I have a certain wanderlust that extends itself only to the pursuit of visiting people or rather visiting places where there will be people there I want to visit. I'm not terribly inclined to go on hikes or picnics or romantic strolls along the beach, but I have an affinity for sharing a laugh at as friend's place and as such, most of the places I've traveled to are the sites of fellow PCVs.
Azrou
This was an unexpected evening trip. I set out around four, two hours later than expected with VEE and RMG. The journey was long and costly though I do remember being enchanted by the beauty of Ifrane before the rain and snow completely drained me of my will persevere. The landscape reminded me of Cinderella or what I've always pictured the Netherlands to look. I didn't see any monkeys--which really isn't that grave at all--but I did meet up with NC, BA, and LN. We ate broccoli which in Morocco, is a culinary miracle! It was one of the best curries I've eaten in-country. Later in the morning, I threw up from two beers.
El Jadida
A beach town with a lovely cosmopolitan feel sadly riddled with an array of creeps and children in camp. Haha, just kidding about the second one. I traveled to the site to teach a dance class, but namely to avoid supper time which still strikes me as seriously heartbreaking. My checkbook tells me that I ate three hamburgers. The beach was mostly deserted. I took leisure naps wrapped in a sheet on the course sand. One night, a mosquito bite me near my elbow and for hours I felt my forearm tinkle as the poison worked its way through my blood. A bright afternoon, I took a stroll to the old Portuguese fort and every step I took, became more and more diminished as seven, individual men followed me, some more relentless than the others.
Now if I take one more step
and you take one with me
I will be forever lost
I will less than one
I simply won't be.
These steps that you've taken with me
have been forced. Have been filled with lust.
Have filled me with anxiety
and I am going to burst into tears
And I simply won't be
all the things that I was
happy, confident, excited to be in Morocco
because with all these steps that we have taken together
you have boiled me down
to something I am not
To someone who canot walk a straight path
to someone who must forsake a shining smile of happiness
to someone too confused, too scared, too weak
to act in defense of myself
And I watch and I feel myself
--what's left of myself--
dissipate
But I am still here
and with me are tears of sorrow woefully unshed
and shame
So much shame
That I cannot possibly be.
Because you have humiliated me
with all these shared steps
And I simply don't want to be.
I'm still not convinced as to what gave me the audacity to travel so far from home, but I gained an eternal gratitude to KAG who picked up my phone call and spoke to me with such an endearing kindness that I felt no need to cry a single tear.
Casablanca
I have made two brief sojourns to this city, the first being shorter than the last. The first included an eventful descent from aircraft traveling from America and bus ride complete with Tops chocolate chip cookies. The second was a more sophisticated, high-style trip. One day I ate Burger King and Pinkberry. The other Thai food and sushi. The third day I was incredibly broke. Through it all, I splurged-it-up with NCA, KRA, and AP and it is with salivating joy that I reminisce about such special place in my heart: The Mall.
Sefrou
No.
Essaouria
Many things to say about this place. I'll begin with a roll call: NCA, KRA, RNM, VEE, LH, KP, LP, MC, plus every other PCV ever with special mentions of yay! RMG and IC3. I love them. :D We traveled there for the Gnaona Festival, a musical event that featured the local styles as well as SIDA outreach component. I was there because...everybody else was there? Honestly, it was just the shit to do and it was lovely and consequently, the kick-off to my friendship with RNM. :D I went to house party and yelled at some guys for being hella rude and I crashed RMG's bungalow where me, NCA, KRA, and RNM, in a classy move, stole all the blankets.
