Airport Security--Moroccan Style

Last day of November. Last day in Morocco. I feel like I spent the entire morning at RAK. We were told you arrive two hours before our flight--I’m glad we did. The flight was supposed to leave at 12:55pm....at 1:35pm we actually boarded the flight. At 2:45pm, we took off. Good things the wind was in our favor. Charter flights. 

Americans think that the airport security pat downs in US airports are a bad...well, they should come to Morocco. At RAK they actually have separate security lines for men and women. And they really pat you down. I mean really. It was more like a full body massage.

The King is Coming!

As we drove from FES back to RAK, we started noticing “national security” officers every 50 m or so from Rabat on. Finally, we arrived at the rest stop, and I ask one of the guards--well I ask him in English and Italian and of course he knows only French and Arabic---Anja to the rescue again! (Poor Anja ---I hope she doesn’t have to tak for a month after this trip!)

The King is coming! Apparently, the King is driving to Marrakech today. And so are we. Are there is one road. We get to see the King!

Shortly after this time, the gas meter on the little Suzuki Celerio drops from 1/4 tank to EMPTY...and starts flashing! Panic. Two females, alone on a deserted Moroccan highway shortly before sunset, with no gas. Great.

At this same time, Anja looks behind us, and sighs, "Oh Shit! The King is coming!" His motorcade of 50+ Mercedes driving 200km/hr passed us as the police escorts screamed at us to get off the road. I was so flustered and sacred about the gas, to even think about my camera. So no picture of Hassan VI. Ben Guerir --the next gas station stop as we were driving already 20 m on EMPTY with the flashing gas light--that was scary!

Always an adventure...

What is shiba?

I have been drinking at least three mint teas a day since arriving in Morocco. I'm not a big tea drinker. But, hey when in Rome....right?! I even bought an authentic "tea pot set" (complete with the little pot holders) to take home. 

So, for the past week I am thinking this "mint tea" is really just boiling sugar water poured over fresh springs of mint, and that would explain why I like it so much. Wrong. Mint tea is actually green tea (boiling water, two pinches of green tea, two sugar cubes boiled) poured over the fresh mint. What is more mind boggling to me is that I don't like tea. And, I really don't like green tea. But, I love Moroccan mint tea!

Stopping at a small restaurant for a mint tea this afternoon proved very educational. We selected a spot that looked really good for people watching near the Bab Bou Jeloud. (The Blue Gate). The place was called Thami's, and I remembered reading an interview with the actual Thami in my guide book. I met his younger brother and he proceeded to tell me all about mint tea. He reminded me mint tea is originally not from China as the world believes, but of course it is from his beloved country, Morocco. (Then he proceeds to sell me a box of green tea for 10 dh that says in French "Made in China". Ironic.)

Then I was told you can also add "shiba" to the tea as well. "Morrocans really like shiba in their tea." Shiba, they show me, is an herb and you can buy it in the grocery store. I can't place it, so I ask,  "What is shiba in English?" They don't know what it is in English. 

Enter my friend, Google. Shiba is absinthe.  That explains a lot...

Camel Burger. Check.

Check camel off my list of foods. Today I ate a camel burger (at the Clock Cafe). It looked like a beef burger, but much leaner and sweeter in taste. Same texture as a hamburger. It was served with sweet ketchup. I wished Heinz would make that sweet ketchup...

A lesson in Argan oil

Argan Oil ... apparently the wonder, cure-all drug. And it's one of the most popular thing to buy in Morocco. It's great for cleaning your hair, for cooking, and for massages. But where exactly does it come from? It comes from the argan tree. The nut has a seed, and the oil is pressed from this tiny little seed. The first pressing produces the oil for cosmetic use (I am told that my skin will look younger if I rub this all over me. Personally, I hoping for a massage from a cute boy with it!), the second pressing makes the oil for use as a shampoo, and the third pressing is for cooking/eating. The stuff is not cheap, either. But apparently more affordable here than in the states. And now, I'm off to experience an argan oil massage at Riad Fes. We'll see if this "liquid gold" lives up to it's name...

Pigeon Poo....huh?

I think it takes about a week to settle in to Morocco, to feel comfortable. Today I felt like I finally fit in (well, as much as possible). 

As we navigated through the leather stores, up to the terraces I had flashbacks of dragging my dear friend Marwan up narrow steps in the back of a knock-off purse shop on Canal Street in NYC.  Finally up on the terrace the views of the dye pits were amazing and the smells were terrible! Apparently, pigeon poo and cow urine are used in the process. Great--can't wait to buy some leather here now!

You don't want to get shot today

As we're walking through the medina in Fes, a man approaches us and says, "You don't want to get shot today."  I think they learn their English from watching American movies. I mean, Who says that?