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khamlia

Chez des Artistes Studio in Khamlia || Morocco Destination Highlight

If you have been following me anywhere on social media, you will know that Follow Your Heart loves Morocco. One of the beautiful things about our small group and private Travel Experiences is that we see and do things those big groups don’t – we find treasures of all...

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Work. They say you should love what you do so it d

Work. They say you should love what you do so it doesn’t feel like work. ⠀
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I couldn’t agree more!!⠀
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And I can’t wait to be back at “work” again with hosting groups! ⠀
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Whether it’s a 14 day journey, a photography workshop or a weekend adventure, I love love LOVE hosting people on their travel and life experiences. ⠀
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I also love combining my professional photography career with my travel hosting - teaching NGOs how to take better photos, offering my services to them pro bono (@photogsforacause is my non profit org!) ...taking photos of my guests while they are traveling enjoying themselves. ⠀
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Yes it’s always hard work doing what I do. What you see and don’t see. But it’s work I love and can’t wait to be back at. ⠀
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Until then.... 🤞🏽♥️🌍

First photo 📷: @mruetschle

Little Things I Love About...I have seen the Hand

Little Things I Love About...I have seen the Hand of Fatima, or Hamsa, many times before. But didn’t know the meaning of it or history. Fatima was the prophet Mohammed’s daughter and it is said that when you put the symbol of her hand on your door, or anywhere else, it does the same thing that the Greeks and Turks believe about the “evil” blue eye – keeps evil away.

I saw it in many places while in Morocco – hanging on walls, as door knockers, in jewelry…in fact even one of my most favorite pieces of jewelry I bought in Rissani has one on it.

Believer or not in the evil eye, it’s a lovely emblem no less. 🙂

This pandemic has literally affected the ENTIRE wo

This pandemic has literally affected the ENTIRE world. ⁠⠀
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And one place close to my heart that it has had detrimental impact is Morocco.⁠⠀
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The artisans of Morocco have had a huge hit. No tourists means no income... for now over 4 months.⁠⠀
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Many are unable to pay their basic needs - food, water, etc.⁠⠀
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It is devastating. And the good people behind @marrakechartisanfund are launching an amazing initiative, this coming Monday. ⁠⠀
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You will want to be part of this beautiful endevor to help provide immediate financial support to the Marrakech Artisans badly affected by the COVID-19 lockdown and border closures. Every LITTLE big counts.⁠⠀
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Many doing a little = a LOT. Give what you can. I encourage you.⁠⠀
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Follow Your Heart Travel will be. I hope you will too. ❤️🌍⁠⠀
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#dreamnowtravellater #wewilltravelagain #traveltomorrow #travellater #dreamingoftravel #postponedontcancel #savetourism #armchairtravel #travelsoon #travelagain #moroccotravel #traveladvisor #fyhtravel #followyourhearttravel #travelexpert #askmehow #simplymorocco #travelmorocco #femaletravel #theculturetrip #nomadstories #thosewhowander #mytravelstory #explorewithme #placesoftheworld #nowdiscovering #wanderlove #passportcollective #thetravelingnomads #bucketlisttravel

ARE YOU MISSING MOROCCO AS MUCH AS I AM? Look no

ARE YOU MISSING MOROCCO AS MUCH AS I AM?

Look no further!!

@marocmama has created the ultimate virtual Morocco vacation!

Check out my stories and highlights “🧳🐪🇲🇦” to see how you can be visiting Morocco TONIGHT!!

This was taken at dawn in the seaside village of A

This was taken at dawn in the seaside village of Assos in Turkey 🇹🇷 North Aegean. ⠀
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Little did I know in 2013 when I took this photo that the island you see in the background is exactly where I am right now as I type this - Lesvos, Greece 🇬🇷 ⠀
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Funny how life works hey?⠀
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Kind of like this year...little did any of us know that the last 6 months would be as they were. 🙄⠀
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Even though life goes sideways or we don’t always know where it will lead us, this i know to be true: find joy in where you are. ❤️⠀
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Even if it is only for that moment or day. ⠀
Let it get you through until the next moment. And then find more joy somewhere else in something else perhaps. Continue finding joy in the things we so long have taken for granted. ⠀
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Because soon enough you will look back and realize how far you have come (and survived and even thrived!) amidst that unpredictable or turbulent time. ⠀
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We have this one wild and precious life - Mary Oliver says it well! - what will you do with it? Live it fully in all circumstances. Some days easier said than done, oh, I know. ⠀
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But when we do, even in the crappiest of circumstances we can confidently say we were living our best life. ⠀
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“What is it you plan to you do with your one wild and precious life? ~ Mary Oliver

On all of my travels both locally and internationa

On all of my travels both locally and internationally, I always find things about the places that I just LOVE!

