Pumpkins and Round Houses --------

However in Laayoune, Western Sahara, there were these really cute

 pumpkin-looking 'round houses' in an area called Spanish Town.

This year I'm missing travel to distant lands so much! 

I was more than ready to head south of the city on the first cool

 day to our favorite small family farm, Johnson Pumpkin Farm, 

and pick up some traditional pumpkins for a little fall decor. 

The ride through the countryside was fabulous - green

 fields, blue skies and plenty of brilliant pumpkins.

These came home with me and are now decorating the

 front porch. . . . . . .the two large paler colored pumpkins on the right

I will roast later as they are good for soups and veggie stews.

Also picked up a couple of pots of heavily budded mums - should open

 with a lot of yellow blooms soon!

Are you planning to decorate for Autumn and Halloween this year?

Western Sahara city of Laayoune ------------

October 12, 2019

El Marsa for LAAYOUNE, Western Sahara

Arrive:   8:00 AM

Sunrise: 7:50 AM

Temp.  84F

 Laayoune, Western Sahara lies in a sparsely populated area of desert on the
 northwest coast of Africa.

 A former Spanish colony established in the 1930's it was annexed by Morocco in 1975. 

Since then it has been the subject of a long-running territorial dispute between

 Morocco and its indigenous Saharawi people.

After decades of upheaval, peace has returned to the city with UN Peacekeeping

 Forces situated there. Now the city is cleaner, commerce is expanding, and 

restaurants, street cafes, financial institutions, souvenir and handicraft shops are

 tailored to take care of everyone's needs, and tourism is growing.

On the road to Laayoune -

By 8:30 AM, following clearance procedure for the ship, a forty-five minute drive
 by bus took us from the port along the desert roads and through dunes to the city. 

First stop was the Animal Market, quite impressive, with a blend of old and new

buildings and outdoor pens full of camels, goats and sheep, all looked well cared for thankfully!

After driving past the huge salmon pink Grand Mosque - no entry to
 non-Muslims - we stopped at the Parador Hotel for refreshments. 
 I absolutely loved the tiled courtyard and spent most of my time walking
 about taking photos of the ground!

'Spanish Town' with Rounded Houses.

Our group, Paula, Bob, Rob and Kim enjoying ice cream late afternoon on

 the Lido Deck prior to the 'sail away' for Dakhla, Western Sahara that evening. . . . . 

. . . . . . a distance of 275 nautical miles.