Spain and Morocco

[Peasie]

Re: Spain and Morocco in 2 weeks

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SandiF</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Tuesday was filled with laughter, great conversation and being in the company of someone I feel as though I have known for years; this is Rachid who brought along Adil as a guide due to strong restrictions in the medina of Fes old town. It was yesterday that I met Rachid and Zak and have developed a fondness for both which is different but respectful. Our interaction is not that of strangers but of old friends, who somehow had not seen each other in years and finally getting that moment to re-connect, get back in touch and the good feel of camaraderie. </div></div>

I love your writing and observations, SandiF. And I really love this about meeting people for the first time who are like old friends.

[MsExced]

Re: Spain and Morocco in 2 weeks

Loving your report and pictures Sandi

[Seveen]

Re: Spain and Morocco in 2 weeks

thanks for sharing - i too love to travel alone

[SandiF]

Re: Spain and Morocco in 2 weeks

Marielle - I did not made it to Marrakesh, which was really my intended destination when I started planning for this trip. For all I know it was not Tangier, I'll go check out the map and the ferry web site, but for sure ferries from Algeciras to not port in Tangier. The Alhambra is indeed a wonder.

Peasie - there is nothing like meeting new and interesting people. I tend to believe that I'm shy and on the reclusive side but as I get older (ah now!) I find much joy being around people more and more.

Exced - Thanks! (btw, I will be in your neck of woods in a week)

Seveen - I love the solo travel but so many people find it frightening, strange and give the odd look that a married woman would travel without her spouse. (LOL!) People have to get to know me to understand my 'mechanics' -- I need the &quot;me times&quot; and find that I see more of what I want to see when traveling alone. Of course, my husband and I travel together more than I go solo.

[SandiF]

Re: Spain and Morocco in 2 weeks

<span style="font-style: italic">By now my dear reader you are curious about my newly developed friendships (chuckle), perhaps… </span>

Wednesday morning Rachid’s voice woke me from my late morning sleep. It was close to 9AM, which is breakfast time. Ah yes, he was already there having a lively conversation with Fatima. I love Rachid – he is warm, relaxing and has a smile that shows genuine sincerity. He came to take me around the medina so that I can do my shopping, be my protector as he is insistent that I was too beautiful to be walking the medina alone, and then he’ll be on his way to his company. This is what I have found very warm and hospitable about these two men – not once did they approach me for anything of any kind and their behavior is one of kindness and respect.

It was still an early day by the time I was back at the dar and was ready for a nap. Rachid had to be at his work place and left that he will be back either in the evening or the next morning. Fatima on the other hand had made lunch consisting of lentil soup, olive bread, chicken stewed in prunes and onion; and a serving of pomegranates and sliced plum, and to top it off with a glass of Morocco’s finest wine and mint tea. I’m not much of an eater but this lavish food I could not turn down – I was bursting from too much eating and definitely ready for sleep.

The highlight of the day was taking a hamam, which is a Moroccan steam bath with the best scrub down massage ever! The hamam is a huge bathhouse separated by gender. The women who operate the hamam are older Berber women, huge breasts, swarthy legs, great stomachs. I was in a bath house with maybe 15 other women, locals and a group of French women. Some women kept their underwear on while others such as me were fully naked. My bather (forgot her name) gave my body a scrub down and massage with a rough material. I spent the remainder of the time in the hamam getting my skin lavishly rubbed with a pleasant oil and enjoying the silky smooth feel of my pampered skin; and spending time listening to the lively conversation.

To my readers– much happened in the evening after my hamam – I had great company back at the dar, lots of laughter, great food, the wine was flowing, and a night walk through the medina. The medina had a different appeal at night with antique street lamps lighting the way and the shadows of darkness lurking in the corners. A few shops were still open but the extreme hustle and bustle of the day light hours was nowhere to be seen and only a few people were walking the very narrow ways. The companion for the evening was wonderful and it set a mood filled with warmth, comfort and above all great conversation. There is always something electrifying when two people who are mutually attracted to each other are together, we forget about everything else that is happening around us and just live in the moment. Times like this you take what is there and keep it as treasured moments.