BABOUCHE – The Moroccan Slipper

The first time I saw them in Morocco I fell in love with the sight of them! Known as the quintessential slipper of Morocco, you can find them strewn throughout the markets in Morocco. The colors are vast and vibrant and details can be as little or as much as you can imagine and usually made out of leather. Babouches are slippers with no heal and they have the recognizable heal folded inwards and glued. Quick on and off!Sequins, tassles, knots, patterns – you name it! There are probably as many styles as there are Moroccans and tourists who wear them! They are found throughout the Arab-Muslim world originating in Morocco, so it’s no wonder you will find them in the souks of Medinas in Marrakech, Fes, Essouira and beyond!

They are pretty stiff when you first buy them then they begin to break in and mold to your foot shape, making them feel like they were custom made just for you!

Goddess Travels To. ⠀(@goddesstravelsto ) ⠀ Th

Goddess Travels To. ⠀(@goddesstravelsto ) ⠀
The Women’s Only Trips of Follow Your Heart that was to launch THIS spring. But then didn’t cuz, well, COVID 🦠! 🤷🏽‍♀️⠀
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Yes we are sad we couldn’t launch, but it didn’t keep us down! 💪🏽⠀
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We are able to make the trip even MORE amazing with the extra time we have been gifted...and I’m thrilled to be able to show you some sneak peeks of some treasures I found this week!⠀
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Eresos - the birth place of Sappho the great poet. And she empowers and continues to inspire women! Hello! So what better place to have a couple days in to see what the area has to offer our trip!⠀
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Hammam and spa. Gorgeous views. Fabulous beaches. Hiking to monasteries in the mountains. Yoga by the sea. Amazing pottery. Waterfront dining and drinks. To name a few. ⠀
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Just a few of the fabulous things we will bring to the trip!⠀
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I’m so excited! And you should be too - we are creating the ULTIMATE North Aegean experience for amazing women like YOU! A trip you’ve only dreamed of! I can’t wait to host you. ♥️
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More sneak peaks coming from other fabulous spots here on Lesvos! 🇬🇷💙

I miss my small groups. I miss traveling. I miss M

I miss my small groups. I miss traveling. I miss Morocco, Italy & Turkey.⁠⠀
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ANYONE ELSE with me?!⁠⠀
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#moroccotours #moroccotourssmallgroup #moroccotoursforwomen #Inmorocco #fyhtravel #travelmorocco #morocco #casablanca #marrakech #essaouira #loves_morocco #simplymorocco #rifmountains #atlasmountains #aitbenhaddou #travelexperiences #followyourhearttravel #followyourhearttours #travel #moroccolives #cntraveler #moroccotravel #visitmorocco #cometomorocco #exploremorocco #ergchebbi #saharadesert #intoafrica #passionpassport #roamtravels

Essaouira is my soul place in Morocco. And to find

Essaouira is my soul place in Morocco. And to find a delightfully private little riad on a quiet little side street in the medina, is an absolute find. ⠀
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Riad Raoud Rayhan. One of our small groups stayed here one time...and I photographed the who place as it was absolutely stunning. ⠀
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It’s simplistic yet modern decor with Moroccan pieces woven throughout, this small but roomy riad had everything to offer. Gorgeous rooms. A spa/Hammam. And a gorgeous rooftop terrace with views. And centrally located. ⠀
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I loved the art they had on the walls - some modern. Some vintage. It was all so stunning. ⠀
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Definitely a highlight on our trip to Esaaouira. 💙🇲🇦

The Sebbaghine Dyers Souk.⠀ ⠀ It’s a hard jo

The Sebbaghine Dyers Souk.⠀
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It’s a hard job and there used to be so many dyers workshops. Now there’s only about a dozen in the medina of Marrakech. ⠀
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Owners of the yarn bring them to these dyers to make them a rainbow of colours in the big pots of boiling water. ⠀
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They are dyed using natural materials: wild almond for green. Pomegranate peel or saffron threads for yellow. Indigo for blue and poppy for red. ⠀
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They are then hung to drain until they are then hung around where you see in these photos, making it quite spectacular to see. ⠀
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The colours are not always the same as different shades are made through the drying process. ⠀
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It’s a process and very involved. The next time you buy something from the Souk that has been dyed you will think twice now that you know the process on which it goes under. ⠀
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The artisans of the souks. ♥️🇲🇦⠀
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It's time to go to ITALY! That's right! We have s

It's time to go to ITALY!

