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Photo #21: First Light
When we look back at this photograph we can almost feel the cold, not so much because the temperature was spectacularly low but more because the sweep was so stark. This is Tafraout, Morocco, close to the arid Valle des Armandes (Almond Valley) where we spent a few days exploring and hiking the dusty barren ground in very hot temperatures. Yet as the sun went down, the mercury plummeted at speed, bringing extremely cold nights and the need to use the shepherds blankets left by our bed. This photograph captures beautifully the moment the morning sun creeps down the mountains before brightening the town – our breath would have been…
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Recurring Themes. No 1: Depopulation
Some themes seem to resonate no matter where we travel, not all of them by any means are edifying. So ahead of commencing our trip of a lifetime, ahead of living our dream, we examine some of those recurring themes. Depopulation of rural areas is already one of those recurring themes, bringing with it the loss of tradition and culture. As the world becomes more and more accessible, so the destination hubs grow. The attractive cities expand, resorts grow, hotels and apartments spring to life. With all this comes a series of largely false micro economies, as tourism brings in the foreign dollar and jobs, and incomes, become readily available. …