Ethiopia Maribela Boutique Hotel in Lalibela

Stunning Views from Maribela Hotel ©Solange Hando

Located on a ridge in the Ethiopian highlands, this panoramic hotel is delightful, rustic, elegant, easily accessed from the airport and a short drive from the famous rock-hewn churches of Lalibela.

The view above is from the outdoor section of the bar-restaurant framed by flowers and plants. Service is friendly, food delicious, continental or Ethiopian, my top favourite the avocado salad.

Coffee Time? ©Solange Hando

Like to try Ethiopian coffee? 

This is available all day, free of charge and freshly prepared in a traditional coffee ceremony, reflecting the heart and soul of this ancient country.

Likewise the local honey wine is ready to welcome you whenever you step in.

Bed for one? Wow... ©Solange Hando

Maribela has just 17 rooms on 4 floors -no lift but worth it for the views- ranging from single and double to King, Deluxe and Style Suite, some with double poster beds and traditional furniture.

All are spacious, quiet with picture windows and balcony complete with a day bed so you can relax and enjoy the scenery any time.

Corridor outside my Room ©Solange Hando

Arts and crafts depicting local life are attractive, especially the lampshades, by your bed or your door, and the angel face on your ceiling which turns into the main light.

Sculpted wood and orange shades add warmth to Maribella's unique authentic decor.

Cosy Corner ©Solange Hando

Small but cosy, grounds have quiet corners where you can meet  friends, share a drink and chat in the shade or in the sun.

Lush vegetation is all around, trees, flowers and plants and you are sure to see the bird life undisturbed by the guests.  

Maribela is a green hotel, staffed by locals and to encourage reforestation, some of the profits in the past 3 years have been donated to plant 2000 trees and drought-resistant flowering plants.

Sunset from my Balcony ©Solange Hando

Ethiopia Lake Tana and the Blue Nile

Lake Tana ©Solange Hando

About 500 km north of the capital, Tana is Ethiopia's largest lake, almost the size of an inland sea but freshwater all the way and only 14 metres deep on average.

Best place to stay is the lovely resort of Bahir Bar, all tropical flowers and trees, set on a peninsula in the south-east corner of the lake.

Ready to explore? ©Solange Hando

 Rivers and streams, at least two dozens of them, flow into the lake but there is only one outlet and that is the source of the Blue Nile in the south east where this boat is heading.

Beyond the lake, the river flows south then west through dramatic gorges then up north to Sudan where it joins the White Nile, providing 80% of the combined water.

Hippos enjoying the Blue Nile ©Solange Hando

Lake Tana is rich in wild life, many species of fish, some endemic, birds -especially white pelicans-  and small pods of hippos who enjoy the shallows close to the source but sometimes venture a little further.

Emerald water near the source ©Solange Hando

This local man is collecting papyrus from the shore which he will sell in the local market. Papyrus is burnt as incense to please the gods.

Islands on the lake have Orthodox chapels and monasteries and are highly respected pilgrimage sites for locals.

Approaching the Blue Nile Falls ©Solange Hando

Beyond the lake a country drive takes you from Tana to the Falls, an amazing chance to see genuine villages and rural life unchanged, it seems, by centuries.

It's a rough road much of the way then a walk across open land before bouncing on a long suspension bridge for a close look of the Falls.

Blue Nile Falls in Ethiopia ©Solange Hando

Here they are in the dry season, not at their most spectacular, but good enough for me, dropping 45 metres from the top, with scenic trails meandering up the nearby slopes.

In the wet season, the 160 metre wide river is channelled through a thunderous gorge just 20 metres across.

 Sunrise on Lake Tana ©Solange Hando

Travels on my Birthday

Taiwan ©Solange Hando

Which birthday? Well, let us say somewhere on the wiser side of middle-age.

Lovely celebration with the Tsou tribe up in the hills... See the tiny peach in my right hand? Straight from the garden and a special present from the family.

Rio de Janeiro ©Solange Hando

Well, I could show you the clocktower near the beach confirming the date but this is a much more exciting picture.

Loved this view from Corcovado and in the afternoon, went up the Sugar loaf  (front right) up two cable cars. Fabulous.

Namibia ©Solange Hando

I loved Namibia and I still dream about this beautiful cheetah out in the wild, just posing for my birthday, it seemed, in the heat of the day.

