Phase 1 complete, Next stop Berlin! (3 days late)

England is beating Slovenia 1-0 and the beer is draining faster and faster.

If England wins then the chances of a U.S. advance become that much more slim. At least the English fans in Heathrow Airport’s Tin Goose Pub are happy. Being at Heathrow means we have left Morocco and have started our European tour. A five-hour London layover separates us from our first stop…Berlin!

Honestly, the start to our trip could not have been any better! As we hope you have read so far, it’s been great, but there are a few more events to fill in. Yesterday started at nine in the morning with a new tour guide and more traditional form of transportation…mules. Now, I’m the type of guy who likes to get dirty, sleep in the mud and really challenge myself, but riding that beast was one of the more uncomfortable things I’ve done. The stirrups were too short and not attached to the saddle, so they slid every time we tried adjusting our feet. (At one point I think I lost all feeling to my toes).

The thin rags that acted as the saddle didn’t provide hardly any padding as we trekked up and down our rocky path. We were all rubbing our backs this morning.

But don’t get me wrong; it was still a great experience. Exploring the mountainous desert was a sight our photos couldn’t do justice in describing. Unlike the sands of Utah or California, there were trees and shrubs scattered across the terrain that added a green tint to the yellow-orange ground. Mountain peaks erupted through the clouds to such heights that snow capped their tops. Traveling through brought us to a Berber village made of mud-concrete and wood roofs. Locals filled our stomachs with lamb tagine, couscous and flat bread. Then trying to take pictures of the chef and her helpers ended with angry words we couldn’t understand and wagged fingers. Fortunately, Mom and I have fast trigger fingers and got a few shots off.

We spent our final night reminiscing about how fun the week was, enjoying what Richard Branson’s staff prepared for our dinners (fried pigeon cakes and pan-seared sea bream; absolutely exquisite…of course) and toasting to the first family trip we could all make since 2007. Since our departure flights required a five am wake-up call, bed came shortly after dinner.

Morocco was a totally unique experience in what felt like a different world, but now it’s time to be back in the Western world and hop around Europe for a few weeks. Sometimes, life is good!