tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667076701901214821.post1900815536112865771..comments2023-05-12T11:39:00.665-04:00Comments on Natalie the Explorer: November in a nutshellNataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05151221243588416460noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667076701901214821.post-74349283845168321532018-12-08T09:58:56.182-05:002018-12-08T09:58:56.182-05:00I agree with you, Tamara: It's there if you ju...I agree with you, Tamara: It's there if you just look, and be open to new experiences. I enjoyed Morocco's imperial cities a lot. I'd like to explore the Sahara desert and Morocco's seaside towns in the south one day. Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05151221243588416460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667076701901214821.post-73856878807387039672018-12-08T09:36:04.119-05:002018-12-08T09:36:04.119-05:00I am so pleased to hear you enjoyed Morocco, as we...I am so pleased to hear you enjoyed Morocco, as we've been only to the border city of Tangier, and would like to return to see the 'real' Morocco someday.<br /><br />I so admire your dedication in getting out to take advantage of the wonderful art and music culture Toronto appears to offer. We try to do the same here, yet bump into people all the time that have never heard of some of the activities we've discovered. It's there if you just look, which clearly you do, Natalie!Tamarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18248579159497266955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667076701901214821.post-91113515611156672692018-12-08T09:11:40.256-05:002018-12-08T09:11:40.256-05:00Thank you, Debbie, for your compliment. November w...Thank you, Debbie, for your compliment. November was an excellent month for me and was easy to write up.Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05151221243588416460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667076701901214821.post-52349238324580495182018-12-08T04:56:03.538-05:002018-12-08T04:56:03.538-05:00Your posts are always so good to read through Nata...Your posts are always so good to read through Natalie. Your month sounded busy and I love the sound of your Morocco trip.Deb's Worldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12706654888846671781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667076701901214821.post-1030120969552193572018-12-07T19:47:17.466-05:002018-12-07T19:47:17.466-05:00Thank you, Christie, for your comment. I've le...Thank you, Christie, for your comment. I've learned to look for facts and solutions when it comes to my fear of the unknowns to travel to a foreign country. My experience in Morocco was positive from beginning to end so I'm glad I made the trip.Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05151221243588416460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667076701901214821.post-5092996368760938162018-12-07T19:27:20.766-05:002018-12-07T19:27:20.766-05:00You had a very full and rich November, Natalie. Th...You had a very full and rich November, Natalie. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. I admire your courage to travel somewhere outside of your comfort zone. It appears you were well-rewarded for your efforts.Christie Hawkeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14897036282962474586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667076701901214821.post-90262261978569665882018-12-07T18:10:31.297-05:002018-12-07T18:10:31.297-05:00Hi Jude - I was concerned mainly about two things:...Hi Jude - I was concerned mainly about two things: 1) I don't know Arabic and although I know French, I wasn't sure how 'popular' French still is in Morocco. 2) How female travellers are treated in the country. <br /><br />I addressed my concerns by booking English-speaking group walking tours. It turns out that although Arabic and Berber are Morocco's official languages, French is still visible on road signs, store signs, and local people in the cities that I visited spoke to me in French when I spoke French with them. My tour guides spoke excellent English, one of them had studied in Bonn and got married to a German, another studied in the UK. Everyone there in the tourism sector is multi-lingual. I didn't experience any harassment as a female traveller. People there seem to know how tourism helps the local economy and they provide good service. I found local meals, transportation, etc. inexpensive. Haggling is expected but I didn't purchase anything that would require serious negotiations. My walking tours were full, even though November is not peak tourist season there.<br /><br />Overall, I'd say my actual experience exceeded my expectations. When I plan my trip to a foreign country, I always check to see if there are any travel advisories by the Canadian government. Plus I exercise the usual caution no matter where I go (e.g. keep valuables in a safe place, don't go out in dark alleys at night alone, etc).Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05151221243588416460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667076701901214821.post-74640528753872224452018-12-07T16:14:53.433-05:002018-12-07T16:14:53.433-05:00You mentioned that before going, Morocco felt a bi...You mentioned that before going, Morocco felt a bit outside your comfort zone. What was it that worried you, and how did your expectations compare with what you experienced? I ask because the idea of going to Morocco has always intrigued me, but also I worry whether the country is safe for travellers. <br /><br />JudeDr Sock https://www.blogger.com/profile/13378594360241846301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667076701901214821.post-45534661278001690382018-12-06T17:56:51.924-05:002018-12-06T17:56:51.924-05:00That's great that your sons are teaching thems...That's great that your sons are teaching themselves French and German using Duolingo. It's a well-used app. Thank you for stopping by and commenting.Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05151221243588416460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667076701901214821.post-57141496544691690492018-12-06T16:15:42.830-05:002018-12-06T16:15:42.830-05:00Wow! What a fabulous mix of activities. I firmly ...Wow! What a fabulous mix of activities. I firmly believe any month that involves travel is a good one! My boys are using Duolingo in our homeschool to teach themselves French and German and they just love it. Joanne https://www.blogger.com/profile/01212516924342195282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667076701901214821.post-30812406383727642682018-12-06T14:19:48.805-05:002018-12-06T14:19:48.805-05:00When I planned for my trip to Morocco, it felt sli...When I planned for my trip to Morocco, it felt slightly outside of my comfort zone. Now I'm glad I went and had an amazing experience. Thanks, Jodie, for stopping by.Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05151221243588416460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667076701901214821.post-70930498547381667182018-12-06T14:09:53.432-05:002018-12-06T14:09:53.432-05:00With a trip like that, how could the month be anyt...With a trip like that, how could the month be anything but spectacular?<br />XOXO<br />Jodie<br />www.jtouchofstyle.com<br />Jodie's Touch of Stylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16453914318183037853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667076701901214821.post-48303390602282242042018-12-06T10:40:02.463-05:002018-12-06T10:40:02.463-05:00Thank you, Liesbet, for your kind words. I try my ...Thank you, Liesbet, for your kind words. I try my best to live a fulfilling life and find inspiration from others, like you and Mark. Writing things down definitely helps me completing the activities and makes it easier to do my monthly write-ups.Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05151221243588416460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667076701901214821.post-18877174512386591122018-12-06T10:26:48.794-05:002018-12-06T10:26:48.794-05:00November was an excellent month for you, indeed! W...November was an excellent month for you, indeed! What a great mix of activities and impressions. You are leading a very full-filling life, Natalie! I like how you keep track of everything as well. That makes it easier to put these overview blogs together. Looking forward to your next Morocco post. Liesbethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13402741679152508367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667076701901214821.post-15693946041343300212018-12-06T10:14:08.891-05:002018-12-06T10:14:08.891-05:00Hi Donna - You're so kind. We'll meet up I...Hi Donna - You're so kind. We'll meet up IRL and exchange secrets, maybe in 2019? It may sound strange but the more I invest my time into activities that I like, the more energized I feel, in a good way, not the exhausting way. Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05151221243588416460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667076701901214821.post-16847632401131341852018-12-06T10:07:40.898-05:002018-12-06T10:07:40.898-05:00Hi Deb - November was certainly a month of contras...Hi Deb - November was certainly a month of contrasts for me. I'm grateful to experience them all. Duolingo is fun and free. It gets more challenging over time and that's good for my brain :)Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05151221243588416460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667076701901214821.post-61457477192335419382018-12-06T09:00:17.199-05:002018-12-06T09:00:17.199-05:00Hi, Natalie - Your monthly round-ups never fail to...Hi, Natalie - Your monthly round-ups never fail to inspire me! I consider myself to be fairly active, and still I cannot figure out how you fit everything in. I would love to meet-up IRL one day and learn your secrets first-hand! retirementreflectionshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03256842249783275416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667076701901214821.post-65746723108035410902018-12-06T08:36:49.896-05:002018-12-06T08:36:49.896-05:00A month of contrasts - Morocco looks very differen...A month of contrasts - Morocco looks very different to where 'home' is for you! I'm very impressed with your Duolingo learning - my husband is using that app to help with learning Italian, it's a fun way to learn isn't it?debs14https://www.blogger.com/profile/14521565769251816528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667076701901214821.post-65057762493254248652018-12-06T07:28:13.138-05:002018-12-06T07:28:13.138-05:00Thank you, Ann, for your comment and sharing the w...Thank you, Ann, for your comment and sharing the word 'abuelita'. I read Louise Penny's impressive bio and list of books to borrow more of her books from the library. Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05151221243588416460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667076701901214821.post-12418485691780615532018-12-06T02:59:40.472-05:002018-12-06T02:59:40.472-05:00My goodness. I feel tired just reading. I discover...My goodness. I feel tired just reading. I discovered Louise Penny in November as well and really liked the book. I learnt a new Spanish word abuelita - little grandmother. Anne Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01863278453106435319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667076701901214821.post-7062140759101557542018-12-05T18:25:10.986-05:002018-12-05T18:25:10.986-05:00I used to read L. Barclay's column when he was...I used to read L. Barclay's column when he was a columnist at the Toronto Star. His writing was humorous. It was a nice surprise for me to read his books which are crime/ mystery/ thriller genre, so different from his column.<br /><br />There is a big Italian community in Toronto and you can find some pretty good Italian pizzas here.Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05151221243588416460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667076701901214821.post-88208502078405281012018-12-05T18:20:36.093-05:002018-12-05T18:20:36.093-05:00You have good eye! I met Judith McKay in person wh...You have good eye! I met Judith McKay in person when I went to her solo exhibition. She's a Toronto artist. Her art work has "Tree" theme and the colours are pretty amazing.Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05151221243588416460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667076701901214821.post-30091502954636518382018-12-05T18:18:00.701-05:002018-12-05T18:18:00.701-05:00Hi Min - The sitting area in that carpet shop was ...Hi Min - The sitting area in that carpet shop was dreamy. I loved everything about it. November was definitely a wonderful month for me.Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05151221243588416460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667076701901214821.post-51900604334723096932018-12-05T18:14:08.617-05:002018-12-05T18:14:08.617-05:00I'm quite motivated to travel and go to those ...I'm quite motivated to travel and go to those leisure activities that I enjoy :) The fitness exercises are hard work but I'm committed to stay healthy so I can travel and go out more. Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05151221243588416460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667076701901214821.post-40534184778935333242018-12-05T18:07:04.146-05:002018-12-05T18:07:04.146-05:00I read the Linwood Barclay (23) series as well. I ...I read the Linwood Barclay (23) series as well. I enjoyed it but just found it weird that our lead character / narrator changed all of the time. <br /><br />Oh and that pizza... looks amazing. I'd never really experienced 'real' Italian pizzas until I was there but that looks like the real deal! Debbishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06305239848096384084noreply@blogger.com