Marruecos Part 1

Sandstorm in the Sahara desert, Camels (that did not spit, nor were they mean, thank goodness!), 36 hours of bus riding (in 6+ shifts), an alarming absence of females walking about the city, and strawberries!

Día 1: Leave Granada at 5am, drive to Algeciras with a quick pick up at Málaga for 5 more ISA girls, 3 hours getting through the ferry business to reach Ceuta, and finally 6 more hours of bus riding till we reach Fez. Exhausted yet? We were. Check into our hotel rooms, dinner at 8:30pm (which was quite an adventure – trying to figure out what was “ok” to eat [highly recommended to avoid fresh fruit and veggies unless you could wash them off with bottled water, and eat only cooked things] avoiding temptations such as salad like dishes or freshly cut strawberries [which people did indeed end up eating, felt fine and then everyone chowed down the next night…so good!] and trying the new flavor sensations, free time to wander close to the hotel and around it’s grounds – actually quite pretty, with a lovely pool, and in-pool bar deck, and a nice little garden area – and then off to bed after some failed stargazing (too bright in the city) to wake up at 7:30am.

Día 2: Breakfast of some sort of fresh flat bread with honey and a creamy tangy cheese and jam and a huge variety of pastries and bread rolls, and then off to the buses again though this time only a quick ride to the old neighborhood of the town, the Medina, which is stock full of market stalls and narrow streets. These streets are so narrow and winding and confusing that it is highly recommended to take a guide with you or you may never make it out again. And while we walked through these alleys I understood why, you’d have to live there all your life to know how to get around. Not to mention that within these tiny choking alleyways are little tiny doors that lead to grand houses on the inside…a crazy contradiction.

So, about 40 kids are being led through these winding streets and into various little specialty markets. The first being a pharmacy where the owner gave us a demonstration of some of his more popular wares, in English, and gave samples of spices, of cure-alls, of lotions and ointments and essential oils. Then started selling us the stuff item by item – “how many people want such and such item?” and then went through all his wares he had shown us. So fast paced. I like to take my time to think about my purchases, if I want them or not…I’m very indecisive. But I picked up a spa soap, a jasmine scent, kohl liner in an awesome container, and a cure all amongst other odds and ends.

Our next stop was a fabric place, where they supposedly weave their own scarfs and pashminas and what not and then sell them at ridiculously inflated prices to the unsuspecting tourists. I got a bit overwhelmed and wasn’t able to bargain down to a reasonable price…but it wasn’t completely outrageous…40 euros for a dress and two scarfs. Of questionable quality, oh well, live and learn and I’m never going to buy anything in a situation like that again.

After that, people, including myself, were starving and we went to get lunch. Once more navigating the twisting labyrinth of streets we arrive at a restaurant that looks...exactly as one would imagine a Moroccan themed restaurant to look. Slightly dimmed lights, red drapes hanging from the walls and ceilings, ornate chandelier lamps, festive and slightly decadent atmosphere. We sit down, our new group of friends, and chat and have several animated conversations about I can't remember what anymore, until food comes. The FIRST COURSE is a variety of tapas, or appetizers, including lentils, white beans, shredded veggies, eggplant mush, fried eggplant, potatoes and some chili toppings to add if extra heat is desired (so good.) Of course this was served with a sponge-bread bowl and a large bottle of water to go around the table.

Everything was so delicious.

Then the second, main, course came - couscous with yams, tender chicken, potatoes and a rich full flavor. It was so good and all 8 of us ate as much as we possibly could, but still half a bowl of couscous was leftover - that was how heaping a serving it was!

And then it was followed by the last course...dessert. Which was sliced oranges and bananas sprinkled with cinnamon. And last, but not least, one of the servers came around with a thing of rose water to sprinkle on our hands to freshen us up...and in my case also sprinkle it down the back of my next!! Definitely was a shock to me, I didn't know whether to laugh or be offended! =p I went with the former thought, of course. 'Twas perfect end to our lunchtime meal...