Author Darlene Nastansky
Combining my love for the outdoors and medicine, I have practiced Orthopedics as a Physician Assistant for 11 years.
In 2009, I left to pursue my dream of travel and adventure.
I packed up everything and left for a 12 month jaunt around the world, with time to volunteer in third world medicine, publish articles, climb peaks and rent motor-scooters.
My experience continues to open more avenues, I find myself speaking at fundraisers, packing for a return voyage to Ethiopia for a specific medical cause, freelancing ....
The flood gates of my dreams have opened!
No one would have guessed 23 years ago, as a teen parent, I would have pulled myself from the throes of poverty into the dreams of a lifetime.
As a young girl nurtured beneath the Arizona sunshine, I found my way to the Northwest where climbing, mountain biking, back country skiing and trail running were never far away.
My newest quests include sultry twilight passages, unfamiliar utterances, chaos, foreign soils and trading medical knowledge with the third world.
Please feel free to contact me at info@elephantcloud.net
September 15th, 2009 by Darlene Nastansky · 2 Comments · Africa, Morocco
Check- Rusty mountain bikes, squeaky brakes, repair kit, pump, water bottles, Chaco sandals and a torn out Rough Guide map. Missing- Compass, helmets, gloves, topo map and Chleuh Berber language book. Day one- 40km loop from Tafraute up into the Ameln Valley where 26 Berber villages are built into the pink ridges of the mountains, […]
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September 14th, 2009 by Darlene Nastansky · 2 Comments · Africa, Morocco
Don’t ride the buses at night Younes tells us, especially over mountain passes. But then again, that’s the only way to get to Tafraoute- 5-6 hour bus ride departing at 3pm. Moroccan road slang (flashing lights, horns), spoken articulately by our bus drive, successfully delivered us along a one way road with blind corners, no […]
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September 13th, 2009 by Darlene Nastansky · 1 Comment · Africa, Morocco
God willing… If it is God’s will…. A beautiful expression I recently acquired, placing everything into the hands of God and out of one’s responsibility. Beggars with hands extended are often given a nod and quick Insah’Allah. Will you have bread later tonight or tomorrow, we implore at the boulangeria?- Insah’Allah, she answers. After biking […]
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September 9th, 2009 by Darlene Nastansky · 3 Comments · Africa, Morocco
Into the dark of last night, our bus pulled into Essaouira, a fishermens port. Gypsies throng at the bus vying attention for money, food, cheap places to stay while the street kids press at your side… We are quite used to this now, and like many bus stations, the less fortunate prey on the newly […]
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A crescent lagoon nestled down the valley of Oualidia turned into an unexpected peaceful coastal town of maybe 4000. An early morning fishing spectacle- blue wooden boats cresting the swells, fisherman, hand over hand, pulling in a catch of crab and lobster, and surfers straddling boards,waiting for the big one. At times we are sleeping […]
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