long time no blog... but still alive!!!

Dear all
do you ever get the feeling that time is not just slipping away, but actually running away at breakneck pace? I cannot believe that I am at the very end of yet another Intrepid tour and that I will be home, actually at home, in just over a week. It is completely and utterly bizarre. For some reason this trip in particular has felt infinite, intense... something about this place.... sitting at a PC seems such a waste of time.... but the real world cant wait on me it seems....
So what have I been up to?
Well for the main we have been out of the cities, thus the delay in communication. Small towns, another night in the desert, mountains, Todra Gorge... all a little off the beaten track, which has suited me fine. I am developing a distinct preference for small places where the real people live and there is no hassle.
Our camel trek into the desert is something I will always remember, riding into the most beautiful dunes on camel back, fortunately these camels were a little more comfortable than the last one I rode! We ate tagine under the stars and climbed the dunes to watch the sun rise, you cant get much better than that.
Todra Gorge was wonderful; one of the most insane hikes of my life (think nearly 6 hours) which I managed after a night with too much alcohol... worth every second... visiting the family of our tour leader for home baked bread and hospitality.... a hammam (Turkish bath) to end all hammams where we were scrubbed to within an inch of our lives, completely and intimately (yes ALL of the places where the sun dont shine!!)
Into the High Atlas mountains for some more exercise at altitude, riding a mule to our accomodation, views to die for, sitting in the kitchen of a mountain gite (guest house) watching the family cook...
Beautiful Essaouira by the sea where I took many photos, a place to catch my breath after a fairly intense trip with far too many late nights....
Now I am in Marrakesh and I leave for New York tomorrow, strange but true. Farewell to a lovely group and a country that will always be in my heart.
Love you all,
Donna
PS please dont be offended if I dont reply to your emails right now, as I am on a French keyboard and this is taking forever to type!!!!!