La Promenade sul Mer

Snake tracks.

Moroccan soldier living quarters.

View of the rock ledges over the Atlantic.

High tide surf floods pools formed by coral reefs.

Rocks give way in nature's cycle back to sand.

A visit from the Colonel

The Marine colonel prefers the extraordinary form and was somewhat dissapointed to learn that I am unschooled yet in the usus antiquorum. He is visiting our position and was happy to learn that our Sunday Mass schedule tomorrow begins with Latin ad orientem, OF, at 0700 followed by English at 0800.

Blowing sand today whipped up by gusting winds. Skies remain sunny and temps very pleasant.

Yesterday another exploration of the coast and hunting for fossils. Think I have found samples of the African porphyry that adorns so many of the splendid churches of Rome as well as nautilus fossils in red sandstone. Running for exercise.

Celebrated Ascension with the universal Church Thursday, so tomorrow marks 7th Sunday of Easter for us.

In prayer,

The Word in the desert: "I ascend to my Father...

... and to your Father; to my God and your God."

Happy Anniversary MnD: celebrated holy Mass for your intentions today.

Weather sunny with cooling sea breeze. Colder at night without cloud cover.

La Mer Atlantique

A group took a guided walk to the desert shoreline and along the outcroppings of coral reefs and eroded rock formations.

Near Tan Tan, south Morocco coast

Environment: sand and rocks. Living conditions: tents and MREs. Primitive. Weather: mostly cloudy, cooling ocean breeze, light intermittent rain.

Using satellite hook up through Embassy liaisson. Cannot load photos. Stand by for great shots of wild Atlantic coastline shot yesterday.

Thanks for visiting.

Oremus pro invicem: holy Mass daily
here at 0700 local time.

Bonne route

The Divine Artist paints with a generous brush.

The desert is a rainbow.

The Argan tree into which goats climb to eat the olive-like fruit.

Argan close-up.

Moroccan outback.

Market day.

The queue for the necessary at rest stop en route.

The color of life in a harsh environment.

The fruit of the Argan tree, the nut and oil favored by goats and humans.

In Africa

Landed close to noon today at airport near Agadir, Morocco. Flight was about about eight hours. Picked up and loaded bags on trucks and ourselves on buses for the first overnight near Agadir.

I saw a Marine walking around while we were waiting for the buses to depart the airport today as if looking for something and then overhead him tell his companions he could not find a drinking fountain or other water source. I reminded him that we have been advised not to drink the tap water here because of bacteria. I later pulled out my water bottle purchased in New Orleans and found the Marine and said, "My 'Boss' told me to give a drink of water to the thirsty" as I handed the bottle to him. He gladly took a drink and said, "Thanks for remembering me." The Gospel is pretty practical, is it not? To forget this sometimes means we lose the opportunity of loving Christ in our neighbor.

We are also in the neighborhood of Marrakech, a more famous destination, as evident from the signage along our route. Our police motorcycle escort caused curiosity among the locals as they stopped to try and see just who were these very important visitors who enjoyed priority over other traffic. Locals travel by moped and a few by bike. Many appeared to be on their way to the Friday mosque prayers. The arid landscape here is dotted pretty thoroughly by trees even where not actively cultivated. The palm and olive trees here are typical of the mediterranean region. Grass and flowers must be fostered by irrigation. No views of the sea yet.

The locals we have met speak Arabic and French but no English.

Some hours were spent in the sun today organizing our group for overnight stay and further transportation.

Two hot meals today and some catching up on sleep. Tomorrow will be an early day. Bonne nuit! Tousbh aala khair!