Morocco

I hadn't gotten around to it, but I wanted to share about Morocco. This strange and distant land that basks in the dim glow of Bogey and Bergman. While I didn't stop in Casablanca and sip a G n' T, I did visit Marrakesh, and the surrounding Atlas Mountain area. English doesn't have an appropriate word to explain this place.

We left Vicenza at 2 in the morning to arrive in Milan in time for our 7 o'clock flight. I've done my share of international traveling, but it still amazes me how all airports are exactly the same. I hadn't slept well the night before, still jet lagged and full of adrenline. When we arrived at our riad we were welcomed by the lovely French propiretors with some fresh, hot mint tea. It was welcome on this road weary tongue. I was in desperate need of a nap, so while I slept, my friend went to explore and warm up his camera.

We were staying near the market, called the souks. Not only for tourists, locals purchased fresh meat and spices, clothing, jewelry, metalworks...America has nothing comparable. As we wound our way through the puzzle of halls, we finally reached Djemma el Fna, one of the largest and busiest squares in the world. During the day it was filled with vendors hawking fresh orange juice (which is a must try), women sold their henna skills, local men told stories to local audiences, men sold individual teeth spread out on a table to make dentures, and there were plenty of snake charmers. At night, the square was alive with the smell of food. Smoked kabobs and vegetables  filled the air with the incense of surrounding magicians. Although we didn't buy any teeth, we did play with snakes and were the focus of a magic trick which drew quite an audience. 

The next morning we left for a 3 day private tour through the Atlas Mountains. We had a wonderful guide who did three things I appreciate: spoke English, didn't drive off the mountain, and didn't ask about politics. We stopped at several UNESCO World Heritage Sites (18 down, 860 to go). We officially rocked two kasbahs. Seriously, how did I get so lucky?

Kasbah Ait-ben-haddou, we climbed to the top of that bad boy

Ah-mazing trip. The people were generally great. Although we did have a couple of sketchy incidents involving over zealous sellers of legal and illegal wares. We met two other road weary travelers from Italy to share dinner with. Spent the nights eating well, and drinking better. That's the thing with traveling. Sure the beautiful sites and the photo ops are great, but at the end of the day, it's the people. It's the energy. It's the smell. It's the bumps in the road that leave pieces of yourself behind and drive you pick up pieces of others. That's what I call a souvenir.

They Do Exist

I have a new job. Yes, they do exist. I'm about 7 weeks in. Pressure. It's kinda awesome. Kinda well...pressure-ish. Big expectations. New people. Lots of traveling. Lots of working from home. Things are kinda rad.

My company is Brazilian with also a major office in Mexico City. I've worked for international companies before, but it's very different when you are the only American in a land of Portuguese and Spanish emails and phone calls. Americans take for granted and expect people to speak English. I never realized how much I do, and how much I'm frustrated by it.  Although I've traveled to many different places, it's usually for a couple days in touristic areas. You can get by on the limited French, or Spanish, or whatever for a few days. There is nothing like immersion to humble you. I don't know a thing at the end of the day. Just when I understand about 70% of what I hear, I realize there is another 70% I don't understand. Yes, the math doesn't work out, but languages are bigger than we realize.

Walk like a camel

I am leaving for vacation in two weeks. Yes. Yes. Yes. Serious f'in vacation.
I'm flying to Italy and then will be traveling with a good friend to Marrakesh, Morocco to spend a few days with some camels in the desert. Then, back to Italy and into Rome. I was super excited about Rome, but I haven't even thought a minute about that aspect of the trip since Morocco was decided on last week.

My google history reads:
"How to ride a camel"
"What to wear while riding a camel"
"How not to fall off a camel"
"Falling in style"

My YouTube history reads:
"Walking though Erg Chibbi"
"Sahara desert"
"Walking up sand dune"

I'm really interested in clothing I need to be packing. Especially the shoes. A woman is always concerned about the shoes. I don't spend much time in the desert being I live in the Gulf Coast (wasn't that a hurricane I just went though 6 weeks ago?), so I was interested to see the footwear people were wearing while hiking through sand dunes. Sandals seem appropriate as the sand can flow freely. But that seems awful dirty. What about athletic shoes? They seem cumbersome and full of sand. Equally dirty and a pain. Looks like most of the tourists were going the sneaker route. Humm...what to do.

Yesterday I was in the middle eastern part of town to get my eyebrows done (I have them threaded as opposed to waxing or other forms of eyebrow torture). As I was driving, I noticed the clothing stores and decided to stop in and pick up something appropriate for the culture I would be going to. While it's not summertime and I don't have to worry about showing too much leg, I still wanted something nice on hand. While the store was more Indian than Northern Africa, I found what I was looking for. I had never tried on traditional sarees and always wondered what they were all about. In case you're wondering...remarkably comfortable. Although the pants were a bit of a surprise. Think huge drawsting waist, made like maternity pants with a genie twist. I could have literally fit another person in the front of my pants. I don't understanding the reasoning of having a 55 inch waist on an otherwise normal pair of pants. But I will say they was pretty freaking comfortable once they weren't falling off. The caftans are beautiful! I found one with some sequins at the neck and a pretty print on the fabric. It was polyester which kind of concerned me, not much breathing in any heat. Oh well, it fit the bill and it's lovely.

Into the fray

I am eating up political coverage like cinnamon ice cream. I might as well admit from the start I am a typical moderate Republican and get a laugh out of radical types from either side.

This morning, I was reading Politico's "The Arena" section. Today's question was "What issue, other than the economy, needs more attention during the final days of the campagin?" I liked Craig Shirley's comment, who, according to his Arena comment, is a "Reagan biographer and president of Shirley and Banister Public Affairs".

Please find Mr. Shirley's comment below:

"Getting a reliable plumber is downright impossible. And a good contractor. And reliable cable and satellite service and don't get me started on babysitting. And what about the dry cleaner who keeps putting too much starch in my shirts? And why aren't there more good youth soccer coaches? And by the way, my neighbor's kid plays his music too loud.

All these vital services and problems should be nationalized and brought under the control of "The One."

Hey, it worked in the Soviet Union, didn't it?

"The One" should immediately address himself to all the material, familial, moral and spritual needs of Americans, right down to federalizing our trash pickup, making sure our children get three nutricious and balanced meals from the four basic food groups while a federal bureaucrat monitors each family to ensure they get to bed at a reasonable hour, but only after brushing thoroughly.

What he should propose is a Cabinet level Department of Anxiety Elimination for starters."The One" can lead us to the Promised Land where we can all catch a moonbeam in our hands. If we all just wish hard enough, click our heels together, and remember that mediocrity is a virtue, then "The One" will teach all of us to just get along.

Because he will save us. From ourselves."

Source: 16 Oct 2008, www.politico.com/arena/


I got a laugh on his moonbeam comment. After I catch the moonbeam, will it carry me away from the socialism that is coming? No?! Oh crap. Back to clicking my heels three times and going back to Kansas. Maybe a tornado will drop me in a capitalitist land.

I grew up in Kansas City.
Thank God for Texas.

Just so you know...

I like to jump around. Not in a House of Pain kind of way, although that is fun...but more so what you will find here will cover lots of things. If you disagree, that's cool. Just be respectful.

A bit about your writer and my expectations: I like opinions.  I like respectful disagreement. I like humor. I like to learn. I don't like to be sold. My experience is that is how most people prefer to engage in life.

That being said,

Listen, pay attention, and have fun.