Hi

We travel to morocco as a group , every year we go to a different place. Money permitting, we love to travel, but we tend to stay away from organized tours in the usual sense of the word since so often they tend to protect from really getting into the places, skipping from one tourist attraction to the next. This year we decided to go to Morocco, mainly because it seemed inexpensive, but after the vacation we were definitely in love with the place. We flew into Marrakech and were impressed immediately upon arrival by the airport building: its incredible roof outside is like lace and the sun shines through it, casting beautiful shadows on the pavement: there already was an incredible atmosphere greeting us. We took a taxi to Marrakech, with hundreds of scooters speeding around us! Our hotel was right off the Jeema el-Fna – an orderly chaos of smells, colors and sounds, by day and into the night! We hadn’t yet learned to not fall for taking pictures of guys with cobras , but that is how it started! We spent 3 days in Marrakech visiting the traditional tourist destinations before we were met by our travel guides MoroccoExcursions .com that we had selected for the real tour. From the outset, we found Hassan “MoroccoExcursions.com” an incredible person, full of joy, outgoing, but never intrusive. We left for Ouarzazate where we visited the Kasbah Ait Benhaddou (a lot of movies were made there) and then off to the Todra Gorges. Here we stayed in a hotel built in the caves! How wonderful! If you want I can give you its name. The next legs of our trip were the classic ones: Erfoud, Merzouga, Rissani, Zagora and Ouarzazate, The next evening we headed for a desert oasis on camels, to spend the night in a berber tent distinctly counting every star in the Milky Way (well, almost all).also how can we forget our stop on the way to Zagora, stopping to take a picture, when suddenly 4 children leaped out from nowhere offering a pony made of mud, they had made with their hands, in exchange for some candy! And when they accompanied us through the tiny dark inner passageways of a small town in the south, revealing the meaning of poverty, enabling us to quietly and respectfully peek into the everyday life of people in southern Morocco. And how can we forget our lunch, eating Berber pizza, in a small rug factory, sitting in the midst of all those dancing colors and so many types of fabric! I could go on for hours recounting the feelings, more than the places we visited, realy it was a magic tour , thanx to hassan & all “MoroccoExcursions.com team”

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The four of us (two boys aged 3 and six) and my husband and I landed in Marrakech, not knowing what to expect from our first trip to Morocco. We
enjoyed staying in the Medina and taking in the sights and flavors and
smells of the busy tourist area in the city, but the highlight was
without a doubt Morocco Excursions.

Our driver picked us up
from our Riad in a large, clean, comfortable car and made sure to stop
at all the highlights along the way, like a monkey forest, and the
Switzerland of Moroco to make the time pass faster for us and the kids.
He was very knowledgeable and kind.
Once we arrived in Merzouga,
the magic began. It was beautiful, peaceful, and everything that we ate
the entire visit was absolutely delicious. For our son’s birthday,
Hassan Mouhou and his friends serenaded him with Berber music and a
cake; he said it was his best birthday ever! We spent one night in
tents in the Sahara. They drove us there (adreneline pumping ride!) off
road through the desert – a beautiful experience for all of us. Again,
the food and music and company were perfect.

We couldn’t have
done it with out Hassan and his team. They really gave us a trip to
remember forever. And the price was really fair and moderate. Not a
single complaint.

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The Camille Pissaro Art Gallery is located at #14 Main Street, St. Thomas, USVI. The location is upstairs in the building where Jacob Abraham Camille-Pissaro was born in 1830. His father was a Portuguese Jew, his mother native Creole. Pissarro died in Paris in 1903 and was buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery.

Camille-Pissaro was known throughout the art world as the only artist to exhibit in both the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist styles.

This three-roomed gallery is filled with prints of his works, other Caribbean painters and a selection of wonderful local Batiks.

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Address:
14 Main St, St. Thomas USVI
00802

Phone: 304 774 4621

When I was planning for a trip to London and comparing hotels online I came across The Courthouse Hotel in Soho.  As I am a big history buff it got my attention as an ideal place to stay while exploring the city.

Everything is well done at this hotel.  The owners wisely incoperated the buildings previous life as a courthouse into a five star establishment.

One can now drink in the plush bar built in the space of the former holding cells, sleep in the former judges chambers, and relax and workout in the stylish spa and workout center.

Mick Jagger and John Lennon once slept here by necesity, today it feels like staying at a private club for lawyers in the middle of London´s hot Soho!

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This shop on Old Main Street in Roadtown Tortola gets a score of 10+ from this reviewer!

Established in 1983, this family owned operation is a gem of the Caribbean with native spices being the focus of their offerings. Here you will find many amazing things from the Caribbean, and enjoy visiting with the most friendly staff you will ever find.

From Sunny Sauces to Tropical Sweets they also offer an amazing assortment of West Indian teas and coffees.

Be sure to visit this great place, or order online!

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1025 Columbus Avenue (at Chestnut Street)
San Francisco 94133

Phone: 415 474-0365

Punk and soul sounds rule here. There’s a Karaoke room open Monday, Friday and Saturday nights. Annies Social Club is for 21 and over with valid ID only.

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Address:
917 Folsom St. and 5th. St.
San Francisco 94107

Phone: 415 974-1585

This great music store in the Haight District of San Francisco has live bands performing, usually on weekends.  Best of all the performances are FREE!

There’s also Amoeba Music stores in Berkeley and Hollywood!

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Address:
1855 Haight St.
San Francisco

Phone: 415 831-1200

I spend a wonderful weekend in Amsterdam, and stumbeled into a new restaurant which also seemed to be a cocktailbar and club with DJ’s spinning al night.

The menu was a surprising fusion of Thai and Mexican kitchen. We ate scalops with a Thai broth and mexican homemade kwaquemole for starters. The owner is an american and the service is verry friendly and personal. They made us feel at home.