Did you know Namibia was the first country in the world to include conservation in its Constitution?

Wildlife always has the right of way and it certainly works, can't beat it.

Peru ©Solange Hando

Hold on, don't let me drift!

This is me on Lake Titicaca with the Uros Indians who build their homes on reed islands. Up there, on the roof of the world, this was indeed an amazing day.

Madagascar ©Solange Hando

My birthday wish? There it was, a real lemur in the wild, hard work for me clambering through the forest but so easy for them swinging from branch to branch...

Watched many different species in different areas, guides knew exactly where to go.

Reunion Island ©Solange Hando

Something I'd never done before, flying on a microflight over a volcanic island...on the other side of the world.

Scenery wise, never seen any island as dramatic as this one, canyons, craters and peaks everywhere and, would you believe it, this is a French department...

Costa Rica ©Solange Hando

Celebrating with Local Farmer

Remembering lots of  happy times

and planning many more
Blogged on my birhday
at home
Lockdown 2020

Rainbows Bright and Beautiful

The Iguazu Falls ©Solange Hando

My favourite rainbow on my favourite Falls, Iguazu stretching in the rainforest across Argentina and Brazil. There are up to 275 falls, most of them in Argentina but best seen from across the border.

The Zambezi River in Zambia ©Solange Hando

Rainbow over the Zambezi river just above the Victoria Falls, discovered by David Livingstone who named them after his Queen. The Falls continue across the border in Zimbabwe.

Rainbow in Paro ©Solange Hando

This is in Bhutan, 'land of gross national happiness' and my top destination. This is where you land (not the capital) and the monastery by the river is one of the most sacred in the kingdom.

Lake Nahuel Huapi in the Andean 'Lake District' ©Solange Hando

This lake is in Bariloche, a pretty Alpine resort in Argentina (more lakes in Chile) with superb scenery in a National Park and activities, trekking, climbing or skiing.

Nur-Sultan in Kazakhstan ©Solange Hando

Now what is this?

For me this is a Rainbow

Built by man

The Light at the End of the Road

 Hoping we can all get together again very soon

Take care and keep safe

Morocco Kasbah Hotel, Edge of the Desert, Enjoy and Travel Safe

Welcome to Hotel Xaluca ©Solange Hando

Built in kasbah style with adobe bricks and towers, Xaluca is a unique hotel with plenty of charm and character.

Located on the edge of the Sahara near Erfoud, far too hot for the virus spreading across Europe, it's the perfect place to explore the Merzouga dunes, a short drive away.. Then book a dromedary ride and enjoy the sunrise (or sunset) over the desert.

Xaluca Outdoor Pool ©Solange Hando

Step through the reception and you are greeted by this lovely pool in a spacious courtyard framed by palm trees. There are bougainvillea and bright Moroccan rugs spread on the paths, loungers, bar and lots of places to sit in the sun or in the shade.

Other facilities include a heated indoor pool and jacuzzi and a spa for beauty treatments, Vichy showers, massages and hammam.

Guest Room in Xaluca ©Solange Hando

The hotel has 137 rooms, standard and suites, and 7 secluded bungalows. All material used is local from ochre-coloured adobe walls to traditional Berber rugs and bed covers, mostly orange and red.

Bathrooms are rather special with tiles in geometric patterns, copper wash basins and adjoining shelves made of local stone engraved with ammonite and other fossils.

Breakfast Selection ©Solange Hando

Breakfast, dinner or snacks, there's plenty to enjoy on a generous buffet, from Moroccan specialities to continental offerings. Friendly staff and you can eat in or out. 

Tea, Madame? ©Solange Hando

Mint tea, leaves included or strained, sweet but no milk, it's likely to be poured from up high into a glass, sometimes with a silver teapot.  This old Moroccan tradition is a sign of hospitality and friendship.

Traditional Xaluca ©Solange Hando

Xaluca Hotel Kasbah is full of surprises with winding alleyways and archways leading to guest rooms and beyond. Wander around and discover hidden corners, finely decorated Kasbah towers and tiny cottage gardens.

  

My Favourite Riad in Taroudant, the mini-Marrakech in Southern Morocco

Riad Dar Zitoune in Taroudant ©Solange Hando

Great places to stay in Morocco are the boutique hotels known as riad, traditionally designed and furnished to highlight the local culture.

