The Last of morocco

Agadir is where I left off last time, and where most of the entertaining english group left for home. The rest of us carried on (via a horror riden bus) to Essaouara. A relaxed seaside resort, wiht not much to do but laze around and gorge on food. From there we took another lovely bus ride to The Cascades d'Ouzoud. This ride was tolerable , because we saw the treeclimbing goats!


Litterally squealing with delight, we pointed out goat after goat scrambling around in the Aragan trees. As wierd as it was, its obvious why they climb up, because the tree leaves are the only green and edible thing around. Being probably the only tourists on the bus ( or the most obvious ones) we got some pretty crazy looks from the locals, old and young alike. But hey, its not every day you see a goat in a tree, and since I have now seen them, I dont have to go through the trouble of hoisting one up.

The Ouzoud waterfalls were gorgeous, away from the hustle and bustle of the major cities, it was quiet and enjoyable. We jumped off some crazy big cliffs into the river, and tried to stay in the water or in the shade. The sun was just too much for us, at 47 degrees, walking anywhere was painful. For the hike back up the mountain to a taxi back into town, we hired a donkey. Looking at the poor, drooping eared beasts, you wonder how anyone could make them work so hard.. well now I know.. That donkey carried my bag back up the hill, something I sure couldn't do. As sad as they look, It was better than having another human carry my bag up the hill, which was the other option.

Back in Marrakech, I was left by Emily and Gabe, and I took a first class (a whole dollar fifty more than second) train to Casablanca.

Expecting the usual dozens of loud mosques, and intricate doors, Casa was a real surpise. From the train to my hotel I passed no less than six bars, all bearing sheets or beads over their doors to ' hide' what goes on inside, but really just making them more obvious. My hotel turned out to be the most expensive I have stayed in ( to be fair, I have been sleeping on rooves). The smelliest I have stayed in, and it came with free bedbugs! Despite my five star hotel, casa was worth going to, if not for the sights, but for the people.

I spent a bit of time with a traveler i met earlier in my travels, Antony, we had drinks ( yes, booze!) in a restaurant overslooking the city. My drink cost more than my hotel, but the company was worth it.

In my bug filled palace I met another fellow hotel dweller, Youssef, who recently recieved his visa for Canada. We spent many nights over coffee debating and discussing our varying views on subjects. He is so genuinely good, and smart, that for the first time I felt compelled to actually listen and contemplate his views. He stumped me on a few, leaving me with no counter-argument. It was a relativly new thing for me, being at a loss of words, usually I don't budge an inch from my views. Then again, not very many people will keep up talking with me until I back down and call defeat:)

He never took me for ignorant ( I hope) and I asked every question in the book.
(You clean your feet five times a day? .... Wearing sandals, yes. Socks and shoes you just have to swipe your dry hands over them, and if you are travelling only every three days.)

In return he asked me questions about canada and myself, and I quized him with canadian trvia. ( touque, penny, nickle, dime..)

Even with my book full of answered questions, I still have trouble understanding regular, or standard behavior.

I spent ages trying to direct him to brush off a bread crumb from his hair, which he said I could have done myself . His friends and him will use each other as pillows at the beach, but saying goodbye between different sexes, a handshake is the norm. No hugs here!

I guess I shouldn't have been surprised , because we had already talked about female clothing, and how arms ( and practically everything else) is private. Knowing this, there was no way that when Youssef, his freinds, and I went to the beach I was wearing a bikini. Showing a bit more than arms might scanadilize them all!
At the beach, in my shorts and t shirt, we drowned ourselves in the sand filled monster waves, and played soccer on the beach. I had an automatic advantage, anytime anyone of them would bump into me they would stop and apologize,and I would make away with the ball! mUhaha. The poor gentlemen.

The guys have to go back to work for the week, so I am left here alone, to try and find a plane and get my visa organized. Being here an extra week has been fine, but what a bother trying to get things organized to fly out! My plane was grounded due to bad weather last Wed, but I am hoping to fly out of here this tuesday.
Fingers crossed!