The ambiance was elegant, but realy cool and relaxed to. We were totaly surprised by the wonderful cocktails and the DJ’s made trhat we tayed until three at night stretced out in the wonderful lounge aria.

I can recommend Jetlounge to everyone who wants to experience agood kitchen with wonderful cocktails. You can find Jetlounge  on the Westermarkt 25 acros the Wersterkerk near the Jordaan en the Anne Frank house

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Westermarkt 25
Amsterdam

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Cliff House overlooks the beach and the Pacific.

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1090 Point Lobos Ave.
San Francisco 94121

Phone: 415 386-3330

This SF hotspot has shows nightly usually beginning at 8 pm… Food and music, limited access for the disabled.

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Shows nightly with dinner option. Call for info.

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San Francisco

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Parducci Tasting Room, Ukiah, California

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Address:
501 Parducci Road, Ukiah CA
95482

Phone: 707 463-5350

This excellent Thai restaurant is conveniently located on Lombard Street (Hwy 101) in Cow Hollow.  It’s close to many motels and the local nightlife.

I’ve been there probably four times, and I’ve never been disappointed by their food or service.  They offer inexpensive lunch specials, their own healthy rice (a whole grain blend), and authentic Thai recipes.

Everything I’ve tried, including the usual spicy salads and soups, pad thai, curries, etc. were all perfect.  You do need to remind them how spicy you like your food, otherwise you may be in for a surprise, as they like to make things HOT!

The menu at Gatip is extensive, covering nearly every dish you’d expect to find in a good Thai restaurant.  There are 80 dishes to choose from just for dinner!

The interior is not very big, and the tables are close together, but you never feel crowded thanks to the huge windows looking out onto Lombard Street.

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2205 Lombard Street
San Francisco 94123

Phone: (415) 292-7474

Cafe Japan, Santa Rosa, California

California is a great place to get sushi.  After all the California roll is another unique California invention.  But finding good sushi restaurants can be problematic.  There are many in the SF Bay area, but quality varies.

The Cafe Japan does sushi and other Japanese dishes right, some with a typical California twist.  This delightful little place in Santa Rosa’s Courthouse Square, serves up delicious Japanese fare with an emphasis on organic ingredients and a good range of vegetarian dishes.

I ordered the Nabeyaki Soba Hot Pot, which was served with shrimp tempura, hard boiled eggs, napa cabbage, chicken, gourmet mushrooms and soba noodles in an excellent smoked tuna and kelp broth.  The broth, the noodles and the mushrooms were the highlights, while the chicken tasted very bland.  I’d say if the chicken had been grilled or at least flavored it would’ve enhanced the dish.

My friend shared a Yo Yo Combo sushi plate, with Nigiri sushi and a California roll.  The nice, large pieces of fish were melt-in-your-mouth fresh, really good.  The California roll was likewise very good, with real crab for a change!

I’ve heard the seaweed salad is excellent, and for vegetarians there’s a great mix of vegetarian rolls and veggie Nigiri – very unusual – with cherry tomato, fruit, tofu, cucumber and sprout options available.  It’s rare that vegetarians have a decent selection of items in a sushi restaurant.

You can sit outside on the patio and enjoy the nice square, or you can take a booth or table inside.  The decor is a relaxed mixed of colorful Japanese knick-knacks, and each table has photos of the Japanese chef in various costumes.

Like in most sushi restaurants, freshness and quality don’t come cheap.  Expect to pay around $20 per person for lunch, $30-$40 for dinner plus drinks.

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Near 4th and Mendocino, Next to Wolf Coffee

Address:
98 Old Courthouse Square
95404

Phone: 707 566-7650

Very hip, cool place. Great hip hop/ R&B music. Friendly/helpful guy behind the bar. Clean bongs and vaporizers available for use. We smoked our own stuff in there. But the ambiance was fantastic. Outdoor seating available overlooking a lovely canal. We spent 4:20 on 4/20 there! We were staying directly across the street in the amsterdam escape apartments- which are also lovely!

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Amsterdam

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Address:
Via Accademia delle Scienze, 6
Torino 10123

Phone: 011 561 7776

Wild Under Ground Tours offers a complete travel and tour packages to Amsterdam from CANADA. Prices are great the tour guide is fun and inforamtive, we had a great time. Check out www.wildundergroundtours.com

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Amsterdam

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If you’re looking for good, wholesome Mexican food in Ocean Beach, look no further than Ranchos Cocina.  This OB institution has been serving up hardy fare for locals for many years.  With an emphasis on fresh, authentic ingredients and recipes, the cuisine is tasty and unique, not your typical Mexican menu.

You will have a hard time deciding what to eat from their vast, reasonably priced menu. It seems all the usual Mexican dishes are offered with unusual options like tofu, blue corn tortillas, black beans, and even tempeh (made from soybeans) in your dishes. 

Vegetarians and vegans, who abound in OB, are well served at Ranchos with dishes like Tofu Burritos or Tempeh Tacos.  In fact the selection is overwhelming as they can turn nearly anything Mexican into something vegan. They also offer a variety of mouthwatering salsas along with their freshly made corn chips.

The choice spot for an afternoon lunch is their low-key outdoor patio, surrounded by plants and flowers.  The interior is a bit dark, but spacious. There’s an abundance of Frida Kahlo reproductions on the walls. The biggest gripe with Ranchos is an often long wait and not the best service.  So don’t go there if you’re in a hurry, or try them in the off-hours when they’re not so busy.

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Daily 8 am-10 pm

Address:
1830 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., Ste. H
San Diego 92107

Phone: (619) 226-7619

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Address:
Piazzale degli Uffizi
Firenze 50122

Phone: +39 0552388651