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A YEAR OF ADVENTURE
Where in the world is Priss?

Morocco Mosaic

Medinas and Camels With a Mean Streak

Tour group in Sahara Desert

My recent adventure was a guided two-week tour of Morocco. I felt welcome by the hospitality of Moroccans I met and, although it was not easy travel, the country was fascinating. 


My experiences there were quite varied. The tour visited large cities and small villages, kasbahs, mosques, and medinas. Several nights we stayed in a Riad, a traditional home with thick walls, a plain exterior, and an inner courtyard, a construction that keeps the house cool. We toured the ancient medinas in Fez and Marrakesh and observed artisans working in tiny workshops as they created brass lanterns, leather shoes called “babouche”, and pottery tagines hand-painted in brightly colored, intricate patterns. 


Left to right 

Top row: Marrakesh: Riad; tagines and brass lamps in medina

Bottom row: Chefchaouen stairway; my camel in Sahara Desert; Chefchaouen door


One highlight was Chefchaouen, “The Blue City”, a mountain town in northwest Morocco with white buildings washed with different shades of blue. The effect is cooling and lovely and it has the artistic feeling of a bohemian Greek island. 


Another was a one-night stay in the Sahara Desert. We “camelled in and out”, riding a camel for 1½ hours at sunset to our accommodation, and then retracing our route the next morning at sunrise. The reddish Sahara sand is very fine, and the dunes have the appearance of soft velvet.


Note: I learned an important lesson there: Camels have a mean streak. Famous for being ill-tempered and obstinate, they often bite without warning. (The camel I rode was indifferent and lethargic, fortunately.)


My “Year of Adventure” is ending, and I will be glad to be home in San Francisco. Inspired by my last year, however, I hope to find the path that leads to my next adventure soon!


Salaam,

Priss 




 

MY FAVORITE THINGS

  • Chefchaouen – “The Blue City” 

  • Food to try – tagines and couscous are good

 

STAY IN TOUCH

Let me know when you are in town! You can reach me via email or leave a phone message



Colorful Moments in Paris

Updated: Jul 30


Louvre, Gallerie d’Apollon ceiling 

Art is woven throughout the cultural fabric in Paris, in ways large and small. Four of my favorite memories here are those in which I was surprised by color, whether it was a monument that sparkled, a monarch’s jewels, whimsical displays in a shopping street, or a modern performance in a church dating back to the 13th century. 


Left to right 

Top row: Le Village Royal entry; Eiffel Tower; and Louvre, King Louis XV crown 

Bottom row: Eiffel Tower; Saint-Eustache church; and Le Village Royal  


Every hour after sundown, the Eiffel Tower’s lights sparkle for a full five minutes and burst forth in the Paris night sky. It is a creative moment of awe and energy visible across the city. 


The Louvre Museum’s Gallerie d’Apollon showcases the French crown jewels. I enjoyed this exhibit because it is small, and the room that houses it is visually stunning, adorned with gold, paintings, and lovely, large windows. I was struck particularly by the crown created for King Louis XV’s coronation in Reims in 1722. Featuring large gemstones in different colors placed in minimalist settings, it has a decidedly modern feel even though it is over 300 years old.  


Le Village Royal is a 270-year-old shopping street near La Madeleine church. Known for artist Patricia Cunha’s installation of brightly colored umbrellas suspended in the air above the walkway, the latest installation in the same location features large gold metallic disks that shimmer in the wind. Completely unexpected, it is a big and unapologetic bolt of happiness. 


Finally, I end on a theatrical note. I attended a “spectacle” in the Saint-Eustache church, a performance that integrated theatre, music, singing, and a beautiful light show that used color to emphasize and explore the church’s interior architecture. (Note: Spectacles take place in different locations, and feature and combine different art forms.) This performance was unusual and a cultural highlight.  





My time in Paris is ending. Although I am sad, I am looking forward to my next adventure: Morocco.  


Au revoir, 

Priss 







 

MY FAVORITE THINGS

 

STAY IN TOUCH

Let me know when you are in town! You can reach me via email or leave a phone message



Paris Monuments and More

Iconic Sites at Night


Hôtel des Invalides


Paris monuments are spectacular at night, illuminated brightly against the inky-blue Paris night sky. I walked and explored three of them, and all transported me to a different time and place.


Construction on the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre began in 1875 and finished in 1919. The building is white and holds some of the largest mosaics in the world. There is an excellent view of Paris from the steps in front of its entrance, too.


Left to right 

Top row : Basilique du Sacré-Cœur: exterior and interior mosaic detail; Musée de l'Armée - helmet


The Hôtel National des Invalides is a complex of buildings in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. It was built under Louis XIV in 1677 to house the invalids of its armies. Today, this impressive monument brings together museums, and a hospital and nursing home for war veterans. During my visit to the museum, I also found a knight in shining armor!


The Arc de Triomphe began construction in 1806 under Napoleon, the French Emperor. It honors those who fought and died for France, and a flame marks the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier underneath its grand arch. 


Two practical tips. First, some of the monuments are open late on the first Friday of the month and less crowded then. Second, if you are staying in Paris for a week or two, you can purchase a Navigo Découverte card that includes unlimited metro and bus rides within Paris, and transportation to the Ile de France.


Tarte au Citron Meringuée at Le Loir dans La Théière


I’ll close on a sweet note – literally. For those who enjoy Tarte au Citron Meringuée, a close cousin to our Lemon Meringue Pie, Le Loir dans La Théière in the Marais serves a delicious one. Although not an actual monument, it is monumental on its own. 


À tout à l'heure,

Priss





 

MY FAVORITE THINGS

  • Le Loir dans La Théière – casual tea room in the Marais. Good for lunch and dessert, or serves dessert only starting at 3 pm. No reservations.

  • Navigo Découverte - A travel card that includes unlimited metro and bus rides in Paris, and train travel to the Ile de France

 

STAY IN TOUCH

Let me know when you are in town! You can reach me via email or leave a phone message



Let me know when you are in town!  You can reach me via email or leave a phone message

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