Snow!

Finally on January 3rd, we got our first snow of the winter. The wind had howeled and screamed for 24 solid (and long) hours prior. Then it got quiet and the snow began to fall - and fall - and fall. We never did figure out exactly how much we got because of the drifts, but it was probably an average of 2 ft. Here the girls are sitting "on" our sidewalk even with the top of bushes on either side.

One of the most wonderful serendipities of life is to crest a hill and be met with the surpise of a mountain that you did not even know was there. We found this little row about half-an-hour from our home.
Two days after the snow, we drove up to Michliffen (near the mountains above) - one of the two ski resorts in Morocco. We were pumped and ready to put Gerald on a pair of skis and watch him fly down the hill pictured here. But that was not to be. You see, there was one small problem. There are no lifts. The five or so skiers we did see were trudging miserably up a short way in the deep snow and then part-sliding, part skiing and part getting stuck as they came down. I was determined to get Gerald on skis anyway. "You can do it! That looks fun!!!" I encouraged. He chose sledding.

It seemed to us that all of Meknes and Fes (two neighboring major cities) had come to the mountains as snow tourists that day. Neither of these cities ever get snow though they are only an hour away. The standard program for the snow tourists is as follows: Drive to Ifrane. Get out at the first little patch of snow you see. Throw snowballs. Take pictures in front of the snow (women wear high-heeled black boots). Get back in. Drive a little farther until you see real snow. Rent a homemade sled from some entrepreneurial locals. Find a hill that does not have rocks. Send your kids down the hill on the sleds. Have a picnic in the snow. Start home. Get stuck in a huge traffic jam miles and miles long containing other snow tourists.

Though it doesn't sound like much fun, it really was delightful to see all the smiles and laughter on the sledding hills. It was truly a pleasure to watch the faces of "low-landers" in the beauty and fun of the day!