marrakesh express

Long stories, short.

In Casablanca I et up with Youssef, from university. His family lives in a palace, and their and his hospitality was incredible. The kind of generosity that makes me uncomfortable. The family driver, Abid, shuttled us around to explore a bit of Casablanca, then the next morning we moved on to the coastal Essaouira for a day and a half, then on to Marrakesh with a new friend we collected in Essaouira, Mohammed. My guides and diplomats showed me everything they knew, helped me with bargaining in the marketplaces, and filled me in on all my curiosities regarding their country and its people. I also got a dietary crash-course in typical Moroccan cuisine, including a lots of cous-cous, and tajine made of goat's brain. Youssef and Abid left on Monday morning to return to Casa, and I spent the night at Mohammed's house with he and some of his family; more true Moroccan hospitality.

Finally, a three day organized tour southwest to Merzouga, complete with camel treks and camping in the Sahara dunes. Think, Lawrence of Arabia postcard-incredibility, but combined with sleepy faces staring out the minibus window.

Overnight sleeper back to Tangier, and now I'm back in Spain, in Málaga: making my way back up north.