Erg Chebbi

Back to the seeming calmness of Chicago after the madness of Morocco...
It will be days before I can sort through my hundreds of photos and post a link, so until then enjoy my blissed out phone pic from the Sahara. Off to dream of mint tea and harira, and sleep off this jet lag.

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....

Adios Madrid!

An update is due, as this is potentially the last time I will have access to a computadora.... y agua caliente... hot water. Hopefully Morocco will be on the interwebs, bu who knows until we get there. A few hours left in Madrid before leaving for Marrakech, and today´s to-do list consists of: pasteries, a trip to Reina Sofia, relaxing in the park with some ice cream, and a snack at the Museum of Ham. Yes you heard me correctly, we are going to eat dinner at el Museo de Jamon. Should be interesting...

Ill updtae again as soon as we return from the Sahara and I can find a computer! Go Cubs!!!

Comer Comer Comer

These Spainiards love to eat! Madrid has been loely so far with amazing weather and more tapas than we can handle! Cervezas y sangria last night will lead to more of the same today. Dinner starts around 10pm, perfect timing after a day of sightseeing and a siesta. Plaza del Sol & Plaza Mayor have been our stomping grounds so far, but today calls for further exploration... after I track down a coca-cola light. All is well here, despite JD´s bag still being en route from Toronto. Adios for now...

Tapas, Tagines, and Camels... Oh my!

For a large potion of my adult life I have been attracted to all things Moroccan, I just didn't know it. Some intricate tile work here, a detailed ceramic platter painted with a kaleidoscope of colors there, or miniature glasses with delicate etchings... I loved it all, but it wasn't until much later that I realized all of these mini-obsessions originated from the same part of the globe.I can't say for certain if it is the color, symmetry, or detail that pulls me in, but I could look at the aesthetically invigorating designs from this region for days at a time. There is a bug with the above picture, making the colors go awry when it uploads... but it almost makes it more exciting, no?

To say that I'm a tad bit excited for my journey to Morocco is an understatement. I have been planning for this trip for years, and to see it come to fruition is almost surreal. I have gone from excitement, to nervousness, and back as I think one does with any major trip. Culturally, this land will be different from anywhere I have ever been, and to say there will be a language barrier will be putting it mildly. I can't read a lick of Arabic, my French is not up to par, and my local vocabulary consists of a handful of words that I can hopefully get by with. Thank goodness for the universal language of the nod and smile! Should I don a head scarf? How will I be perceived by the men in a culture where women are somewhat oppressed? What if I have a bathroom emergency in the middle of the Sahara? Who cares. I am SO over all my freaking out, and have come to peace with the fact that this place is going to be so different from what I'm used to, and that is what is going to make it an AMAZING trip.

I am so excited for Morocco, that I keep forgetting I get to spend two lovely days in Madrid beforehand, not to mention airport time in Canada! Yet another place I have never visited! I am beyond sad that my year of crazy travels will be coming to an end, but my experiences have taught me so much about other people, as well as myself, and I can't wait to add memories of this trip to my collection. I never thought I would ever go to Africa twice in one year!

So loyal blog readers, this will be signing off for a bit, hopefully to update you from abroad with details of sangria, camel treks, and tasty tagines. Until then...

Paper Cuts

I'm mildly obsessed with the art of papercraft, and here is the latest installment in my collection:
Pee-Wee and Chairy!

If you Google papercraft you will come up with tons of little tiny models all made from paper. Some need glue, and others don't. I have made quite a few from my two favorite sites ReadyMech and CubeeCraft, each having their own pros and cons.


I was feeling quite confident in my fine motor skills so I thought I would make a mini-drum set for my friend. Several tedious hours later over the course of 3 days, I acquired an impressively tiny set of skins.

Sadly, after being covered in tiny snips of card stock and rolling up a seemingly endless stash of itty bitty cymbal stands with my Elmer's Glue callused fingers, I have decided to take a much needed papercraft hiatus.

UR2CUTE2B4GOTTEN!

LYLAS! BFF! Yearbooks are so fun! If you are bored at your computer and have access to a pic go yearbook yourself and you will be laughing faster than you can say "Have a great summer! CU next year!"

Here are my favorites for your viewing pleasure: 1960, 1970, and 1990!








I also just acquired an old yearbook from 1941 to do some collaging with, and in it I found what may be the cutest inscription ever:


Dear Bevie,
I've known you only a little while but I've found you to be the one. You're the sweetest & loveliest girl in school and the best dancer I've ever come to have met. Here's hoping to see a lot more of you in the future.
Love till infinity +
Bill

Can't you just imagine Bev and Bill at the sock hop being the most adorable couple you ever did see!? Too cute.