We leave for Morocco today and at some point, we’ll be riding camels across the Sahara desert.

Yeah, I know. Amazing stuff. Certainly nothing I thought I’d be doing at this particular stage of life.

But it WAS my idea. To ride camels, that is. Because truly, I’m terrified of them. They’re so tall, and then there’s that hump. And they can be nasty. Lord, can they be nasty. They spit. Our reward will be the tented camp with minted tea and pastries that await us at the other end of the trek. Dinner around a big campfire in the dark dark starry night. And yes, we’ll spend that night in the tent. No internet access.

The rest of the time we’ll be in very nice accommodations. The tent’s supposed to be really nice, too. However, my definition of “very nice” is sometimes different from the way others see it.

We’ll be gone almost two weeks and our voyage will take us from the famed Casablanca to the souk of medieval Fes and on to the Medina and minarets of Marrakech.

No, I will NOT buy a fez.

I don’t know what to expect. North Africa’s a mystery. Except for a week-long visit to Asia (Singapore & Hong Kong only), I’ve stuck to my comfort zone, which is Europe.

How bad can it be? The State Department warns of a high risk of terrorist activity against Americans, based on bombs and violence in the past few years. Other warnings include attacks on and harassment of women, demonstrations and many unexploded mines in the Sahara. They suggest we keep up to date by following them on Twitter and Facebook.

Whaaat?? Oh yeah. Like I’d go a zillion miles across the planet to exotic locales and be checking the State Department’sTwitter. NOT.

Instead, I’ve packed the dog’s Xanax. {Oh, the dogs are staying home with Miss Jen.}

Today, an 11-hour flight to Paris, and then another three hours to Morocco. Then? It’s ON!

I’ll be blogging along the way as time permits and posting photos. Join me here as I explore this exotic part of our planet as only a Diva can. And oh yes–happy St. Paddy’s Day to you!