Okay, we are trying to get to the desert. It's not exactly working right now. Instead we are in a bus that might explode with a driver that keeps stopping in the middle of main streets, jumping out, and running away. So far he has always come back. Did I mention the car door is broken and won't open from the inside? We've spent over an hour in this fire-waiting-to-happen and still haven't managed to leave Marrakech. I just hope this van won't be our final method of transport. Only time will tell.
Update:
We have been driven in our rickety old van for a while now, when suddenly it pulled over to a petrol station. "change cars" was all the driver said as he opened the door to let us out. People steamed out of one van and into the other. These mini-buses are much more legit and a bit more trustworthy. I took a quick run to the WC (this time I had tp ready!). Now we are on our new minibus and I am in a not-super comfortable middle seat. Nap time? Yes please!
Last update of the day...
It was a long long trip, without much actual learning. There was a lot more stopping, and the bus driver saying "picture time!" Okay, but what are we taking pictures of? After the tenth stop - all of which were suspiciously near vendors- I stopped getting out of the car. Like Europe where one church looks like another, so does one sand dune or cluster of old clay houses look like another. It's not that I'm not interested, it's just that I thought a tour guide would tell us where we were going and what we were seeing. Instead of a tour guide we have a driver who likes to stop and drink coffee. I suppose the upside is that he never fell asleep. But i never learned anything and have 20 pictures to prove it. I must say it is interesting to watch the sand change colors and watch the people on the side of the road watching us.
So we are finally at the hotel with two meals and one sleep between us and the sahara. I'll keep writing, but it might be a while until I find Internet again. Camels, here we come!
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Morocco - Casablaca and Marrakech
Let me start by apologizing - I am computerless and thus forced to write this on my iPhone. Not an easy task, I assure you. Please forgive all the awkward sentences and weird spelling autocorrect errors.
I am currently on a train from Casablanca to Marrakech, and although I was only in Casablanca for less than 24 hours, there are several observations I can make. First, it's tough to be a pedestrian where crossing the street feels more like Frogger than anything else. You try to follow the locals and not die. Second, driving in a car isn't much better than walking. Casablanca is a city where honking takes place every 15 seconds or so (I couldn't figure out why), stopping at the red signs and stop lights seemed optional, as did driving in the lanes or signaling. In fact ALL driving rules seemed rather optional. Our last taxi driver even slightly ran into a truck on the way into the train station. No big deal. Then Emily and I bought tickets to Marrakech. We decided to travel with the locals in 2nd class. We nearly ended up standing up for the 3.5 hour journey. It seems this train is popular! My last observation about the locals is the amount of clothes they wear. Not just the women, which I had expected as they are covered from head to toe most of the time. Not all of them wear head scarfs, but long sleeves and skirts are the norm. It's the men that surprise me the most. It's 28*C outside and these guys are wearing jeans, long sleeve shirts, sweaters, jackets AND hats! All on the train! I'm in a thin long skirt and thin long shirt and dying. How do they do it? Okay, enough about clothing... Emily and I have one more day on our own before the tour starts, and we are very excited. Into the desert with camels and a sky full of stars :) I have to say that Morocco is way out of my comfort zone, but it's good to leave your comfort zone every now and then. It makes me feel alive and reminds me how lucky I am.
A few hours later..
Once Emily and I arrived in Marrakech, we wasted no time picking up groceries, then heading out to explore. Even though we were staying quite a ways from the center of town, we decided to walk. I think it's the best way to see a city, otherwise you miss the small quiet bits of everyday life. After an hour or so of walking, and yes, getting a bit lost, we found the souk- the large marketplace. Thousands of people must be there, buying, selling, begging, looking and everything in between. The smells and sights were far from my normal experience, but similar to Istanbul. We wandered through the enormous souk getting completely lost and not minding at all. I had a short run in with a very awkward WC and ignored the calls of "hello! Just look! Bonjour!" eventually I stopped responding with "no, merci" because that just encouraged them. An hour or so later Emily and I were a but worried. We had wandered down many streets in and out of corridors and down little alleyways. This maze seemed to go on indefinitely with no hope of an out! We started trying to guess the direction but it was Bo use. Then suddenly we took a right, and there we were, back in the massive square where we had begun our adventure. We breathe a sigh of relief then set out to find a place for emily to get henna. The women were very pushy, but Emily negotiated a good price and we sat on the little plastic stools happy for a rest, as emily's hand was decorated with flowers, swirls, and dots. The lady with her face covered (except for her eyes) insisted over and over "no water! One hour!" we thanked her, paid her, and went in search of food. We didn't have to go far. There was a huge section of street food, and we gave in early. The prices were all the same, and they all served the same things. We ordered tajine de poulet, couscous et legumes, and then many sticks of kabobs (lamb, chicken, and veggies). We stuffed our self, met a fellow American traveller, chatted, paid up, and headed out. By this time it was cold and dark. Did we want to walk home? No thanks! We grabbed a taxi (no seatbelts!) and made a beeline to the hotel. Thanks to our free lobby wifi Emily and I are connecting with the work before another day of wonder. Hurray!
