Each day here was more fun than the last.
The plan was to be in Morocco for four days, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Due to some refueling complications in Gibraltar, our time in Morocco was cut down to the latter three days. Monday was spent on the ship instead of in our port in Casablanca, so they had some activities and an open mic night. I did stand up this time. It was well received, though I was pretty nervous as it was my first real stand up performance.
All of the trips that were scheduled for Morocco had to be either canceled or rescheduled. My trip for Monday was moved to Wednesday. Isaiah's 4 day trip to Marrakech was cut down to 3 days, and he left early morning on Tuesday. I slept in since I didn't have to be anywhere until 1245.
Tuesday was my trip to Rabat. The weather was gloomy as we drove an hour and a half northeast to the administrative capital of Morocco. Our tour guide was an incredible woman whose name I only heard once and had trouble pronouncing. I got a few pictures with her though! We saw the King's Palace in Rabat (he's got a palace in every city) as well as the mausoleum for King Mohammed V which was right next to the ruins of a mosque that crumbled away in an earthquake a long time ago. The minaret (the big tower that characterizes mosques) used to be 87 meters tall but the earthquake cut it down to something more like 50 meters.
Then we went to a Kasbah which means a fortified building or city, where I used my French for the first time to buy postcards. Then the friend with whom I was walking, Megan, got grabbed by a girl who forced Henna on her, and then when she asked us to pay, she said “money as you like” so I told Megan to give her the coins she just got (totaling 16 Dirham, which is around $2) and the woman was like “give me something I can make change with”and I said “you take this or we walk away”and Megan dropped the coins on the table and we left. It was crazy; they force their services on you and then get mad when you don't pay. I say tough luck. You wanna grab me by the arm? You take my spare change.
That night I slept from 2030 (8:30) until 1115 the next morning, which was the Casablanca city orientation. We had the same guide as the Rabat trip, and I was so happy! Besides seeing markets and various monuments, the highlight of this trip was seeing the King Hassan II Mosque.
This was one of the most awe-inspiring buildings I have ever seen. Casablanca has a history of being a “let's just pass through it”city, and the people wanted there to be a landmark. So they built this giant modern Mosque with electric doors, a ceiling that opens in the summer, heated floor in the winter, chandeliers all over, ablution rooms (for washing before prayer) underneath, and enough room to hold 5,000 women on the top level and 20,000 men on the bottom level. The separation of men and women has nothing to do with women being inferior. It is purely to limit distraction while praying. Also, taking off your shoes in the mosque has no religious meaning-it is purely hygienic since sometimes while praying you press your face against the floor.
Visiting this mosque really helped me to understand Islam better. I really feel like I have a greater understanding and appreciation for Islam. Actually seeing the house of prayer gave me something physical to associate with what I'm learning in my Islam class.
The last morning I didn't sleep in, but woke up and met some friends at 0900 to grab a taxi and go back to a market we saw on Wednesday. Here, I had one of the best moments of my life. We were going from shop to shop, looking and stuff, and we saw one in the corner with some bracelets and necklaces. The guy working there was kinda short, had glasses and really crooked eyes, and was all smiles. My friend Craig inquired on the price of something, and the guy spoke French to him, so I began to speak French with this man and bargained down to half price. I told him I was a student from the US and he said I was “tres joli”which means something along the lines of very nice/happy and gave everyone the same “discount”. I was so proud of speaking another language! He and I conversed a little bit, and he asked me if I knew the singer Rhianna. I said I did! Apparently he likes her music. Then someone wanted a ring so he brought them out and I asked how to say ring in French and he said “bague.” I feel like I made this guy's day. I brought him a bunch of friendly Americans, spoke his language, and bought his products. After the 15 minutes we were there, he had a handful of cash and a big smile. Little does he know how our short conversations with him affected my life. And he probably never will. I didn't ask his name, but I have a picture with him. I will never forget this man, and I'm not sure why. I feel like I learned some sort of lesson or something but I don't know what. All I know is I feel like a more complete person and a better human being. To me, he was a teacher. To him, I was a regular customer. I wonder if at the end of his work day he'll go back home and write in his journal about me, and think that I got nothing out of our experience.
The next shop I bought this “magic”box, which has the key inside of it somewhere and you have to go through a series of sliders and things to get the key, and then another slider to find the lock. I had to buy something made out of the mahogany wood here because it smells so great and is beautiful to look at. I think I paid too much but I didn't care. I got a picture with this shop owner too, his name was Sammy.
Then we grabbed a taxi back to the ship, where I am now.
At first, Casablanca was kind of a crappy port. We are a 15 minute walk from the entrance of the port and it's not the best part of town. But as the last few days went on, and I met people and got some good tours, I learned more about the city and the culture and really enjoyed my time here. I'm not sad that we lost a day because I only had plans for two of the days, and most of the SAS people went to Marrakech so it was really empty. I'm happy that I spent my time the way I did, and have wonderful memories to take with me.
One last thought: the driving in Morocco is absolutely crazy. Nobody stops at stop signs, people almost hit each other, and 4 way stops are nightmares, and everybody goes waaaay too fast. The taxi we took Thursday morning just pushed his way past whoever was in his way, squeezing by trucks. I found my right foot activating its breaking reflex every time something got too crazy.
The petit taxi on the way back (a smaller, cheaper taxi in Casablanca) was much more agile than the full sized one we had in the morning, so it was way scarier, pushing, shoving, squeezing. Lines don't matter, neither do speed limits, and neither do pedestrians.
For now, we've got another week at sea before we arrive in Walvis Bay, Namibia. I heard I can use my French there too, which I am excited about. I have a seal and dolphin encounter as well as an overnight in the desert planned. I am also excited to shave my beard, I let it grow out for the last week because I'd be more respected in the Moroccan environment, especially when going out in a group and having to protect the women.
Between here and Namibia is when we cross the equator, “Neptune Day” the tradition is to shave your head, but I don't think I'm gonna go completely crew-cut, I'll just get a nice haircut.
So it's back to classes for the next week.
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