The blog is born! After 3 weeks of emailing, whats-apping, letters and writing journal entries there is now a permanent way of following my Moroccan adventures.
أهلاً و سهلاً
(Welcome)
We have entered into the third week of our studies in Morocco, and the halfway point of our 'daraja' classes (Moroccan Arabic). To those of you who are unaware, each country in the Middle East as their version of Arabic. In some countries such as Saudi Arabia, their dialect is very similar to the 'fuhsa' we learnt last year. However, Moroccan dialect is not similar at all. Not in the slightest. To give an example...
In fusha التنين means dragon.
Today is Dragon-day.
The weekends are generally used for exploring! The 8am lectures Monday - Friday make it difficult to have adventures during the week.
On Saturday after a more than well deserved lie-in, we visited the Merenid Tombs. Accompanied by trusty lonely-planet I gave an impromptu guided tour to the "14th century tombs that now lie in ruins". We inadvertently had a tour of the weaponry museum that overlooks the Old Medina as well, which for the equivalent of 80p, was worth it. From the roof of the museum we planned our route to the tombs. Unbeknownst to us this involved scaling the gates at the back of the museum much to the bemusement of passing lorry drivers. From there we followed the goat tracks near the caves to the tombs, which are situation high above the Old Medina. The view enabled us to capture the whole of the Old Medina and the mountain's beyond. It's beautifully deserted. We were able to point out our soon-to-be house in the center of the town. It's the perfect 'thinking spot'.
After hours of climbing the tombs, dropping cameras and getting stuck on top of the ruins we trekked back into town through the cemetery.
While the rest of the group returned to the villa Ben, Desiree and I went in search of lunch in the Old Medina. After successfully coming through the other end of 'The Moroccan Bug' we felt we were ready to try street food. A local asked if we were looking for the tannery, and when we declined asked if we were looking for a husband instead. Points for not hanging around!
We followed the scent of meat and came across a tiny shop no bigger than a disable toilet. The man beckoned us in, so we ducked under the door into the tiled room and joined the men at the back of the room for food. At the front of the shop, the owner commanded a coal BBQ over which he cooked lamb kofta. The lamb, when cooked was then put into round bread found everywhere in Fez, and you could add your own chilli or cumin spice. Honestly, the best meal I have eaten since I have arrived. Melt-your-mouth hot lamb chunks in freshly baked bread, accompanied by mint tea. The best mint tea I have had, which is saying something! The shop was obviously well known as the stream of locals getting lunch was constant, while we took up the majority of room at the back of the room. Locals gave us curious smiles and nods...this obviously isn't a familiar tourist haunt. However, if anyone visits, unless your vegetarian, we will definitely be paying a visit!
We followed the scent of meat and came across a tiny shop no bigger than a disable toilet. The man beckoned us in, so we ducked under the door into the tiled room and joined the men at the back of the room for food. At the front of the shop, the owner commanded a coal BBQ over which he cooked lamb kofta. The lamb, when cooked was then put into round bread found everywhere in Fez, and you could add your own chilli or cumin spice. Honestly, the best meal I have eaten since I have arrived. Melt-your-mouth hot lamb chunks in freshly baked bread, accompanied by mint tea. The best mint tea I have had, which is saying something! The shop was obviously well known as the stream of locals getting lunch was constant, while we took up the majority of room at the back of the room. Locals gave us curious smiles and nods...this obviously isn't a familiar tourist haunt. However, if anyone visits, unless your vegetarian, we will definitely be paying a visit!
Naturally I returned home with typical Nay-amounts of enthusiasm and proceeded to ambush the rest of the house with the story of this sandwich.
Saturday was in general just a fantastic day for food; in the evening we had dinner at Elizabeth and Anna's house where we were treated to a Moroccan feast topped off with Anna's Swedish chocolate cake. No words can do it justice.
Life in Morocco has had it's highs and lows. By Friday afternoon our deliriously tired class can barely string a cohesive 'daraja' phrase together, but after a couple of hours getting lost in the Old Medina at the weekend you remember how incredible this country is. We are literally living for the weekend.
This weekend we're hoping to visit Chefchaouen; a nearby village famous for kif . Of course I'm organizing itineraries...Mamma Nay at her best.
الله يهنيك
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