Kristins second travelling tip-

Make sure the king is no where nearby if you want to rent a room.. you may end up adding five hours to your bus trip.

but it all works out!

I have ended up in Nador, instead of Al Hoceima. the guide book says it is only a two hours difference, but they didnt account for how often we stopped for tea, or becuase the driver saw a friend.. or who knows what. Once again my sleeping schedule is messed up, arriving at six in the morning, and sleeping through the better half of the day.

Something i ate didnt agree with me, so I have spent the last day or so just snoozing in my room, or reading on terrace. Gives me time to people watch, which is always fun.

From my viewpoint on the roof, i counted six ladies out of fifty not wearing a headscarf. More than I expected. I am guesing there are more, but the women dont really frequent the streets very often, a little bit for markets and shopping, but not for gathering and having a coffee. The women rule the house, and the men the streets, or that is what I am told.

Since I mostly roam the streets, I tend to strike up conversations with the guys. They will not start talking, but if I gabber away they will happily join in. Although when I am with fellow travellers, the men address them before me, or even them for me..

Some ladies have tried to explain this, saying it is out of respect for you that they dont address you. I see it as respect for the man, and not talking to his 'property'. The principle I understand ( vaguely), but I dont think it actually plays out like that.

The men will ignore me, but then go to great lengths to help me. Walking down the streets I get lots of stares, but that is all they are, stares( even if by my standards they are rude). Once I said Shooma ( shame on you) to a guy who was follwoing a little to closly with his kissy noises. He dispappared mighty quick when the enarby people told him ( i am assuming) to get lost.

I guess this is what they call culture shock, I cant make heads or tails of it!

The men are a mystery to me, but the women are easy to label. Generous. They might speak only Arabic, but that doesnt stop them from inviting me in to their home, feeding me, stroking my hair ( a little odd), the list goes on. The children too always want to sit by me ( or on me), ecspecially on the bus. I think the women are just happy to get rid of them for a while :)