Dar Zitoune -meaning the Olive- is just outside Taroudant, a pretty town down south with few visitors but lots of atmosphere and a 7km medieval city wall which gave it the name of 'mini-Marrakech.

Luxury Room in Dar Zitoune ©Solange Hando

The two images above were taken in the new Berber Village, the most luxurious section of this 4 star riad where large tented rooms nestle around their own private pool.

Moroccan rugs, fine bedding and traditional patterns along the walls, it's beautifully light and colourful and the perfect place for a special holiday.

Standard Bungalow at Dar Zitoune ©Solange Hando

But before you reach the Berber area, bungalows in pretty colours greet you around the garden among lemon and orange trees, papayas, jacaranda and a profusion of flowers and plants.

My own bungalow was delightful, all the amenities I would expect plus a traditional bathroom glowing with copper and a bed large enough for a whole family. Bungalows are named after local fruit and plants and most have a secluded terrace in their own little garden.

Breakfast Time in the Riad ©Solange Hando

The local staff are helpful and friendly, employed by Swiss owners who simply fell in love with Taroudant and Moroccan culture. The verandah is a lovely place in the early morning or you can eat al fresco under the parasols.

The gourmet restaurant offers local gastronomy like tagine and international fare like pasta or fish curry.

Pottery Garden ©Solange Hando

Then after a  peaceful night or a visit to the town, take time to enjoy this true oasis of peace, wander around the garden where local artists leave a touch here and there, or just sit in the shade or in the sun.

Then of course the standard area has its own swimming pool and if you feel like it, there's a fitness room and a spa with a choice of rituals and a Moroccan hammam. 

Dar Zitoune near Taroudant ©Solange Hando

Here's the entrance to the multi-award Dar Zitoune. The decorated wooden gates on the side are closed after dark when the sweet fragrance of orange blossom rises under the stars.

Rabat, Enchanting Capital of Morroco

Rabat, River and Ocean ©Solange Hando

Set on the banks of the Bouregreg as it reaches the Atlantic, Rabat is a pleasant city, easy to explore but with few tourists around and population wise, only seventh in the country.

Yet it's an amazing World Heritage Site, listed by UNESCO for its enticing mix of Islamic and Western heritage, ranging from medieval remains to the ambitious new town built by the French.

Mohammed Vth Mausoleum ©Solange Hando

On a hilltop esplanade overlooking river and city, this is the most important site for locals and visitors in the know. 

Marble walls and archways lead to the royal resting place, beautifully quiet and decorated with carved plaster, colourful geometric tiles and a stunning gold leaf ceiling.

Hassan Tower, Rabat ©Solange Hando

At the other end of the esplanade this red sandstone tower was first built in the 12th century, designed as a minaret for one of the grandest mosques in the world. The mosque was never finished but the tower remains the city's most iconic landmark, 44 metres high. 

The hundreds of circular stone columns at the base were meant to support the roof of the building but all work was abandoned when the Caliph who commissioned it passed away. 

Pretty Corner on the Bouregreg ©Solange Hando

Due to silting, the port is not as important as it was but you can still watch fishermen mending nets on the quay, or you might relax in a secluded cove or stroll along the lovely promenade and enjoy the most delicious seafood al fresco.

You can look across the walls and towers guarding the estuary while the white kasbah on the clifftop just begs to be discovered.

Oudaya Kasbah ©Solange Hando

This is the delightful Oudaya kasbah, a winding maze of deserted alleyways, all blue and white, draped in potted plants and flowers and mosaics glistening around the drinking fountains.

It's a lovely place to wander around, with scenic views from the top, and no commercialisation except a few displays of local craft as you approach the exit.

City Ramparts ©Solange Hando

These glowing ramparts and nearby Andalusian gardens take you back down to the river but if time allows, do have a look at the Chellah complex, on the edge of town, where storks rattle their beaks among remains of the Roman colony and Muslim necropolis.

Time to Relax... ©Solange Hando

You will find beach and hotels in town but if you'd like to escape for a night, make your way to Skhirat, a short drive south, and enjoy a romantic sunset from the 5 star  Amphitrite hotel and pool.