Our Berber guide in Morocco's Paradise Valley

It couldn’t have been scripted better. Our day guide in Agadir was booked through Originally Morocco along with a driver and van for 4 of us. Upon our disembarkation from the Summit we spotted our name on the windshield of a fairly new van with our guide standing next to it. Our guide was straight out of central casting. He is a Berber from a village in mid Morocco, a graduate of the University in Agadir, a licensed tour guide and was decked out in full Berber regalia complete with turban. Talking about picture opportunities throughout the day! Idris Ouarmassi, our guide, speaks perfect English right down to the idioms. He had never met or guided Americans before.

We headed off to Paradise Valley in the High Atlas Mountains, which is arid, rocky and scarcely populated. The dry river bed in the base of the valley is full of palm trees and a few clear to the bottom pools. Idris took us hiking in a few spots, one of which netted us a visit to a small mud and rock house where the owner treated us to mint tea and snacks. It would have never happened if we had been on our own or on a cruise excursion. It was one of those travel moments that causes me to pack again and again.

The turnaround point of our day was in Immouzer, a distant village with a nice hotel and a killer view overlooking the High Atlas Mountains. The farthest point visible was about 50 kilometers. Lunch was bistilla or a choice of other enticing entrees and fabulously delicious on the terrace with the view.

Photo opps of the day were remarkable. The mountain landscape, the picturesque valleys, the people along the way and our guide filled our compact flash cards with plenty of material for a slide show. We certainly were tantalized enough to wish for a more comprehensive tour of Morocco, which we would trust to the capable people at Originally Morroco and Idris Ouarmassi.

Rarely is a cruise ship shore excursion a relative bargain. After doing way too much work to find an independent day trip from our port of call, Malaga, and finding them all to be at least $100 more than the 9 hour trip offered by Celebrity, we bit the bullet and booked it. There is something really distasteful to us about following a guide with a canned tour complete with corny jokes. However, sometimes it does make sense.

The brand new motorcoach hit the highway in Malaga and got us to Alhambra in less than 2 hours. The lunch for about 180 of us was a 5 course meal complete with wine, sherry and entertainment. The food was great local fare and the service was terrific.

Alhambra is pretty much jaw dropping, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built by the Moors starting in the 1200s during their 800 year dominance in the area, it has an Arabic architectural style that is ornate and a marvel for the time. As an avid amateur travel photographer it is a challenge to capture the beauty of the complex.

Alhambra is the 2^nd most visited site in Spain. Only the Prado in Madrid eclipses it. If your travels take you to the coast of Spain, I would highly recommend that you detour whatever plans you have to include Alhambra. The historical significance is evident when seeing the structures. Once the Moors were banished from the area by the Catholic Monarchs in 1492, there was a distinct change in use and construction on the site.

If you are determined to visit as many UNESCO World Heritage sites as possible, Alhambra would be a great site to put near the top of your list.