Gouda's Cheesewheel

Sorry for my absence

So much to tell, let's see...

Wednesday was Eid Al Kbeer ("the big holiday") which is where each Muslim family that is able should slaughter a sheep or a goat. In practice in Morocco, it's kind of like their version of thanksgiving--you get a few days off and you eat a lot of meat. People also seem to use it as an excuse for things, kind of like we do: "oh, it's the holidays, it's ok if I smoke just a little" etc etc. Spent the day in Chefchaouen, since I was convinced once again to stay longer than I planned. Indeed, I think it was better than travelling over the holiday; much less stressful and more comforting and relaxing. Unfortunately it eliminated my ability to spend much time in Fes or Marrakesh. I had two hours between buses in Fes, during which time I ventured into the Medina (sticking to the big streets to avoid getting lost) and was invited to come in and have tea by a Berber man who claimed he remembered my face. He greeted me in Arabic, which was what caught my attention. Actually it was a nice break from the hubbub of bus travel and the time I had spent with two (very) loud British guys on the bus from Chaouen. A few souvenirs in hand, I caught the overnight bus to Marrakesh, which was a mistake because it dropped me off at 4:30 in the morning. Tired and unwilling to venture to the Gare Routiere (main bus station) without certainty of a connection, I waited instead at the train station until 7 AM, thinking I could catch the Supratours (fancy-shmancy) bus to Essaouira. In fact the 8 AM bus turned out to be full, so I caught a taxi to the Gare Routiere and ended up on the sketchiest bus I've encountered in a while--guys asking for random 10 dirham tips, police stopping the bus and asking for bribes, people getting on and off the moving vehicle, and so forth. It was all good in end, but I'm quite tired so I'm off to catch some rest.

Bon soir everyone.

posted by Greta @ 12:32 PM