That's right! We have some really great experiences for you!

Check out the link in our bio to read about them all and SIGN UP TODAY!

On my very first Follow Your Heart Travel Experien

On my very first Follow Your Heart Travel Experience, we went to Italy. And to my delight my father (and mother) joined that trip!⠀
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My dad is the reason I do a lot of what I do today. No, not cuz he was involved in the process of MAKING me, which is true. But in the reason that it was he that had a 1 hour photo shop when I was growing up, and began my love for photography, coupled with his ability to talk to anyone, that has brought me to the place I am today with Travel Photography and Follow Your Heart. (you can read in my bio about him!)⠀
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He was so much fun to watch shoot, interact with locals and have a blast in Italy! I even taught him how to take a selfie with his DSLR there! Hahahaha 🙂⠀
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Happy Fathers Day, Dad! Let’s do Morocco next! 😉

La Dolce Far Niente. The first time I heard this I

La Dolce Far Niente. The first time I heard this Italian phrase was by my Italian brother and FYH Italy team, Max. 🇮🇹We were in Cortona and we were eating some gelato on the stairs, watching the people pass by.⠀
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He had said, “You from North America…you are always so “crazy busy” as you say…you need to do what the Italians do – la dolce far niente – the sweetness of doing nothing.”⠀
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I have never forgotten that.⠀
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And when life gets “crazy busy” or “full”, I think of Max and I pull back and do just that – nothing. And get back to what matters. ♥️

19 years ago this beautiful one was born and my li

19 years ago this beautiful one was born and my life has never been the same!
Born in the Philippines and on adventure after adventure ever since. Even at a mere 10 months old visiting NYC with me and your bro, @calebmheppner!
You have been so incredibly blessed to be able to go around Asia with your sports teams.
Our beach trips in the Philippines on school breaks.
A week in Vietnam for fall break. Christmas in Turkey and Greece. Adventures in Canada over summer breaks. And an incredible Europe grad vacation last year.
I’m so thankful we have been able to show you a bit of the big world that you live in.
I hope and pray as you enter your second year of University and are “officially” an adult in the eyes of B.C. government 😉, that you will always engage and love the world around you without reservation. And laugh much. Enjoy life much. It’s too short to not!! I’m so incredibly proud of you, Rosie. Fly high and reach for the stars. Your dreams can become a reality.
Here’s to our next adventure together, wherever and whenever that may be! ♥️🧳🌍
PS - sorry, not sorry, for this very “public” post on my business feed. I’m proud of you and think the world should know 😘❤️

Asilah is one of my favourite places in Morocco.

Asilah is one of my favourite places in Morocco.
You have probably seen it on my feed or in my stories in the past if you have been around my feed a while 😊

The fact that this small medina is sitting right on the northwest coast of Morocco and you can always hear the waves crashing is a win for me. 🌊
That and the gorgeous long beach that stretches for kms.
Asilah is full of murals - there is a festival every year.
But the tranquil white walls and bright coloured doors make is so stunning. Just like this photo. This is exactly what it looked like. 😍

I’ll be back soon enough, Asilah. To relax in chill mode in your medina and beach. ☀️⛱ Where is one of your favourite places to chill?

I think what I love most about our Turkey Travel e

I think what I love most about our Turkey Travel experiences is how we get to know the beautiful people of Turkey. And the travelers I host that get to meet all of these beautiful people. ⠀
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The home-cooked lunches in small villages. The early morning hot air balloon rides in magical Cappadocia. Learning how carpets are made. Getting a hand with putting on scarves before we head into a 13th century wooden mosque. Taking in views of the Aegean. Visiting villages in the Taurus mountains and having tea with the locals. ⠀
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The list goes on. 📝
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I cannot wait to visit Turkey again with travelers. ⠀
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Have you been to Turkey before? ❤️🇹🇷

“What if?”⠀ ⠀ Two powerful words. They can

“What if?”⠀
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Two powerful words. They can launch you into amazing dreams and adventures if you allow them. ⠀
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Or not if you choose to say them in fear. ⠀
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What are you “What if”-ing this week? This season?⠀
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I challenge you, I encourage you, dear one, to choose to believe you could fly, not fall. ⠀
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Believe in yourself. You’ve got this! ♥️

