Dispatches
August 2022
Field notes from around the world , created for O . A . T .’ s Sir Edmund Hillary Club members
PUBLISHERS Harriet R . Lewis
Alan E . Lewis
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Laura Chavanne
CORRESPONDENTS John Bregoli Sanction Joao Rachel Perry Lucy Sepeko Swakei Kadir Tasdelen Sarah West Elizabeth Whiting
MANAGING DESIGNERS Marcos Paulo Campos
PHOTO EDITORS Amanda Fisher Sarah Fitzpatrick Meredith Gausch Madison McConkey
PRODUCTION MANAGER Jennifer Crowley
PROJECT MANAGER Sarah Amer
Story ideas , manuscripts , photos , artwork , and other contributions are welcomed and should be mailed to
Editor , c / o Dispatches Overseas Adventure Travel 347 Congress Street Boston , MA 02210
or emailed to editordispatches @ oattravel . com
So that we may properly credit you , please include your name , address , phone number , and number of times you have traveled with O . A . T . The magazine regrets that we cannot acknowledge receipt of or assume responsibility for the return of manuscripts , photos , artwork , or other material .
Dispatches is a publication of Overseas Adventure Travel , 347 Congress Street Boston , MA 02210
A Message from Harriet Lewis
Dear Traveler ,
My adventure in Morocco was a celebration of all things unfamiliar . The electric energy of Marrakesh ’ s Djemaa El Fna after dark , the air hazy with smoke from kebabs on the grill while music mingled with the call to prayer … the impossible stillness of the Sahara at sunrise , a precious moment of pure peace … and the literal maze of discoveries hidden in every corner of the Fez medina , where I almost met my demise crashing into a cart loaded with camel heads .
Fez is among the many Moroccan highlights you can glimpse in this slideshow , created by Joanne Altieri , 11-time traveler from Lawrence , KS . She captured so many interesting details — like signs touting services from pack animals to dentistry , and storks roosting in massive nests atop the medina walls .
On page 12 , we go deep into the alleyways of Fez el Bali — the walled medina of some 9,000 streets that boggles the minds of even the most experienced travelers , including yours truly . Here , for more than a thousand years , craftspeople have created and sold a dazzling array of wares , and scholars have studied in mosaic-tiled madrasas — one of which was founded by a woman in 859 AD . Reading this , I could almost smell the pungent fumes rising from the Chouara Tannery … and feel the jolt of adrenaline from my encounter with those camel heads .
Life moves at a much slower pace in Croatia ’ s Konavle Valley , which we explore on page 22 . Just a short drive from Dubrovnik , this bucolic hamlet of vineyards and farmland is a lovely setting for our travelers to experience A Day in the Life of rural Croatia . We chatted with Jana Stepic , a Senior Trip Experience Leader , to learn more about the families who welcome us , and the history and traditions that make this region so special — including literal farm-to-table cuisine .
There ’ s plenty more to discover in this issue , including our favorite pedestrian zones around the world , a refreshing noodle salad for summer , and one traveler ’ s reflections on how a solo journey to Africa impacted her life . Do you have a story you ’ d like to share ? I hope you ’ ll email it to me at harriet @ gct . com .
Warm regards ,
Harriet R . Lewis Vice Chairman Overseas Adventure Travel
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