Midweek Adventure!

So today after class we went over to Salé, which is directly across the river from Rabat, making the two almost like one city–or so it says geographically. Realistically, Salé is like a poor man’s version of Rabat. Also it smelled like garbage. I won’t be going back. However, I did get an amazing t-shirt. But wait! Let’s tell the story in pictures!

Check out those colors! Ready to cross the river!
Check out those colors! Ready to cross the river!
Luckily the Boat Guy didn't let Rajae drive...
Luckily the Boat Guy didn't let Rajae drive...
On-board snack? I wonder how long those have been there...
On-board snack? I wonder how long those have been there...

Now, most of Salé’s medina was like the dollar-general version of… any other medina I have been to on this trip, which was a real disappointment because I was prepared to load up on gifts for family and friends back home. But I didn’t because… I wasn’t in the market for used remote controls or knockoff sunglasses.

...but they had AWESOME fabric
...but they had AWESOME fabric.
A poor woman was selling colored chicks for 1DH each. That's her living.
A poor woman was selling colored chicks for 1DH each. That's how she makes her living.

Since the bus from school–boat across the river–walking several miles ordeal to get to the Salé medina took us almost two hours, we opted on getting a taxi for the way back. But there were six of us. Problem?

...no problem! Four in the back and two in the front (plus driver) is perfectly acceptable!
...no problem! Four in the back and two in the front (plus driver) is perfectly acceptable!

After the taxi we took another bus to school, then I took yet another bus home. It has been a bus-y day! (See what I did there? Its a pun.)

Also, today is July 7th! I have officially been in Morocco for one month. Seems like wayyy longer than a month though!

Marrakech

Today on the way back to Rabat we stopped for about 4 hours in the “Red City” of Marrakech. We visited a Quranic boarding school that had been in use for centuries until it finally closed in the 1960s. It was very interesting… we also got a tour through the medina and the souks (workshops). We saw crafstmen making wood, leather, and metal products. We also stopped in a beautiful museum, and after that, went to the square where there were snake charmers (cobra snakes!!) and monkeys. I totally GOT TO HOLD a monkey!!! He was so cute!!!

So, um, the little guy got to second base!
So, um, the little guy got to second base!

Also (sorry for not posting yesterday, I didn’t get back to the hotel room till about 2AM) last night I saw 80s band Arrested Development at the Gnaoua festival (apparently I have been spelling it wrong) and did a lil dancing, it was great. Before that we visited a vineyard, took a tour of the cave (wine cellar) and had a really intense four-course meal. I think I had more to say on the subject but I am quite weary and can’t remember… so I’ll just have to save it for my next update.

Sand and Camels but no Desert!

Note to self: don’t go tanning on a beach in a city called “the city of wind.” You will most certainly be consumed by sand.

In other news: I SAW CAMELS TODAY! Okay, it wasn’t really legitimate because it was just some guys on the beach trying to make a quick Dirham enticing foreigners to ride them… but I saw like 7 and they are WAY HUGER than I had pictured. I mean, I’m always surprised by how big horses are in real life, but these guys made horses look downright manageable. (The camel guys were riding horses too). My prof got all up-in-arms about it because we aren’t in the desert and thus the appearance of camels isn’t legit but it doesn’t make me want to ride them any less. He said we should be able to ride some in Marrakesh on Sunday which also isn’t ideal in his eyes but it’s better than on the beach.

The hotel does not, in fact, have free wi-fi which is a HUGE bummer so we all went together and bought 5 days worth of unlimited access from Pete’s room and that’s what I’m using now. This is not ideal but its better than not having it at all. Now we get to put our sharing/taking turns lessons from kindergarten to good use.

I hope that’s an adequate explanation for why today and yesterday’s posts have been so lackluster. Sorry readers! Sunday night you will have a super post with pictures of the Gnawa festival and of CAMELS! Now I shall go take a nap in order to rest up for tonight’s festivities. Have a great Friday!