[SandiF]

Re: Spain and Morocco in 2 weeks

outside the medina - that's the mosque tower


what a contrasting difference from being inside the medina; there you feel drawn back in time - on the street a different type of hustle


petit taxi - these old fiats are tough and used as local taxis 10 dirham get you to anywhere. then there are grand taxis - ancient mercedes benz. tough old cars

[SandiF]

Re: Spain and Morocco in 2 weeks

The delightful operations manager at the Fez Pottery and Ceramic factory and warehouse took me on a tour of his place.


he decided to be my photographer and took a whole slew of pics while I peruse the rudimentary furnace where potteries are blasted with heat. that's me


wish i could remember his name but his female staff decided we'd make a perfect couple

[SandiF]

Re: Spain and Morocco in 2 weeks

heading back to old town - rachid was getting tired of my constant stopping for picture taking, so he set off on a fast pace


one of the gates to the medina


i was so tired i started to look blurry. w/ Rachid catching up with a friend after 15 yrs of not seeing the guy

[Marielle]

Re: Spain and Morocco in 2 weeks

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SandiF</div><div class="ubbcode-body">- I love the solo travel but so many people find it frightening, strange and give the odd look that a married woman would travel without her spouse. (LOL!) People have to get to know me to understand my 'mechanics' -- I need the &quot;me times&quot; and find that I see more of what I want to see when traveling alone. Of course, my husband and I travel together more than I go solo. </div></div>

I love solo travel too, the best way to go! I LOL too at the travelling without her spouse bit, that´s all you get in India!

&quot;Hallo Madam, where are you from, where are you going and where is your husband?&quot;!!

I usually said he was home looking after the children!! (didn´t even have one!)

Didn´t realise you were married..

Marrakesh is totally different from Tangier, which I loved too, it´s a great place and a very interesting history, Barbara Hutton and William Burroughs and the Rolling Stones all lived there for a time.

Your pictures are great and I just love your writing! So true what you write about meeting strangers who become friends, I think when that happens with me we possibly had previous lifetimes together...

Can you believe we have a hamam near my house here and I have yet to go there!!

[Stormmey]

Re: Spain and Morocco in 2 weeks

Sandi!! love your writing style....it's as if I am right beside you touching and feeling everything. I remember once a lady on here did a report and posted her pic....I was in Toronto for a visit and I saw her and proceeded to yell out her board name she kept on walking. I caugh up to here and we started chatting after I intorduced myself.

Long story short we stopped for lunch and really talked.....she was visiting Toronto just like myself....coincidence I tell you.

So!! dont be surprised if one day you walking along and a female yell out SandiF it might be me

Nice pic. of you btw

[Diplomat]

Re: Spain and Morocco in 2 weeks

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SandiF</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I love the solo travel but so many people find it frightening, strange and give the odd look that a married woman would travel without her spouse. (LOL!) People have to get to know me to understand my 'mechanics' -- I need the &quot;me times&quot; and find that I see more of what I want to see when traveling alone. Of course, my husband and I travel together more than I go solo. </div></div>
I hear you on the solo travel thing and can so relate! I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love your sense of adventure. Wonderful report and really cool pictures. Thanks for sharing...

[Peasie]

Re: Spain and Morocco in 2 weeks

for SandiF. Also what ChurchD said.

Sometimes some of us who are blessed with a sense of adventure, of wanting to see deeper into life, are married to others who don't. And we love them even more when they know us so well to not try to clip our wings. That's when we know we have chosen the right soulmate.

(((Mr. SandiF)))

[SandiF]

Re: Spain and Morocco in 2 weeks

Marielle - if I had an hamam in my neighbourhood, I'd be there at least once a month.

ChurchDude &amp; Peasie - you two are right on the money

Stormmey - I haven't written in such a long while; making notes of my daily events and even as it was occurring was enjoyable

[SandiF]

Re: Spain and Morocco in 2 weeks

Back at the dar and chillin out with Adil and Rachid


[img]I spent so many hours walking through the old town/medina. I was told around 200,000 people live inside there and real estate value has increased. It is now a sought after residential area. It is also a tourist enclave, since the medina is where you would want to be to get a glimpse of what life was like in old Fes Morocco


Great walls and huge doors - the entries to fabulous family homes inside the medina. Once inside, you do not hear the noisy of the busy streets below

[SandiF]

Re: Spain and Morocco in 2 weeks

I went to Morocco with no idea what to expect, with the exception that I'll be in a Muslim country and will be required to cover up and expect harassment from the men -- that was not so; instead I found a country rich in history, culture and the people showed a certain type of hospitality and friendliness that is missing from North America and Europe.


What can I say about the food? I'll add Morocco to the list of countries where I eat from street side vendors and the food was GREAT! After buying some olive breads I snapped this pic