Travel is more than the seeing of sights. It is a change that goes on, deep and permanent , in the ideas of living. Miriam Beard Agadir

Today is October 29th and the four of us spoke about the fact that we boarded October 10th and have been calling this sailing ship our comfortable home for 18 days.   The time has gone by like balloons floating to the sky.  We see them lift and marvel at the currents that swirl and carry them and then with longing and appreciation for their unique beauty we watch them disappear.  Yes today I worked for over two hours putting together in my blog for Agadir.  I always feel a sense of completion like you do when you clean house or mow the yard; you know what I mean.  You complete tasks and then step back and admire the effort.  Well as I have done many times I closed my phone with the app open.  Then I went to the jewelry making class.  Side note to that we often have 135 folks attending including men.  It’s called Arts and Crafts but Betsy and I only do the jewelry which has been a challenge for us both with united effort for each other!!  After the class we were headed to the Ocean Bar to meet a few new friends for Happy Hour.  I decided why not go ahead and publish the blog.  It probably only needed a concluding sentience.  You guessed it….. it was gone!!! I searched for hours going to every form of google help I could find and tried reloading you name it.  I slept poorly last night but had to resign myself to the fact that I would be starting over.  So I may miss a few things I wanted to share but I’m behind having too much fun with old and new friends so here it goes .

I attended the port history talk which is excellent on this ship.  It’s Jeremy and he is well traveled and has a good sense of humor.  Here are some snippets I found interesting. 

A Mosque is a place to meet each other and get information about ones religion it is also a social gathering.  Moslems pray up to 5 times per day. Those who  believe on Mohammad, have a period during the year where they fast during day time for 30 days ; they believe in helping poor people.  Most Muslims make once in their life  going to Mecca.  The  Mecca is in Saudi Arabia.   It is very expensive like 8-10,000 dollars per person to travel their.    Mosques are open all day but open and close doors at certain times of the day.  Doors are made of beautiful cedar wood.  Marble and granite along with Mosaic wood is typical in the construction. Our first stop on our tour this day was the Mohamed V Mosque.  We could not go in but we’re able to admire the beautiful architected from many angles. 

 Next we moved on to an argan oil store. This tree is only found in Morocco.  Goats go under tree and eat the grass which makes it easier for women and children to find the nuts and gather them. The women and children break the husk but not the nut.  Two kinds of oil olive are produced on the island along with olive oil. and argan.

A pressed for paste  of the oils can be used for cooking and for skin. Pressing coldly 

gives us product more vitamins and minerals. No chemicals are used here.  Everything is organic.  Trees grown here are endemic to southern Morocco.  Every other year the tree produces fruit.  Women pick the fruit after it drops off trees. They congregate and work together making it a social time of sharing.   The berbers have been making it since the 1500s.  Kernels are ground with a stone mill.   It takes a day to make 1 liter of oil.  There is No smell to pure argan oil.  If it’s oily it’s not pure.

Our guide on our van rides a while with us then transfers to another van.  He doesn’t use a microphone so it is hard to hear.  The country is very poor and trying to restore things is almost at a standstill.  The worst part of our tour was the horrific amount to garbage everywhere.  In fields, around homes, piled high along roadways. We asked about it and he said the hover is aware but can’t find a way to get people to pay for the service so the throw garbage everywhere.   All the holy areas are littered too.  

Many people left the area after the earthquake happened se real years ago and never returned. The government tried to provide free apartments but that was t too successful either.  Currently there are about 380,000 inhabits.  Agriculture ,fishing and tourism are their livelihoods.  These are their riches.  

At the Mohamed Mosque V which is being restored inside so we are only allowed outside to view. It’s high atop the city of course for protecting the port.  

It’s massive.  Camel owners try to sell you a ride or a photo 

It’s a hot humid day here. 

Dan sure loved this guy.  We paid him a dollar for the photo and handling!! 

If you know Dan he is in his element. 

The country is dry flat rocky and lacks much shade

More mosques which are operational but at this time we can not enter only marvel at the our side beauty and architecture 



Our fellow farmers and workers bring fresh crops to market and send off a cheery wave liking to be noticed on camera. 

The Argan oil store visit was brief and strictly for purchasing. We tried a few things but no purchases. 


Most cafes saw only men sitting, drinking and smoking. No women.   Although our diode said women here have freedoms religiously and politically. They can divorce, choose their dress and are not criticized.