Sensory Overload

I can sum up the past few days simply: Morocco is the most overwhelming place i have ever been.

this computer is french, so pleqse excuse the typos and lack of punctuation, as the keyboqrd is not what i am used to, yet another thing that is so vastly different about this place

My travels have been more insane and amazing than i could ever begin to type here in the short time that i have, so for now i will just say this country is something that words, pictures, and movies can barely scrqtch the surfqce of

The easiet thing for me to do is give a stream of consciousness from the past 5 days:
cars people bikes mopeds donkeys carts and CATS everywhere, its hqrd to walk without tripping over one of the above

within the first 30 minutes of arriving i sAw 4 people on a moped built for 1, and a cat in the airport

our riad is the most amazing place ever, a true oasis in the craziness of Marrakech, a place i hqve looked forward to returning to every day, and a place i am heart broken to leave tomorrow, there is an orange tree in the courtyard outside our room which gives us fresh juice every morning

the medina is a maze like nothing i have ever experinced, one thqt requires you to pay someone to help you find your way and requires directions like turn left a the first fountain, right at the second fountain, and when you see two trees take a left until you find a covered market then go through the two arches, but if you reach the spice market youve gone the wrong way

mint tea is the best invention ever, something i never tire of

tagines are a close second

berber soup is amazing

4am prayer calls are not the best thing to wake up to when your riad is directly next to a mosque, but the other 4 durring the day help you know what time it is

it takes a really long time to drive to the sahara

it takes an even longer time to drive back when you are tired, smelly, and sore from riding a camel

always pack a spare tire when driving to:from the desert, as you never know when it might come in handy

a sunrise over the dunes of erg chebbi seen from camel back is pretty much the best thing ever

moroccans are known for their hospitality, camels are not
they like to fart, pee, poop, burp, and grunt in your presence, and to say that they spit is an understatement____ more like vomit up white sticky phlemmy froth

thankfully my camel was very sweet

if youve seen one kasbah, youve seen em all

djemma el fna is best left for another blog, but suffice it to say it is every bit like what people say it is multiplied by 100000000000000000000

the souks are fun to get lost in, and even more fun to bargain in
i have found a place where my stubborness gets me what i want!

you can never but too many poufs, tagines, or scarves!

be weary of the spice man with wandering hands

be weary of the stewed prune tagine when you have a long bus ride ahead of you

tonight was spent relaxing at the riad after a crazy day at the souks, tomorrow we are off to essaouira on the western coast, so computer time will be limited as it has been for the majority of the trip

i cant wait to share more about this amazing place and post pictures!!

2009 is our year cubbies!!! until then....