I am currently on a train from Casablanca to Marrakech, and although I was only in Casablanca for less than 24 hours, there are several observations I can make. First, it's tough to be a pedestrian where crossing the street feels more like Frogger than anything else. You try to follow the locals and not die. Second, driving in a car isn't much better than walking. Casablanca is a city where honking takes place every 15 seconds or so (I couldn't figure out why), stopping at the red signs and stop lights seemed optional, as did driving in the lanes or signaling. In fact ALL driving rules seemed rather optional. Our last taxi driver even slightly ran into a truck on the way into the train station. No big deal. Then Emily and I bought tickets to Marrakech. We decided to travel with the locals in 2nd class. We nearly ended up standing up for the 3.5 hour journey. It seems this train is popular! My last observation about the locals is the amount of clothes they wear. Not just the women, which I had expected as they are covered from head to toe most of the time. Not all of them wear head scarfs, but long sleeves and skirts are the norm. It's the men that surprise me the most. It's 28*C outside and these guys are wearing jeans, long sleeve shirts, sweaters, jackets AND hats! All on the train! I'm in a thin long skirt and thin long shirt and dying. How do they do it? Okay, enough about clothing... Emily and I have one more day on our own before the tour starts, and we are very excited. Into the desert with camels and a sky full of stars :) I have to say that Morocco is way out of my comfort zone, but it's good to leave your comfort zone every now and then. It makes me feel alive and reminds me how lucky I am.
A few hours later..
Once Emily and I arrived in Marrakech, we wasted no time picking up groceries, then heading out to explore. Even though we were staying quite a ways from the center of town, we decided to walk. I think it's the best way to see a city, otherwise you miss the small quiet bits of everyday life. After an hour or so of walking, and yes, getting a bit lost, we found the souk- the large marketplace. Thousands of people must be there, buying, selling, begging, looking and everything in between. The smells and sights were far from my normal experience, but similar to Istanbul. We wandered through the enormous souk getting completely lost and not minding at all. I had a short run in with a very awkward WC and ignored the calls of "hello! Just look! Bonjour!" eventually I stopped responding with "no, merci" because that just encouraged them. An hour or so later Emily and I were a but worried. We had wandered down many streets in and out of corridors and down little alleyways. This maze seemed to go on indefinitely with no hope of an out! We started trying to guess the direction but it was Bo use. Then suddenly we took a right, and there we were, back in the massive square where we had begun our adventure. We breathe a sigh of relief then set out to find a place for emily to get henna. The women were very pushy, but Emily negotiated a good price and we sat on the little plastic stools happy for a rest, as emily's hand was decorated with flowers, swirls, and dots. The lady with her face covered (except for her eyes) insisted over and over "no water! One hour!" we thanked her, paid her, and went in search of food. We didn't have to go far. There was a huge section of street food, and we gave in early. The prices were all the same, and they all served the same things. We ordered tajine de poulet, couscous et legumes, and then many sticks of kabobs (lamb, chicken, and veggies). We stuffed our self, met a fellow American traveller, chatted, paid up, and headed out. By this time it was cold and dark. Did we want to walk home? No thanks! We grabbed a taxi (no seatbelts!) and made a beeline to the hotel. Thanks to our free lobby wifi Emily and I are connecting with the work before another day of wonder. Hurray!
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