Climbing sand dunes is hard.  No, I’m not talking about crossing the boardwalk in Hilton Head to get to the beach, but the actual Sahara sand dunes that go on for 4 miles in any direction from our camp.  The desert is simply beautiful, with clear sun rises and sunsets an artist would kill to paint.  Unfortunately, these views were dotted with sand dunes as far as the eye could see, so in order to witness it in the full effect, you had to climb up the highest dune around.  And in order to climb up the highest dune, a full 75+ meters high, you first had to climb every other just slightly smaller dune in your path.  Up and down and up and down.   Heading towards the sun set of course, so the reality is you are hiking in the desert directly facing the blazing Saharan sun.

The Berber guides know this is hard, so the offer a treat to lure you out there.  Just before the highest climb, they set up a little lounge and serve cocktails.  There you sit and you rest and you sip a cold beer and think, oh this isn’t so bad after all and ready yourself to enjoy the majestic setting sun from the carpet and cushions you are currently perched upon…

Only then do they point upwards and say “ok, we go?” And while you curse them and your spouse and yourself for this hair-brained life plan, that stupid little voice in you pops up and reminds you that you’ve already made it all the way out here so you might as well go just a little bit farther to see it right.   But that little more is all the way uphill.  And you’re still a little jet-lagged. And let’s face it, you work a desk job so you’re totally not in shape to be hiking in baby power fine sand that sinks a foot for every step you take.  

Finally the Berber man takes pity on you and unwinds his turban to throw you a lifeline and yank you up the slope.  As you huff and puff and he runs ahead with a smile and a song (because of course he sings as he runs through the desert sun, right?!), he turns back to your husband and demands he take a picture…

Maybe by the second year of marriage He will learn what my death stare means and put down the damn camera….