It’s been a year since I was last in Italy. 🇮

It’s been a year since I was last in Italy. 🇮🇹⠀
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I find that hard to believe in some ways as it seems this year has flown in many levels for me personally. ⠀
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But then I feel like it’s been FOREVER since I was there with my daughter. ⠀
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Roaming the cobblestone street of cities and villages. Eating gelato 🍨when the urge suddenly came upon us (or when we passed a gelato shop!). Visiting with our Italian family in Umbria living local life. Sending YOU, some of my followers, postcards 💌 from various places along the way. Eating waaaaaay too much delicious pasta. And not enough delicious 🍝pasta. Making some really amazing memories. And discovering new places to eat, see and experience. ♥️⠀
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Travel is part of our lives. For some people more than others. ⠀
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I hope we can travel again safely soon to all the places we long to. And I hope we never take it for granted again. ⠀
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I’m coming back soon, Italy! ❤️🇮🇹🛵⠀
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#travelitaly #italytravel #cometoitaly #italyholiday #visititaly #exploreitaly #italytours #followyourhearttravel #fyhtravel #smallgrouptravel #smallgrouptours #travelexperiences #womenwhotravel #adventureawaits #passportready #culturetrip #worldwanders #suitcasetravels #worldnomads #passionpassport #roamtravels #authentictravel #roamlocal #natgeotravel #intrepidtravel

The Italian Moka. The way I have my coffee every

The Italian Moka.
The way I have my coffee every morning.
With some frothy steamed milk. Omg. My “must have” every morning. Or my world does not function too well. Lol.
My friend @jaguarrpro sent me an article about my lovely @bialettiofficial... it truly is an endangered species! But it will never die! I even have a small one for my carry on so I ALWAYS have my espresso anywhere in the world!! It’s the best way, IMHO, to make espresso 😉❤️ Do you drink coffee? What’s YOUR favourite way to drink it?

The hustle and bustle of Venice. I wonder if it w

The hustle and bustle of Venice.
I wonder if it will ever be this busy again. Parts of me truly hope not. For the sake of its tranquility and sanity.
If there was a perfect way to not over-tourist places and yet give locals sufficient income from tourism. That would be perfect.
This was taken, on my big camera, my very first trip to Venice in 2008.
It was this trip that I fell in love with Venice and Italy that it became the first destination when I started Follow Your Heart in 2010.
10 years ago. So much has transpired and evolved since then. So many places discovered.
Where have you traveled in the last 10 years? What was one of your favourite destinations?

We travel not to escape life, but for life not to

We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.
Where is life taking you?

Small group travel. Who would have thunk back in

Staying in Moroccan Palaces. Like, seriously. Who

Staying in Moroccan Palaces. Like, seriously. Who does that even?⠀
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Ya, we do. A Moroccan palace or Riad, is an amazing way to stay when in Morocco. And Fes and Marrakech have some of the best!⠀
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The details in these riads are breathtaking. The white hand carved plaster... the intricate and beautiful Zelig tile designs... the Moroccan style furniture and carpets. ⠀
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You really feel like royalty indeed!⠀
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And a riad has a garden and a pool usually. And of course a beautiful terrace where you can take in a sunrise, eat a meal or sip on wine at dusk. ⠀
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This Riad - Riad Salam Fes - is a beauty for sure. ⠀
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Have you ever stayed in a riad? In Morocco or else where? Tell me about your experience below! ❤️🇲🇦⠀
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#moroccotours #moroccotourssmallgroup #moroccotoursforwomen #Inmorocco #fyhtravel #travelmorocco #morocco #casablanca #marrakech #essaouira #loves_morocco #simplymorocco #rifmountains #atlasmountains #aitbenhaddou #travelexperiences #followyourhearttravel #followyourhearttours #travel #moroccolives #cntraveler #moroccotravel #visitmorocco #cometomorocco #exploremorocco #ergchebbi #saharadesert #intoafrica #passionpassport #roamtravels

#muted #amplifymelanatedvoices There is nothing m

#muted #amplifymelanatedvoices

There is nothing much I can say or share that feels authentic or in alignment while so many people hurt at the moment. Both my personal and business pages will be muted from June 1-June 7 to amplify the voices that must be heard.
I will reshare/repost, however, those voices that need to be heard, in my stories.
Sending so much love and peace and hope to each and every one of you.

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(c) 2009 - 2020 Follow Your Heart Travel Experiences - All prices in US$ or Euros€ when stated. Prices subject to change at any time without notice.

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