Gold, Salt, and Slaves
Ait Benhaddou was a trans-Saharan trading post on the Timbuktu to Marrakesh trail.
Click on the road sign for directions.
Come With Me to the Casbah
Pepe’ le Moco and Pépé le Pew uttered these words to woo the women they loved.
Click on the entrance to the Marrakech casbah and follow Pepe’ and Pépé to their romantic destination.
Barbary Pirates
“Come with me to Barbary
We’ll ply there up and down
Not quite exactly
In the service of the Crown”
“Privateering” – Mark Knopfler
Click on the pirate for a mix of Madeira stories…
Chasing Waterfalls
The photo on the left was taken in Madeira, Portugal in 1956. Today we went looking for the location, at the request of the little boy.
Click on his bare feet for details.
Forgotten Island Wine (revised)
We intend to do our best to restore Madeira wine to its former glory by drinking it in quantity while we are on the island.
Clink the glasses to hear more.
The Fortunate Isles
The magnificent tree on the left was planted in 1870, nineteen years before Frederik Bekker landed on the Azores.
Click on the Metrosidero tree for the full story.
A Matter of When
The Azores have been shaped by volcanic eruptions and earthquakes since the islands emerged from the ocean approximately four million years ago.
Click on the Atlantic sunset to see what lies beneath ….
Browse the Index above to view 350+ Archived Posts
Raised on Robbery
This cabinet may or may not have held the key used by a prostitute in a Joni Mitchell song. Click on the Empire Hotel lobby cabinet for details… Read more
The Most Interesting Person I Never Met
There is no way to stand in a graveyard with a shovel, without feeling conspicuous. Click on any winter tombstone for details… Read more