4x4s. Adventure, mystique, elegance. Morocco has it all! The next part of our
February 9-24, 2013 trip toMorocco will take us into the Middle Atlas Mountains, offering an incomparable cultural experience in the Berber heart
of Morocco. Azrou is an important market center for the area’s Berber tribes – the small town is a regional hub
of commercial and social life for these nomadic people. And in the High Atlas Mountains, striking views of 12,000-foot peaks dominate the horizon. At Erfoud, a fiery red strip
of desert suddenly gives way to a fertile valley dotted with date palm groves – it may seem like a mirage, but it’s
the real thing! - Meet the Atlas Mountains’
nomadic and hospitable Berber people – they may even invite you into their tents for some mint tea
- Seek out the endangered Barbary macaque in the cedar forests it has
long considered home
- Stop at the
town of Ifrane, known as “Little Switzerland” for its popular ski resorts
- Take an excursion to the holy oasis city of Rissani
Please visit our trip highlight pages detailing opportunities for: Hikes & Walks
Music & Dance
Shopping
The Medina
People to People |  | Local Spice Market
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| | Mountainside Berber
Village |
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Our accommodations in Erfoud.
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Our Journey Through Morocco - Part 3 of 7
| | Hi there. This is Tina and Pam, hoping you’re enjoying our emails telling you about our
fabulous upcoming trip to Morocco. We’re both going, and we hope you can join us! Previously, we told you about our adventures inVolubilis and Fez.
From there we’re traveling toBab Boudir and Taza. This region sits between the Middle Atlas and the Rif Mountains, with picturesque views of both. The ruined
medieval fortifications that abound throughout the area serve as reminders of the rich Almohad history. And like so much of Morocco the region’s natural physical
beauty is sure to affect all those whose travels bring them here. Quaint and slow-paced farming villages rest between the
mountains, and fascinating caves chiseled out of the rock invite exploration. In this area less-traveled by Western tourists, we’ll be doing our “Give Back” portion
of the trip, donating fruit trees to local farmers and helping them plant them during the peak planting season. - Help impoverished female farmers (some widowed) plant fruit trees for
an extra source of income
- Dance and celebrate
with native Tsouli Haiata drummers
- Participate
in a Ghiata and Tbbala ceremony
- Meditate and pray
with Sufi scribes and enjoy Samaa singing
- Hike
to the storied Friouato cave
- Participate in a henna
ceremony, if you wish
- Eat a traditional couscous
lunch with the people of Bab Boudir
Please
visit our trip highlight pages detailing opportunities for: Hikes & Walks
Music & Dance
Shopping
The Medina
People to People |  | Middle Atlas Mountains
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Trees
waiting to be planted.
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Our Journey Through Morocco - Part 2 of 7
As
you know, Give Back Kick Back is going to Morocco! Our last email told you about the Roman ruins of Volubilis. Now, we’re in the mysterious Fez.
Undeniably enchanting, Fez stimulates the senses with its haunting, yet beautiful, sounds, visual splendor, and evocative
scents. The most ancient of the Imperial capitals and the most complete medieval city of the Islamic world, Fez is virtually
suspended in time, unfazed by the constantly evolving world outside of its walls. Fez owes nothing to the Western world, save
electricity.
Start with an historic tour of Fez, including visits to the Mellah (the Jewish quarter), the
King’s Palace, and the Bat’ha Museum of Moroccan Arts.
Immerse yourself in the sights, scents
and sounds of the incredible Fez Medina with an experienced guide, encountering many of the local artisans from cobblers to
metal workers, fabric weavers to book binders, as well as the spice and dried fruit markets.
- Stop for mint tea at the home of a local family
- Savor a dinner at a local restaurant in the Medina
- Visit a medieval trader’s warehouse
- Feel the rhythm of Jajouka as musicians and dancers share their cultural art with you
- Journey through the Rif Mountains by mule caravan, on your way to Mount
Zallagh
- Enjoy an Issawa drumming workshop, a hearty
meal, and mystical Sufi chants at the house of Moulay Ahmed Drissi
Please visit our trip highlight pages detailing opportunities for:
Hikes & Walks
Music & Dance
Shopping
The Medina
People to People
|  | | Blue Gate by Night |
 | | Shopping in Fez |
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Our Accommodations in Fez
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Our Journey to Morocco - Part 1 of 7
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| | Friends,
Give Back Kick Back Travel is planning a fabulous trip toMorocco, February 9-24, 2013. We’ll be combining a volunteer experience with exotic travel as we explore the country in 4x4s, tasting
and seeing the best Morocco has to offer. This trip is bursting with so much fun and adventure over fourteen days that we
can’t tell you all there is to do in just one email. So, we’re breaking the trip down into segments, in order
share some of the trip highlights along the journey. The first stop
on our Moroccan Adventure is two nights at the striking site of Volubilis, an archeological marvel visible for miles from the
various bends in the approach road. Volubilis is the best preserved
Roman ruin in all of North Africa. This ethereal place was the site of the introduction of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
to the Berber natives of Morocco; they were brought by Jewish traders, the Romans and the grandson of the prophet Mohamed,
Moulay Idris Al Akbar, respectively. During our two days here we will: - Tour Volubilis with an
archeologist guide
- Discover the labyrinth-like streets and markets of nearby Moulay Idriss, the first Islamic
city in Morocco
- Enjoy a brief introduction of Sufi music and Hadra dance performance by local artists.
- Take
a walk through an exceptionally beautiful ancient olive grove-so beautiful that it was used as a filming location for Martin
Scorsese's "Last Temptation of Christ."
- Explore caves that served as shelter for many stoics and Sufi masters
- Participate
in a drumming workshop
- Eat delicious meals iin the hotel gardens overlooking Volubilis
|  | | Volubilis Archway |
 | | Moulay Idris from
Afar |
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Our
Accommodations
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The View is
Spectacular from the Hotel Gardens
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Morocco 2013
OK. It's on! We're going to Morocco in February 2013. Yay! A couple who travelled with us to Mali has already signed on.
This exotic land, a crossroads between Europe and Africa, is rich in culture, music, shopping, and food. Plus, we'll be helping
poor women farmers by donating and planting new fruit trees. Check out the excellent itinerary for Morocco. We hope you'll
join us! - Tina & Pam
#
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2010.04.01
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Give Back Kick Back Travel (c) 2009 PO Box 471015 Brookline, MA 02447
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