Morocco - Blogabond

(This is an arabic keyboard and its blerrie tough to get these keys right!)

We arrived in Marrakech on Wednesday. Djemaa el Fna, the large square in the middle of the old city, was pulsating with energy as its well known for, even in off-season. The last time I was here, it was really a baptism of fire with over zealous vendors pushing to make a sale. But this time round, especially with a low tourist season, it was much more bearable. Djemaa el Fna is a gem. Every night the restuarants set up their scaffolding and they charm their guests from the square. There are dedicated people that just go out and hunt for people to eat at their stand. During the day, The square is littered with snake charmers, crazy head-swinging-clapping dancers, monkey tamers, etc etc; everything that makes an African market place, just more commercialised. Street culture here is something to talk about. I sometimes wonder if crime was less in South Africa, if we could also have what these people have. Crime really steals from culture - lets work to eradicate it!!

Djemaa el Fna from a terrasse

Walter and Ryan; July 2009

We didnt hang around to long and took the night train to Tangiers which is right in the north of Morocco. We were met by Ryan and Haitam. I have known Ryan for a while now and we have had some cool times together. He is an American doing his final thesis in cultural studies. In many ways we have so many thoughts in common so hanging out is always a joy! I met Haitam last time I was here with Emma and he is such a swell guy. We have never met before at that time, and he treated us like royal guests. The fabled genoristy of the Arab culture is personified in Haitam (so Haitam if you ever read this; you are a legend!) Anyway, so Tangiers is really a cool place. We joined Ryan to a meal with volanteers from the Streetchildren NGO where he works. We had some awesome seafood paella with Belgians, and a French- and Spanish guy (thanks for the crash course in Flamenca, Camil!). All in all, Tangiers is such a rish place. The Spanish coast is 20 odd km from across the bay and clearly visible. There are so many immigrants here all whishing for the better life of Europe. Just outside this internet cafe is a wall called the lazy wall. In the evenings its packed with people just taring over the coast and schming plans to get there but everyone is too lazy to get there. I was wondering whether the West is partly blamed for creating this flase illusions that everything is nice where we come from. I wonder how many people who successfully (and it will cost you 3,500 euros) crossed the straight will confess that the grass is not ,uch greener on the other side.

At 15:15 we will get on a 36h bus that will take us into the heart of West Sahara. We have decided its time to push on to get to Nauochott, Dakar and Bamako!

written by

afrikawasbeer on October 11, 2009 from Tanger, Morocco

from the travel blog: Traveling Africa Overland

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Hi to you three muscateers!So nice to hear from you Walter..I love that photo of you man!
Hope the Sahara treats you well and that you will be able to sit on open sands and hear His voice in that wide open space I only have seen in the Reader's Digest Atlas!
You step out of your circle of Comfort into Africa with all she can offer you...grab every encounter with the people who long for some one like you who would take an interest in them..men and woman who have stories to tell and hearts that yearnto experience God's love reaching out through your smile,your encouragement,your transparency and your friendship!
Go for it my son!
Lovyalots!
mom.com

written by Lorraine Fieuw on October 11, 2009

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